Californian Dreaming

Are you one of the lucky people cruising from Los Angeles down the Pacific coast this year (or even next!) Are you staying somewhere before the cruise? I guess most of you will say yes, and it will probably be Vegas or Los Angeles itself.  Do not get me wrong, I am a huge lover of Vegas, there is nowhere quite like it but it is 235 miles away from the coast.  Or perhaps your going to stay in Los Angeles itself as you have heard so much about Hollywood, Beverly Hills etc?

Think again!  Would I stay in Los Angeles again? Not a chance, not even Beverly Hills.  For me the jewel in the crown is Santa Monica. Before I sing the praises of this great place, I’ll tell you a little about the area if I may.

Los Angeles is a huge sprawling and in some places, dirty city. Hollywood is not what you would think of at all! You have that iconic sign up in the hills – then you go down to the street where all the names on the pavement are, what do you get? People dressing up as a character from a film (there are many of these!) or shops selling the awful tit tat. Did you know where they host the Oscars is just part of a shopping complex! Then there is Beverly Hills – the complete opposite to Hollywood!  Fab shops, rich cars, rich people and restaurants you can’t normally afford to eat in – honest!

Get yourself down to Santa Monica – it is actually a city within a city, that city been Los Angeles. The difference here is amazing. Lovely streets to have a wander down, nice people, fab shops, decent affordable restaurants and a fantastic beach. This is also home to the famous Santa Monica pier – this has got everything you want from rides, to pleasure beach stalls, to nice places to sit and have a drink and watch the world go by.  The beach is fantastic – it is home to “muscle beach” and yes, you see these people from morning to late at night, pumping iron and all of those “physical” activities!  Just to wander along the beach is fantastic, there are skate parks, bars, restaurants, everything but in a lovely and nice atmosphere.

If you want to take time to go to Hollywood or Beverly Hills or even Universal, you can hop on one of the many sightseeing buses. Visit the farmers market, go around the stars homes, but then come back to Santa Monica afterwards – the difference is amazing and I guarantee you will not regret it!

I have been to the states many times and love it, but let’s face it there are some pretty rubbish places too – take my word for it Santa Monica is certainly a Californian dream and the ideal place to stay before your cruise. What are you waiting for!