DVD: California $19.95 buy now

San Francisco DVD $19.95 buy now

The Body Beautiful: Beached in Santa Monica

Where It's At

Santa Monica is of the most beautiful stretches of beach on the American continent. It's also one of the most famous, having made countless appearances in movies and TV serials such as Baywatch. Located just 13 miles from downtown Los Angeles, this is where the Angelinos come to hang out and show off the body beautiful, making the most of the year round good weather on this part of the Pacific Coast.

When to go

Santa Monica enjoys more than 330 days of sunshine each year, with average temperatures barely dipping below 17C. What little rain there is tends to fall between the months of December and March.

Highlights:

The Beach Bike Path
Santa Monica isn't all lounging about on sun-kissed sands. It's all about being seen, and being a part of the fitness-conscious recreation scene. The emphasis is on action here, and each year up to 3 million Angelinos and visitors bike, rollerblade, windboard, jog or simply strut along the 22 miles of the Beach Bike Path each year.

Pacific Ocean
Though there's a lot going on along the shore, the Pacific Ocean is an attraction in itself. You can cool off with a dip in the clear blue waters, surf the impressive waves as they surge towards the shore or just wander along the golden sands looking for decorative shells.

The Santa Monica Pier
Shops, bars and restaurants, together with the carousels and rollercoasters of Pacific Park, the pier is the focal point of the Santa Monica beach scene. Street performers keep the casual visitor and cafe crowds amused with impromptu performances all day and throughout the evening. Build in 1908, it's the oldest pleasure pier on the West Coast of the United States.

Santa Monica Mountains
Fifteen minutes from Santa Monica is the 150,000 acre Santa Monica Mountain Recreation Area. Open seven days a week, it gives the Angelino yet more active outdoor options, such as hiking, horse-riding and bird watching - yet in a distinctly alpine setting, removed from the beach-front glamour.