Top products from r/SantaMonica

Source: I grew up in and around Santa Monica. I still live near there. I was a scout leader for many years in this region planning activities for families. This list represents my personal favorites that I've returned to time and again to give folks a bit of the flavor of living in West Los Angeles. I do not have a business relationship (other than forking my money over) with any of the places listed below. I apologize for the multiple postings - I'm trying to get the links and formatting correct.

First, let me recommend a great book you can buy from Amazon.com online or from the AAA in Santa Monica for about $20 called Fun & Educational Places to Go with Kids and Adults in Southern California. It's a great introduction to the greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. (CSA?)

Things to do:

• Go to the beach (pretty obvious). But which one is best? I honestly don't know. I like Zuma Beach in Malibu, and I return to Station 26 (Ocean Park Blvd ) and Playa del Rey (Culver Blvd) like a lemming as those were my go-to beaches as a child. Honestly, Station 26 is nothing special and you should stay away from my favorite stretch of beach. Are you crazy? Did you think I would tell you where I like to go to the beach? On the open internet? Great way to ruin my favorite beach. But I really can't recommend a beach as I never go to any of the others. I hear that Huntington Beach State Park is nice.
  
• Take a stroll on the Santa Monica Pier is tacky but fun. Small kids love it.
  
• Attend Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.. Listen to their wonderful choir. Be sure to stay and watch Samuel Soria play the organ after Mass. He's amazing. He's acclaimed by the AGO as one of the top organists in the country.
  
• Drive Sunset Blvd from Downtown to the beach to watch the LA neighborhoods change.
  
• Downtown Tours - Tour the Cathedral, Disney Hall, Central Library and LA Conservancy Walking Tours
  
• Ride Our New Subway
  
  Museums. Los Angeles has a great Museum scene - but it's scattered all over the city. Here are some of my favorites:
  
  
• Visit The Griffith Park Observatory and the Hike to the Hollywood Sign.
  
• Visiting the Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center
  
• Having English Tea at the Huntington Library and Gardens
  
• Touring The Getty Villa or The Getty Museum
  
• Visiting the Museum of Tolerance or the Japanese-American National Museum and speaking with one of their docents who survived a concentration camp or an internment camp (time is running out for doing this).
  
• Stop in at Santa Monica's Museum of Flying for a bit of aviation history.
  
  
  Foodie Heaven, Have fun trying these only in LA restaurants and getting a taste of our great ethnic cuisines.
  
  
• Korean Barbecue (I like Parks KBBQ ($$$) or J KBBQ (AYCE) ($ - fills the need on a budget. Two words: Go Hungry.)
  
• Japanese Ramen (I like Shin-sen-gumi Hakata Ramen ($) in Gardena. Three Words: Garlic Butter Bomb)
  
• Chinese Food (I like Yang Chow in Downtown Los Angeles, not far from the Cathedral. Two words: Slippery Shrimp)
  
• Mexican Food (I like Casablanca in Venice. It's not super authentic, but I love their tortillas. (Four Words: Mas Tortillas, por favor)
  
• Belizean Food (I like Belizean Paradise ($) in Mid-City. Is next to a sketchy motel in a seedy strip mall. Eat there anyways. (Two Words: Marie Sharp)
  
• Brazillian Churrascaria (I like M-Grill ($$$) in Koreatown. (Two Words: Carnivore. Stop.)
  
• Middle-Eastern Food (So hard to pick, but I'll go with my old favorite, the Moun of Tunis in West Hollywood. I've been going here for 33 years and I've never been disappointed. (Three words: Belly Dancing and B'stilla)
  
  Oh, you wanted scenic restaurants near the beach on rooftops? That my friend will cost you a pretty penny. That said, a personal favorite is Whiskey Red's in Marina del Rey because you get to watch boats drift by as one sips on a bit of cool something-something and the piano bar at Shutters on the Beach at One Pico Blvd. And the Santa Monica Place has a decent set of rooftop wine bars - Sonoma Wine Garden.
  
  Edited to add: Middle Eastern Cuisine in West LA needed a shout out. I'd also like to mention that if you don't want to go to Mass at the Cathedral Downtown (Hey, it's worth it - the choir is great) and you happen to be Catholic, the main church in Santa Monica is called Saint Monica's and serves 10,000 families. It's an amazing church, that manages to deeply weave their parish into the life of the community. Their patio area where they used to serve coffee was designed by Frank Gehry. They now have a new coffee shop called "Holy Grounds", they are six blocks from the beach (Best Homily Ever: "It's a beautiful Day. God has created it for us to enjoy. The Mass is ended. Go in peace. I'll be at the beach if you need me.").
  If you decide to check out St. Monica's, before you go, watch Bing Crosby in Going My Way and Bells of St. Mary's -- St. Monica's was the set used for the church featured in the movie.
  
  The 1:30 Mass on Sunday is attended by the confirmation class and is geared for teenagers -- teenage lectors, teenage worship band, the whole bit. Its an outstanding service So are the 5:30 masses on Sat and Sunday -- they are heavily attended by young adults looking to head out to the Promenade for the evening after Mass.
  
  And don't forget to look at the Truffulo Trees on Ocean Drive

Not sure if you have an attic, but I mounted this in mine and it works great.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024R4B5C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This book called : “The Mood Cure”.
It’s a guide using nutrition to help aid depression/anxiety. I was not eating enough protein... moodcurebookamazon