Health & Wellness: Everything Under the Sun in Santa Monica

Health & Wellness: Everything Under the Sun in Santa Monica
The city offers classic, healthful options that allow travelers to truly take care while on vacation, and return with a rejuvenated glow. Start with the obvious: the miles of expansive beach dotted with volleyball courts waiting for a little competition, the 22+-mile South Bay Bicycle Trail that stretches along the shoreline, or the nearby Santa Monica Mountains that offer dozens of trails for day hikes of all levels, with stunning Pacific Ocean views. Additionally, countless studios offer virtually every discipline of yoga, Pilates and other fitness classes with some of the country's premier experts. If you prefer to take your yoga practice outdoors, several beachfront hotels offer yoga on the sand.

Classic fitness too tame? Explore more unexpected and even unusual ways to get healthy during a trip to Santa Monica, how many people have taken flying trapeze lessons while on vacation? Or the artful nuances of synchronized swimming (it's harder than it looks!). There are also several options that are just SO L.A., like the Detox/Retox offerings at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows' Exhale Spa, where guests are invited to challenge their core with the spa's signature Core Fusion class, then reward themselves with happy hour poolside. Or, enjoy the cardiovascular benefits of “Running from the Paparazzi” at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.

The old adage “never trust a skinny chef” meets its exception in Santa Monica, where world-renowned culinary minds make up a culinary scene that caters well to health conscious travelers, stretching the healthful palate far beyond menus of tofu and lettuce. Indeed, Santa Monica is home to the top farmers' markets in the country, and plenty of world-class chefs who love to create artful cuisine around their bounty. Think eggplant with mint pesto and sumac, or an avocado and Parmesan tart with wild arugula and Saba...