Santa Monica to be Transformed Over Next 5 Years

The historic Civic Auditorium, once home to the Academy Awards in the 1960s, will undergo a $47 million renovation, after which Nederlander Concerts will present high quality concerts and special events. A new light rail system will connect Santa Monica to Los Angeles and Hollywood. Three new hotel developments, a new AMC Entertainment cinema complex and a stunning seven-acre park on Ocean Avenue will further enrich the experience in Santa Monica, "California's Most Celebrated Beach City".

While Santa Monica prepares for a bright future, here are a few of the newest additions to the beachfront city:

Santa Monica Bike Center

At just 8.3 square miles, Santa Monica is a bike lover's paradise and locals love the fact that they can easily leave their cars at home and navigate the city by bike. Santa Monica's new full-service Bike Center, the largest in the nation, now provides visitors the opportunity to “live like a local” and embrace the eco-friendly lifestyle of this active and progressive community. The Bike Center offers two convenient locations in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica (1555 2nd Street and 1502 4th Street) attached to Santa Monica's newest outdoor shopping haven, Santa Monica Place. Pick from a variety of bike rental options and take advantage of all the amenities you need including repair services, bike tours, valet parking and travel information.

Shore Hotel

Shore Hotel is the newest addition to Ocean Avenue and the Santa Monica coastline. The Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard property offers eco-friendly accommodations with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean in addition to a variety of fantastic amenities. Guests can enjoy an outdoor pool and patio, Blue Plate Taco restaurant and bar (coming Summer 2012), a fitness center, state-of-the-art meeting and special events spaces and effortless access to year-round Santa Monica activities.

Santa Monica Place

Rooftop dining with beach views, happy hour DJ sets and wine gardens – Santa Monica's newest shopping destination may sound like a trendy hotel but is an open-air shopping center located in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica, steps from Third Street Promenade and two blocks from the beach. Anchored by high-end department stores Bloomingdales and Nordstrom, it also features designers like Hugo Boss, Burberry and Michael Kors, trendy and celebrity favorites like Kitson and unique boutiques like Eva Varro.

The Market

For any food-love, The Market at Santa Monica Place offers the pleasures and essentials for a flavorful life. Heirloom coffee, organic meats, local cheeses, fresh-baked breads, sweet confections, fragrant flowers and more line the inviting assortment of independently owned shops and cafés. The Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories run by local expert French native Clemence Gossett, and her partner Hadley Hughes, offers hands-on culinary classes that use seasonally and locally sourced ingredients. Learn to make a three course meal and then sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labor (and a little wine) at the end of the night!

L3

Santa Monica Place is now home to L3, the largest event space in the city! Perfect for a private event, product launch party or industry trade show will, this 42,000 square foot raw event space accommodates up to 1200 guests and can be easily customized to any vision. Two blocks from the beach and a convenient walk from most hotels, guests can enjoy the gorgeous weather, chic shopping and lively street performers while walking to and from L3 events in Downtown Santa Monica.

Museum of Flying

Santa Monica's new Museum of Flying is a place where aviation enthusiasts of all ages can fully explore their fascination with flight! The museum showcases more than two-dozen flying machines, exhibits featuring the history of the aerospace industry and the first-ever California Aviation Hall of Fame. Kids and adults alike can sit in the cockpit of a Boeing 727, donated by FedEx, which jets out of the building and provides a view of Santa Monica Airport's runway. In addition, there are several interactive and educational displays to play with, such as the K-3 simulator where kids can try their hands at flying and learn three critical flight dynamics: roll, pitch and yaw.

Where to Stay: Los Angeles & Santa Monica Luxury Hotels