Santa Monica / Venice faces the Pacific with a marine layer that rolls in like a curtain. The pier, amusement rides, and bike rentals draw families; the promenade fills with street performers and shoppers. A few blocks inland, Montana Avenue and Main Street offer calmer coffee shops and bookstores.
Venice shifts moods block by block: Boardwalk vendors and muscle beach give way to Abbot Kinney's boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Canals hide quiet paths and bridges where ducks and kayaks share space. Mornings smell like ocean and espresso; afternoons bring surfers, skaters, and sunset watchers.
Evenings cool quickly, so bring a layer. This is where LA exhales, stares at the horizon, and then looks back to the rest of the sprawl.