I recently had the chance to jet to Los Angeles – well, Santa Monica, in particular — for a three-day trip.
With only a few days in the beach-side city, I wanted to make the most of my stay.
Thanks to recommendations from my friends at Dermalogica
(all favourites of the brand's founder Jane Wurwand), I was presented with a list of absolute must-dos while there.
These were my favourites:
![Santa Monica travel diary covet and acquire Santa Monica travel diary covet and acquire](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9RgM1b7gs4/Weehw4LdtpI/AAAAAAAAKZY/7xAur9I5lro1XY0v6dbWps6OIO1dIjvhQCLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Btravel.jpg) |
Mandatory pre-boarding accessories pic |
![Santa Monica travel diary covet and acquire lax Santa Monica travel diary covet and acquire lax](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NyBdvSJ9X_E/WeehjEayzNI/AAAAAAAAKYc/E9xM-jwiFGsoYllV2tNA5cllPhIf7awcACLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Blax.jpg) |
At LAX |
![Santa Monica travel diary covet and acquire Santa Monica travel diary covet and acquire](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fKud8tH3Z60/Weeht5CaoMI/AAAAAAAAKZM/TgrUjNaFF0k7V-lMyfoHoUOtsS92DFrzwCLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Bstreet.jpg) |
These streets are too good not to photograph! |
![Everything looks better in the sunshine Everything looks better in the sunshine](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPhPotvvrT4/WeehbwTPdlI/AAAAAAAAKX0/P6e303ya9ZMBEzuW-pMEkH6wBMEnD7ncwCLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Barchitecture.jpg) |
Everything looks better in the sunshine |
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Where to stay:
The place: Palihouse Santa Monica (1001 3rd St., Santa Monica)
My take: This stunning boutique hotel has a lot of character — but somehow doesn't feel too over the top. The rooms are HUGE, complete with full kitchens. They're like a mini retro apartment.
From the fabulous breakfast, to the perfect location within a walkable distance to all things must-see in Santa Monica, this hotel was an absolute treat.
![Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fVwjOpQby3s/WeehoIuecEI/AAAAAAAAKYw/QcKnQ52S_sELCVuyo6MAP-P0XTfrwJDrQCLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Bpalihouse%2Bfountain.jpg) |
The courtyard |
![Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7UNkATlph1M/WeehoyXR1oI/AAAAAAAAKY0/VWwUUZpOKv4E2CSatKjmv9xwnn99cipzACLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Bpalihouse%2Broom.jpg) |
My room |
![Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N0cM52-2b4Q/Weehq2_AHQI/AAAAAAAAKZA/E5kK3hZijicSLX6K5tze7CdqVnp9MXKMgCLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Bpalihouse.jpg) |
Room service breakfast |
![Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9YY9mjXflJo/WeehjnTr5bI/AAAAAAAAKYg/gDwJ8rf4raoQmu7qq7E1Ng0RQyUq16bhwCLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Bpalihouse%2Bbathroom.jpg) |
The bathroom. So cute! |
![Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x9Xjuu_nHYk/Weehn19HJAI/AAAAAAAAKYo/3yYgdUI3wxA6ZixrQMzFkNQEU0--6_ZkwCLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Bpalihouse%2Bcourtyard.jpg) |
The courtyard (again!) |
![Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel Santa Monica Travel diary Palihouse Santa Monica hotel](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5DtsaDDsbig/Weehn1BrHiI/AAAAAAAAKYs/vWF6W1Qk5nwn5cb6uwl2JeZ55sIRMaTxgCLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Bpalihouse%2Blobby.jpg) |
The lobby |
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Where to eat:
The place: Kreation Organic Kafe (1023 Montana Ave., Santa Monica)
My take: This organic eatery serves up delicious eats that are also pretty good for you. It's the kind of place that's super busy all the time — and offers things like algae drops in your water (surprisingly tasteless) and syringes full of healthy shots (odd but oddly delicious).
The place: Gjilina (1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice)
My take: If you're planning to taste test this trendy eatery on Abbot Kinney in Venice — I recommend making a reso ... because otherwise you'll be waiting in line. The food here was delicious — think salads and appetizers as well as pizza that was TDF! The decor is cool and the patrons are even cooler. It's a place to eat, see and be seen, of course.
The place: Gracias Madre (8905 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood)
My take: When in LA, one must try two types of food: vegan and Mexican. (At least in my opinion!) This West Hollywood eatery ticks both of the aforementioned boxes by offering, yep, you guessed it, vegan Mexican food. Try the crazy-good Gorditas, Tamals and the Young Coconut Ceviche for some seriously good (and ultra-filling) eats.
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Where to shop:
The place: Abbot Kinney Blvd. (Venice)
My take: Sure, you could shop at one of the many shopping malls in the area, or, you could stroll along Abbot Kinney in Venice for a truly unique buying experience. Free of any major retail brand shops, the street boasts a cool collection of shops, restaurants, perfumers and more to wander through. My faves? Cuyana for fabulous leather goods.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m0Qv4v2WhGs/Weehb7gqX3I/AAAAAAAAKXw/g9BAFCofSFwcHRzLMcAw_ZmL76h2EIgeACLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Babbott%2Bkinney.jpg) |
Sweet scents from Strange Invisible Perfumes |
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kt7DaJyM5OY/WeehbuU_9VI/AAAAAAAAKXs/q6LCLEhJQkgAR3K0ZnyM2UpJWs6d8FjyQCLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Babbott%2Bkinney%2Bstreet.jpg) |
Top-down view of Abbot Kinney |
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Iy82-ZtTHI/Weehcu3qbwI/AAAAAAAAKX4/NLh2zUq0n7Yomq964hMbkYEs8S1DV6hoACLcBGAs/s1600/Santa%2BMonica%2Btravel%2Bdiary%2Bcayuna.jpg) |
A few of the bags at Cuyana |
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Where to sweat:
My take: Looking to get in a sweat sesh while on holiday (beyond joining the crowds of runners along the beach?). Consider stopping in for a pilates class at Speir Pilates. The pristine space offers basic, cardio and advanced pilates classes on reformer machines. Safe to say, I was shaking with exhaustion by the end.
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Where to relax:
The place: Dermalogica on Montana (1022 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica)
My take: If you're skin's in need of a pick-me-up after flying, you're going to want to head here. Offering a comprehensive range of services —from express facials to full-on treatments — it's a local go-to for skin rehab and maintenance.
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