Los Angeles has many communities and cities that sit along the sunny shores of Santa Monica Bay. Malibu might be the most famous and has some of the most exclusive beachside and ranch residences in all of the California Coast. The city of Malibu was incorporated in 1991 and home to many Hollywood Movie Stars and people in the entertainment industry. State parks and beaches line the Malibu coast and include Malibu Creek State Park, Point Mugu State Park, Surfrider Beach, Zuma Beach, Malibu Beach, and Point Dume Beach, just to name a few.
Pacific Palisades is the next community just south of Malibu and West of Brentwood. It is primarily residential with a popular city center, which just became more exciting with the new “Palisades Village” by Rick Caruso who developed The Grove shopping mall in Mid-Wilshire and has many curated boutiques, restaurants, and shops. The homes in this community can either have a very neighborhood feeling or can experience magnificent views of either the local Riviera Country Club Golf Course or dramatic Ocean and Mountain views. In addition to the beaches, another popular spot in the Palisades is the Will Rogers State Park where a polo field was built in 1926 along with a home for the famous Will Rogers.
Santa Monica was and still is a beach city! Palisades Park is one of few places in California where a city has maintained the ocean view for the enjoyment of all the population! Established in the early 20th Century, it gained fame as a “ Resort Town” with a feel and climate most similar to the Mediterranean Coast. It is most popular for its pier and dramatic beachfront. Santa Monica is known for its shopping districts, especially Third Street Promenade, and Montana Avenue. It also houses the annual Santa Monica Film Festival. Its housing varies from low-income rentals, condominiums, California craftsman bungalow to prestigious estates.
Venice is known for its Bohemian Spirit and love of Beach! It has recently gone thru a total make-over, especially since Silicon Beach is now LA’s Hottest Tech Scene, considered the 2nd or 3rd hottest tech hub in the world. Well-known companies like Google, Snapchat, Yahoo and Facebook have entered the area, not to mention the over 500 start-ups in the area! Venice is famous for its Oceanfront Boardwalk featuring performers, mystics, street wall art murals, artists and vendors and amazing beachfront with adjoining canal streets and shopping district of Abbot Kinney. The canals and bridges are still evident and being refurbished. Venice was the brainchild of Abbot Kinney who came to California in 1880 with a dream to create an exotic city resembling the architecture and waterways of the famous Italian City which is its namesake.
Marina Del Rey is another popular seaside boat -oriented community and has the largest man-made small-craft harbor/marina in North America. The harbor is owned by Los Angeles County and is home to over 5,000 boats. It is a wonderful area for Condo Living and is close to the beach with superb bike paths that run North to Malibu and South to Redondo Beach.