Located a few miles west of Los Angeles, the metropolitan beach town of Santa Monica promises visitors a wide variety of senior-friendly activities. Whether looking for a relaxing day on the beach, a way to get a little exercise or a chance to experience some culture, Santa Monica obliges.
A visit to the popular Santa Monica Pier reveals many senior-friendly activities. Browse the many specialty shops, enjoy a meal from one of the many eateries and restaurants, or cool down with refreshments from the old-fashioned soda fountain. For those with more piscine interests, the pier allows recreational fishing and plays host to the Heal the Bay Aquarium. Guests may fish without a fishing license. Rent fishing equipment and tackle from Santa Monica Bait & Tackle at the end of the pier. Heal the Bay Aquarium houses more than 100 plants and animals native to the area and offers many hands-on learning opportunities. During summer months, the Twilight Dance Series puts on weekly musical concerts. The concerts are free and begin at 7 p.m. Entrance to Santa Monica Pier is free, but parking ranges from $6 to $8, as of 2011.
Santa Monica offers visitors many opportunities to golf. The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks maintains a variety of public-access 18-hole, 9-hole and par-3 golf courses. Rancho Park Golf Course (18 holes), Penmar Golf Course (9 holes), Rancho Park 3-Par Course and Armand Hammer Pony Course (par-3) are the closest to Santa Monica. To play on City of Los Angeles golf courses, guests must obtain a Department of Recreation and Parks Player Card. Get one by completing an application. Applications may be filled out at the golf course, or ahead of time by contacting the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, or downloading the application from their website. Present a photo I.D. with your date of birth, proving you're 65 or older, and you'll receive a Senior Player Card. Senior Cards allow you to pay discount prices for your golf outings. Residents, nonresidents and seniors all pay the same initial flat rate of $25 for a one-year Player Card or $65 for a three-year card, as of 2011.
Santa Monica Beach stretches for three and a half miles along the Pacific Ocean, and boasts a wide array of senior-friendly activities. Averaging 340 days of sunshine a year, Santa Monica gives visitors plenty of opportunities to take advantage of these options. Activities available year-round include walking or running, swimming, sunbathing, sunset viewing and fishing. No license is required to fish from Santa Monica beach, and gear may be rented on the Santa Monica Pier. For some relief from the sun, step into the Annenberg Community Beach House. The Beach House serves as the beach visitor's center, offers classes and programs such as yoga and artist lectures year-round, and boasts a newly renovated beach cafe. Visitors can also rent beach-related equipment including chairs and umbrellas from the Beach House.
Those visitors with an appetite for some culture will find that Santa Monica offers choices to satisfy all tastes. Visit one of the five Santa Monica museums, browse more than 90 art galleries or take a stroll around the walker-friendly city to view some of the 40 public art installations and many historic landmarks. A combination of showrooms and shops in the design district lets guests explore a range of classic and modern home and office furnishings. Theaters and concert venues abound in Santa Monica, and the city hosts a year-round calendar of events from concerts to spelling bees.
