Category: Santa Monica

The Getty Villa

The main courtyard at Getty Villa.

J. Paul Getty  once said the formula for success was: rise early, work hard and strike oil.  Having done just that he proceeded to try and give much of his new found wealth away.

One effort that stands out today is the Getty Villa in Malibu, CA. Built in the 1970’s to recreate a Roman villa, it is now used to house the Getty collection of antiquities. It is set back in the hills of the southern part of Malibu and enjoys the weather you would expect. We have visited it three or four times and always find something new to like.

Water Garden

In addition to the art and sculpture, there are gardens and fountains to enjoy and all of it can be introduced to you by docents who give excellent guided tours. The admission is free but parking is $15 per car. We always take the bus so it is free to us.

 

Amphitheater

In addition to everything else, there is a short movie on how the Villa came to be and the requisite restaurant and gift shop. Occasionally, they will have plays from ancient Greece or Rome performed in the amphitheater that is the first thing you see when you arrive.

If you plan to go, you should obtain a ticket for the date and time you want

Jupiter

to attend by going to their web site and booking it. You are expected to have a ticket to get in even though they are free. You will be glad you did.

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Santa Monica, California

This statue of St. Monica is right on the Pacific.

Having lived in Chicago for more than 40 years, we had reached a point where the idea of escaping the cold for at least part of the winter had significant appeal. So some years ago we asked my sister-in-law where she thought we should spend the worst winter months.

We have many friends who go to Arizona or Florida. After we admitted we did not play golf or sun bathe but did like the theater

You find interesting people around LA

and other entertainment related activities, she said we should spend our time in Santa Monica. We have been going there ever since.

The western end of the Will Rogers Highway

Los Angeles county is one of the biggest counties anywhere but there are a few cities in LA county that opted out of being governed by the county and set up their own government, police etc. Beverly Hills is one and Santa Monica is another.

 

The Aero often has in person visits of interesting people

The result is that you can have a distinct feel to a town even though it is in LA county. Beverly Hills definitely feels different and so does Santa Monica. SM has its own bus system and police and a neighborhood feel to it. It is about 15 miles west of downtown LA and right on the ocean. That keeps it cool when LA is hot but can also bring in the fog occasionally.

Hollywood Blvd.

We usually rent a condo in the Montana Ave. area where there are good restaurants and bus service that can take you anywhere you want to go. We never bring a car. Bus fares are surprisingly low especially for seniors. They have also recently added light rail so you can take a train from the Pier area in SM right to downtown LA.

Downtown LA

We have gone into LA on several occasions to do walking tours, visit museums and see plays. You can take the bus to Hollywood as we did one year to see them setting up for the Academy Awards.

Santa Monica has a nice blend of great weather, nice people, culture and access to a lot of other things that makes it our favorite place to warm up in the winter.

Broad Museum
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