Santa Monica

Santa Monica, though part of the Westside, is a city onto itself. While its schools are highly praised, for years its city council has found itself embroiled in controversy. Its diverse and growing population is reflected in its housing: older apartments, condominiums, townhomes that have  direct entrance from private garages, homes on relatively small lots, larger, grander homes, newer full service condominiums that overlook the Pacific Ocean and for the lucky few, a stretch of homes right on the sand. Santa Monica is famous for its pier, its art community and active outdoor lifestyle.

For window shopping and relaxing afternoons, Montana Avenue located three blocks north of Wilshire Boulevard offers charming boutiques, nouveau restaurants and specialty stores for interior design furnishings. Between Olympic and Pico Boulevard there is the Bergamot Station, a historic train station that has been transformed into a dynamic art center with numerous art galleries, unusual shops and the Santa Monica Museum of Art.