Station to Station: Santa Monica

The summer heat is hitting hard, which means it’s time to head to the coast for some fresh sea air. But who wants to brave that weekend freeway beach day traffic with a car full of sandy and overheated little ones in tow? Not this gal.

The Downtown Santa Monica metro stop is the ultimate hack, and there’s plenty to explore in the area around the station once you arrive. So here, without further ado, is the Backseat Babies Station to Station Guide to Santa Monica by rail:

GETTING THERE:

The Downtown Santa Monica station is served by the Expo line, has plenty of ramps and shade, and the outdoor platform is stroller accessible. Once you’re there, wide shaded sidewalks make it easy to get around.

EAT:

It’s Santa Monica, so you really can’t walk more than a few feet without running into a good meal, but there are a few spots right off the train that come highly recommended by my Westside friends. Sweet Maple on Ocean Avenue is a family-friendly brunch spot, while Blue Daisy has a dog-friendly patio if you’ve brought a furry friend along for the ride.

For lunch, Sol Agave and Joe’s Pizza are great casual options for tacos and slices, respectively, while Bruno’s Italian has a great menu of pastas. If you make it all the way to the pier, The Albright is the move for fried fish and chowder in the sunshine.

I know we all love a little sweet treat, and nothing hits harder on a beach day than a nice ice cream. Bacio di Latte has Italian gelato close to the promenade, while Scoops Creamery is right on the pier. For unusual flavors, Rori’s Artisanal Creamery has everything from brown sugar to lavender honey, while Gelato Jee (hidden inside Urban Skillet on Main) serves up South Asian inspired flavors like jalebi and ras malai.

SEE:

I love packing a picnic or grabbing snacks to go and heading to Palisades Park, where you can gaze down at the ocean from the bluffs and even explore the secret camera obscura (!). Tucked away under the pier is Heal the Bay Aquarium, where the touch tanks let you get up close and personal with our underwater friends.

DO:

If you need to get out of the sun, there are actually a surprising number of great kid-friendly museums within walking distance of the stop. The Santa Monica History Museum is a cute, low-key vibe with a really fun “Then and Now” map kids love to explore. Hidden inside Santa Monica Place, the Cayton Children’s Museum is the go-to spot for hands-on, sensory play. And for older kids looking for a fun photo op, the Museum of Illusions is a surrealist dream.

PLAY:

Five minutes from the station is Tongva Park, where the playground doubles as public art with climbing structures that look like sculptures, and an observation hill with ocean views. Protip/caution: there are no bathrooms, so have a potty plan in place.

Obviously, the big ticket here is the Santa Monica Pier/Pacific Park/Carousel trifecta. Dating from 1916, the carousel costs just $3 per ride, and Pacific Park has a cheap all-day kids’ pass for little ones big enough to brave the roller coaster.

Thursday, July 9th

Oxy is kicking off its summer theater programming for children this weekend! This season’s selection is the macabre and delightful Little Shop of Horrors, a treat for young and old alike.

Friday, July 10th

Barnsdall’s subsidized art classes are some of the most incredible deals in town, and this weekend they’re highlighting some of the community’s best work at the Summer Night Art Fair. Shop the fair, stay for sunset, grab takeout from Kismet Rotisserie on the way home.

LACMA is hosting another jazz night, this time featuring Jonathan Pinson’s Boom Clap. Pack a picnic, take the train, it’s another great Friday night in LA.

Or for something really special, head to St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Redondo Beach, where they’ll be hosting the South Bay Greek Festival. Food, Greek music, and fun all weekend long.

Saturday, July 11th

It’s KCRW Summer Nights at Hauser & Wirth. Time for free open-air DJ sets, food trucks, a beer garden, and after-hours gallery access for all.

We love a little nature first thing on a Saturday morning, and this week, join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for a Nature Club meeting, where kids will explore the blufftops and get a chance to see the rare El Segundo blue butterfly during its flight season.

Put this week’s guide into action on the 3rd Street Promenade for Santa Monica Block Fest Vol. V, where you can explore the food night market, shop the vendor village, and listen to live DJ sets.

You know we love our undersung museums, and this week the incredible International Printing Museum in Carson is hosting the Americana Car Show, a family-friendly fest with vintage cars and live printing demos on their historic machines.

Celebrate 100 (!) years of bookworming at the Central Library Centennial Festival, where the downtown location will host the unveiling of the world’s largest pop-up book by Boyle Heights artist Daniel González, plus performances by Bob Baker Marionette Theater, the Linda Lindas, the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, and L.A. Taiko Ichiza. Get hands-on with zine and tunnel-book workshops, while grownups take in a talk with The Library Book author Susan Orlean.

For something a little more active, the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is hosting the Casa Mexico: Mariachi Family Festival, where visitors can enjoy live mariachi from student ensembles, a bilingual family Zumba session, soccer-themed art installations, and hands-on workshops.

Sunday, July 12th

The festival vibes continue on Sunday, as Beverly Hills brings the Festival Beverly Hills back to Beverly Gardens Park. Expect music, dance, interactive workshops, and culinary delights.

At the Hammer Museum, they’re hosting a free matinee screening of Edward Yang’s Mahjong, followed by an afternoon of tiles and conversation in the courtyard from Mahjong Mistress.

It’s the second Sunday of the month, which means it’s time for the Venice Street Fair, with local artists, vintage finds, handmade goods, food vendors, and live music in a walkable Westside stretch.

End the weekend with the Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series at Burton Chace Park with a particularly kid-friendly edition: Marina del Rey Symphony performing Encanto in Concert.