11 Unbelievable Fun Facts About Santa Monica You Need to Know

1. Real Muscle Beach: Santa Monica

Behold the battle of the bulging biceps and triceps: Contrary to popular belief, the one and only authentic "Muscle Beach" can be flexed and found in Santa Monica, not Venice, as many assumed during the 1960s and 1970s. This iconic workout sanctuary bestowed rippling fame upon legends like Jack LaLanne and Steve Reeves, and today, it still lures fitness enthusiasts and curious tourists to its swole-filled sands just south of the Santa Monica Pier.
Source => musclebeach.net

2. Saint Monica's Tearful Inspiration

Talk about divine intervention at the water cooler: Santa Monica was named after Saint Monica because the area's flowing springs reminded Father Juan Crespi of her tearful pleas for her son Augustine before his conversion. Never thought a good cry could make such a splash!
Source => smconservancy.org

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=> Fun Facts about Los-Angeles

3. Pier's Roller Coaster Past

Before the Kardashians dethroned them, the Santa Monica Pier was the roller coaster ride inventor's crowning jewel, entertaining thrill-seekers and making the pier the place to cut a rug: Originally built in 1916 by Charles Looff, the pier featured a gigantic roller coaster, the world's largest circle swing, a fun house, restaurant, and a two-story hippodrome, later adding a 15,000 square foot La Monica Ballroom in 1924 that attracted thousands of dance enthusiasts.
Source => westland.net

4. Route 66's Ironic Finish Line

How many tires were left weeping at the Santa Monica Pier, thinking they'd reached the end of Route 66, only to be one congrats-party short of the finish line? The comic irony of it all: The true endpoint of Route 66 is actually at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard, a mere hop, skip, and a jump away from the Pier, but Santa Monica cleverly embraced the lore and reassured those misled tires by dubbing the Pier the "End of the Trail" for eager travelers' sake.
Source => theroute-66.com

5. Shopping Paradise: Santa Monica Place

In a Gehry-Jerde architectural dream where shopaholics can literally shop 'til they drop into the Pacific Ocean: Santa Monica Place, designed by Frank Gehry and Jon Jerde, is an endearing outdoor shopping mall that's two blocks from the beach, houses upscale stores like Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton, and is anchored by Nordstrom. This one-of-a-kind retail hub emerged from a three-year makeover in 2010 and sits proudly at the south end of Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Bark Busters: Canine Whisperers

Who let the dogs out? Santa Monica dog trainers, that's who: Bark Busters Home Dog Training's Karina Gonzalez and Erind Bisha are the canine whisperers of our modern world, tackling issues like aggression, barking, sibling rivalry, and more using non-physical, positive training techniques – all in the comfort of dog owners' homes – plus a Life-of-the-Dog Support Guarantee to ensure our furry friends remain good boys and girls, no matter where their adventures may lead.
Source => barkbusters.com

7. Affordable Acting Classes at Stella Adler

Ever wondered where to hone your craft as a dramatic thespian or perhaps a reel-deal star without needing to sell a kidney or two? The City of Angels, Santa Monica, has kindly answered your prayers: The Stella Adler Center for the Arts offers a smorgasbord of summer part-time workshops for aspiring actors, including acting technique, scene study, voice and speech, on-camera technique, and film and TV classes starting in June, all without the typically hefty Hollywood price tag.
Source => stellaadler.com

8. Century-Old Carousel by the Sea

When life gives you lemons, trade them in for a carousel ride by the sea: The Santa Monica Pier is home to a historic carousel that's been spinning for over a century, along with an amusement park, scrumptious carnival food, and hosting free outdoor concerts, movie screenings, and explosive New Year's Eve celebrations with fireworks to boot.
Source => cityseeker.com

9. Sign Language & Savings at Apple Store

Get ready to break the language barrier with a side of sizzling hot Apple deals: the Apple Store in Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade serves up free sign language interpretations through an on-demand video service, while also dishing out up to $1000 in savings on iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max with carrier deals.
Source => apple.com

10. McDonald's Widow Funds Peace Sculpture

When mushroom clouds sprout up in Santa Monica, people don't panic – they grab a burger and gaze at art: Behold the "Chain Reaction" sculpture, an 8-meter-tall anti-nuclear peace monument designed by Paul Conrad and built by Peter M. Carlson. Standing tall since 1991, this metal and concrete vision of a mushroom cloud was donated to the city after Joan Kroc, widow of the McDonald's founder, anonymously channeled $250,000 to the project. Today, the sculpture remains a historic landmark, supersizing Santa Monica's love for public art.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Big Blue Bus Goes Green

Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus says, "We knead this dough to make some clean energy buns!" With a cheeky nod to their baked-goods-weaving sustainable progress, they became the first transit agency in Southern California to purchase buses with near-zero CNG engines, converted their entire fleet to RNG, and are now piloting battery-electric buses with an aim to be fully green by 2030.
Source => bigbluebus.com