16 miles west of downtown Los Angeles and 8 miles or 13 km north of Los Angeles International Airport is the one-of-a-kind Santa Monica. Bordered on the north by Malibu and the south by Venice Beach, the "beachopolis" is part city and part beach town. 3.5 miles of sand on the Pacific Ocean with city life parked at its shore allows a thriving film industry to utilize the best of California in their own back yard. .

Santa Monica also has a reputation as a shopping mecca for unique, arty and funky items not available in the malls.

An artist's flair touches everything from road signs and welcome banners to shop displays. The City Arts Commission and Santa Monica Museum of Art help make this a graphically enhanced city.