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Celebrate A California-Style Christmas In Santa Monica

The holidays are here and for Angelenos who cannot have a white Christmas, we can still have a sandy one. The Shore Hotel has a special "Holidays in Santa Monica" package that lets you do just that. This would be perfect for locals looking for a family and friends staycation idea or travelers looking for a warmer holiday vacation destination.

When people think of the holidays they think of cold, snowing weather, snowmen, staying indoors bundled up by the fireplace because you cannot leave the house due to the blizzard outside… but in Santa Monica, you can enjoy the fun activities without the freezing temperatures.

ICE Santa MonicaYou can go ice skating at the ICE Santa Monica rink without being bundled up in five layers of jackets and scarves. You can take photos with Santa at Santa Monica Place and Santa might even be wearing sunglasses in the bright, 70-degree weather. Exchange gifts then take the whole family on a bike riding tour along the coast. Sip on eggnog and take a bite off your candy cane while looking at the spectacular views from your seat on the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel.

Santa Monica PlaceYou can enjoy all the pleasures, food, drink and festivities of the holidays outdoors under the smiling sun. It is the best of both worlds! The best part of all of this is that everything is within a few blocks from each other. You can walk from Shore Hotel to the Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade where the ICE Skating Rink is located, as well as to Santa Monica Place for great shopping and dining.

The Shore Hotel in Santa Monica is a very futuristic-looking, unique U-shaped design hotel located along Ocean Avenue with views of the iconic Santa Monica Pier and the ocean. This package is only available for stays through Dec. 29. Visit their website or call for more details.

ICE Skating Rink

Third Street Promenade
3rd St Promenade & Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90407
(310) 393-8355
www.downtownsm.com/ice

Santa Monica Place

395 Santa Monica Pl
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 394-5451
www.santamonicaplace.com

Santa Monica Pier

100 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-8900
www.santamonicapier.org

Shore Hotel

1515 Ocean Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90401
800.599.1515
www.shorehotel.com

Marian Bacol-Uba is a Marketing and Social Media consultant and a freelance food and travel writer/blogger. You can follow her travel and culinary adventures on www.marianthefoodie.com. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram. "LIVE. LAUGH. LOVE."

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