Rainy Day Blues?? Not in MY World ;-)

Hey guys! I decided to visit my sister in "sunny" Santa Monica this weekend to get away from the bone-chilling, Bostonian cold. I knew it wasn't exactly beach weather, but I figured that as long as I didn't have to wear 8,000 layers and a snowsuit, I was good to go. Unfortunately for me it's been raining since I got here :( No matter though, because a little rain can't get me down! We made the best out of the wiggity-whack-weather situation, and through it all I kept notes in my trusty Blackberry to eventually pass along the good news: there ARE fun things to do in California despite the rain, and here are a few suggestions to cure those rainy-day-vacay blues:

1. Hit the Shops on Main Street: Everyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE to shop (ALMOST as much as I love to travel, but not quite). Now, Main Street has a menagerie of fun little boutiques that you can visit, and they usually have GREAT sales, too. Prices range from namebrand-expensive (Patagonia) to cheap and trendy (DNA on Rose Avenue, right off Main). I just bought a cute little clutch for 20 bucks at DNA... made my trip already.. lol.

2. Treat Yourself to a Mani and a Pedi: There are plenty of little nail salons along Main Street that are open 7 days a week, and on a rainy day you usually don't have to wait for service. I went to a place called Toe Heaven where it only cost me $18 to get both my nails AND toes done... not a bad deal ;)

3. Take a Walk on Venice Beach: Sure, you may get a little wet, but if you bring an umbrella you can walk along this Great Bohemian strip and check out all the cool merchandise sold by local hippies. I bought some homemade glycerine soap with the smooth fragrance of jasmine and vanilla... UNBELIEVABLE.

4. Curl Up With a Book at the Novel Cafe: Located at 212 Pier Avenue, it's a low-key cafe/ used bookstore where you can seek refuge from the rain. If you don't have a book and the ones you find there aren't to your liking, stop into the little bookshop a few stores down and sort through the stacks of used books as you jam out to the smooth sound of classic jazz.

5. Dine Out at Mao's Kitchen: This Venice Beach restaurant boasts some of the best Chinese Food in all of LA. It has a funky, beachy vibe with an eclectic crowd: from Venice beach locals, to artists, to hipsters, to Industry workers, to families, to students, to surfers... basically, EVERYONE dines at Mao's, and with such a mixed crowd, you never know what to expect.

6. Go Organic at the Local Grocery Stores: Since it's raining, you might as well cross groceries off your To Do List, and with so many organic grocery stores offering pesticide-free (aka healthier) products, why go wholesale? One Life Natural Foods located at 3001 Main Street offers organic food at highly competitive prices.

7. Relax with a $40 massage at The Massage Place: $40 dollar massages... need I say more?

8. Visit the Farmers Market: It may be raining, but the stands at the Farmers Market remain open, selling unique produce like purple potatoes and blood oranges... As a vegetarian, I LOVE stocking up on produce at the Farmers Market whenever I'm here.

My trip isn't over, so I might add a few more fun things to do before I leave. Still, Santa Monica is really a great city, so if you ever get to visit and you meet a little rain, at least you know that your trip won't be a complete disaster. Also, I decided not to party too hard on this trip, but I do know that there are plenty of local bars and lounges in the area that are great to visit, including the Circle Bar and the World Cafe on Main Street, The Brig on Abbot Kinney, and the Other Room, which is a wine and beer bar that originated in New York.

In a couple of weeks I'll be visiting London, so be sure to tune in for some more travel tips and places to go! Until next time, Bon Voyage!


<3 Cynthia

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