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California Coastal Trail

Santa Monica: A Fortunate City With a Bright Future

Season 1 Episode 16

Ask most people around the globe to name a beach near Los Angeles, and the answer will probably be Santa Monica. From the city's iconic 100-year-old pier to Muscle Beach to its role as the backdrop of the television series, "Baywatch," Santa Monica is one of the most viewed beaches in the world. This five-mile stretch of coast receives over 5 million visitors a year!

Visitors can use a dedicated bike path and walkways along the beach to attend a free summer concert series in this coastal town on the western edge of Los Angeles. "We love the fact that the public has this kind of access to and through Santa Monica on the Coastal Trail," declares Kevin McKeown, the mayor of Santa Monica. And with its reliable public transit options, including a future Metro light rail stop, McKeown emphasizes that "Santa Monica has very consciously tried to design itself as a human-scaled city by the beach." The community has a bright future, and continues to beckon people from around the world to its friendly shores.

Support Provided By
Newport Beach: A Lifeguard's Story
2:41
Gary Conwell is a lifeguard officer for the city of Newport Beach for the past 18 years.
Marin Headlands: San Francisco's Backyard
5:02
Marin Headland's Golden Gate National Recreation Area hosts rich biodiversity.
San Francisco: Land's End
6:07
Lands End is a popular hiking destination at Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Crescent City Harbor Trail
6:28
Del Norte County is home to the cleanest river in the continental U.S., the Smith River.
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
5:26
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park hosts sea-side bluffs above ancient redwoods.
Connecting Communities on the Humboldt Bay Trail
6:03
The Humboldt Bay Trail is a network of trails that will connect Humboldt's largest cities.
Haul Road: MacKerricher State Park
5:59
The Fort Bragg Coastal Trail sees as many as 12,000 people per day on holiday weekends.
Restoring Coastal Access at Noyo Headlands Park
6:48
In Fort Bragg, California, an industrial mill site closed off the coastline for 150 years.
Pelican Bluffs and The Art of Trail Design
6:55
The Mendocino Land Trust has just completed the two-mile Pelican Bluffs Trail.
The Sea Ranch: An Environmentally-Planned Community
7:58
The Sea Ranch is an environmentally-planned private community along the Sonoma Coast.
Ownership of Tribal Land Restored at Kashia Coastal Reserve
8:10
In 2015, the Trust for Public land helped establish Kashia Coastal Reserve.
Discovering Russian History on the California Coast
5:28
Decades after the Russians withdrew, Fort Ross was acquired by the state in 1906.
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