u/obsolete_techniques

Hello, I just moved to Santa Monica after living in landlocked states for a majority of my life. I used to vacation at the beach in the summer in my home country, but never had the pleasure of living near a beach previously. I now live 20 mins away from Santa Monica, and want to take advantage of that, and body surfing just seems like a great way to do just that. Are there any beaches that you'd recommend in the area? I'm a pretty good swimmer, but what I'm worried about most is getting in the way of other surfers. Also, any additional beginner tips would be very appreciated. Thanks!

26m, lived in Chicago and Denver previously

As title suggests, I got a job in Santa Monica/Sawtelle area and I’m looking for a place to live now. I came a couple days ago, and have been staying at an AirBnB in Culver City while touring places.

I’ve toured a handful of places in Culver City, Mar Vista, and Palms, and the apartments are all okay, but I’m not seeing many places with good natural light. I have a reasonable budget (up to $2500/mo for a studio/1 bed).

Also I’ve noticed these areas are a lot… calmer than I expected, which isn’t necessarily a problem, but I do enjoy going out dancing on weekends (one of my favorite parts about Denver was the EDM/Bass scene).

What areas would you guys recommend? I understand my requirements may be hard to find, but I think my hierarchy is:

1. Good natural light
2. 20-30 min commute to Sawtelle max
3. 500 sq ft or bigger
4. Neighborhood feel / walkability
5. In-unit washer/dryer
6. Easy enough access to nightlife/music scene