For my inaugural Walking Tour and Map for Santa Monica, I’m featuring three of its most popular locations– the Third Street Promenade, Palisades Park, and the Santa Monica Pier.

Relax, it’s not too bad to move about as they’re all within a 2.07 mile walk. Starting at Wilshire and Ocean Ave., you’re greeted by the St. Monica, who oversees her domain.

Continue walking on the pathway in Palisades Park—which also has a well worn jogging track.

With panoramic views of Santa Monica State Beach on your right, don’t miss the uniqueness of Palisades Park, a great place to just stroll and enjoy a twisted view of nature at work.

Across the street is the legendary Georgian Hotel, an emblem the of Art Deco Architectural style of Los Angeles.

As the Tour moves toward Ocean Avenue, the iconic Santa Monica Pier is omnipresent–soon it will have its grand 100^th Anniversary. Be sure to mark your calendars for next month, because on September 9^th there will be a huge celebration replete with the largest fireworks display on the Pier in 18 years.

From the Pier, walk back to Colorado Blvd. While there be sure to check out the new Santa Monica Place. Slated to open August 6^th, 2010, the newly renovated Santa Monica Place will transform and replace the old mall into a vibrant, open-air, street scape – providing Santa Monica with another new dining and retail destination.

As you turn the corner at Colorado and 2^nd Street, don’t miss the colorful angel who stands constant and vigilant guard at this mixed use building.

Today’s walking tour ends at the Third Street Promenade.

These photos are a great example of places that you can visit, eat, or just enjoy a walk in the California sun. Santa Monica may be a small town, but its chock full of things to do, and walking is only one of the ways to make you feel better–your heart will thank you later.

View Walking Santa Monica in a larger map

Please click the Travelin’ Local sun icons on this Santa Monica Walking Tour Map, for more details, photos, and ideas for your next visit. Be sure to check out Travelin’ Local’s Mapping LA Public Art project, it’s being updated as we speak, incuding some of the additional sites from this walk.