Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, California

While you can find golf and country clubs just about anywhere, coast-dwellers are particularly fond of the surf & turf equivalent: the beach club. You can find them all up and down the west coast especially, which isn’t to say you’re likely to find another one like this.

Welcome to the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, California’s only public beach club. No membership required, no monthly or yearly fee, no snooty better-than-thou attitude. Just a charming place for anyone to come, make friends, have a splash and forget the cares of the daily grind. It’s cheap, pretension-free and it’s one of the most exciting new Santa Monica attractions.

And it is a charming place. The history of the property stretches all the way back to the roaring 1920’s, built by real-life Citizen Kane, William Randolph Hearst, for popular film star Marion Davies. After the rough Great Depression and Second World War, the 5-acre estate was converted to the Oceanhouse, a prestigious hotel, and the Sand & Sea Club, an exclusive beach club.

Though it continued this life for 50 more years until the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the city and people of Santa Monica had a different idea for the location upon reconstruction: a beach club where all we’re welcome and that captured the nostalgic spirit of the site’s history. It took another 15 years and an impressive grant by the Annenberg Foundation, but finally the Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach finally opened just this past April in 2009.

But enough about that – we’re more interested in what there is to do. Despite the beachfront location, the pool is the star attraction, and the public is hitting it up in droves. While the buildings are almost entirely new or at least significantly refinished, the beautiful marble swimming pool is vintage and wonderful. (So vintage, in fact, that there’s a sign warning guests the pool is not up to California safety code.)

Take a dip for cheap (just $1 on Mondays right now) and soak up the invigorating vibe of the community. There are also beach volleyball and beach tennis facilities, as well as the Marion Davies guest house, an original structure open to public viewing and docent-led tours. During the summer, every Tuesday brings a new cultural attraction to the beach house, featuring everything from concerts to lectures to performance art, all provided free with registration. Finally, you can eat on-site at the Back on the Beach Café.

The Annenberg Community Beach House is located at 415 Pacific Coast Hwy at Santa Monica State Beach. The club is open daily during the summer (through September) and available for rental during the off season. Next time you’re in Santa Monica, or anywhere in the Los Angeles area really, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind attraction. Learn more.

If you’re traveling in to Santa Monica, we’re fond of the Holiday Inn Santa Monica Beach Hotel. The location is sweet, right next to the famous Santa Monica Pier, and they’re a terrific family hotel.

Have fun!

Related Posts

1. Top Spring Break Beaches – Santa Monica Beach, California
2. Spring Break Beach Vacations – Santa Monica, California
3. Santa Monica Beach Hotel for Holiday Getaways
4. Budget California Attractions – Santa Monica Pier
5. Spring Break in Santa Monica – All-in-One Fun
6. Cirque Du Soleil on Santa Monica Pier – Oct 16 – Nov 15
7. Outdoor Adventure at the Santa Monica Mountains