There are lots of nearby attractions other than the tanning beauties and hairy-backed men.

Santa Monica State Beach doesn't win the cleanest or prettiest beach awards, but it does have plenty of things to do. There's the Santa Monica Pier, where families eat corndogs at the original Hot Dog on a Stick, ride the nine-story Ferris wheel at Pacific Park, play putt-putt at the Pirates' Pier mini-golf course, go 'round on the Santa Monica Carousel and look at sea creatures in the aquarium. Just south of the Pier, brains and brawn coexist nicely: Bobby Fischer-types fill the International Chess Park and Olympic wannabes take turns on the gymnastics rings. The Ocean Park area of the beach, near Main Street, offers beach volleyball courts, bike and Rollerblade rentals for the South Bay Bike Trail and (of course) surfing. Just blocks away, the Third Street Promenade offers shopping, restaurants, street performers and the occasional star sighting. To the south, Santa Monica State Beach blends right into Venice Beach, home of the infamous boardwalk, Muscle Beach and Venice Beach Drum Circle. And of course, if all you need is some sand on which to lay a towel, there's plenty of that too. —Mai Dinh