Ultramodern, Earth-Friendly Hotel Debuts on Ocean Avenue

From the outside, it looks more like a contemporary art museum than a hotel. Straight lines and right angles predominate along the U-shaped exterior, its sleekness neutralized by windows glinting in the Santa Monica sunshine. In the lobby of the brand-new Shore Hotel, three walls of glass open out to panorama views of the historical Santa Monica Pier in the foreground and an endless stretch of ocean beyond that. Similar sights await on the guest rooms' private balconies, which are angled out toward the sea to not only enhance the beachside experience but to reduce energy usage by maximizing each room's exposure to daylight. As one of the first LEED-registered hotels constructed in Santa Monica, Shore stands out for its sustainability no less than for its ultramodern design.

Guest rooms reflect both themes. Plumbing fixtures minimize water consumption, and a continually monitored and adjusted energy-management system guards against wasteful use of natural resources. Recycled and recyclable materials were used in the hotel's construction whenever possible. The rooms' décor complements this focus on green technology by blending the tropical and the contemporary, with teal walls, tangerine accents, and white bedding.

Santa Monica: Bustling Beach Town Just Outside LA

Situated directly on Ocean Avenue, Shore Hotel is in a prime location for exploring nearby attractions, including restaurants, shops, and the Santa Monica Pier. Retail stores—including chains such as Express, Nike, and Urban Outfitters—line the pedestrian-friendly Third Street Promenade, which shouldn't be missed, if only for the street performers. Stationed in front of enormous dinosaur topiary are magicians, tango dancers, classical guitarists, and a precocious 8-year-old drummer rocking out to "Twist and Shout," all vying for attention.

By day, tourists pack the Santa Monica Pier, but the evening pier presents an inviting spectacle, as the lights from the amusement-park rides twinkle against the night sky and reflect in the rippling ocean’s black surface. It's hard not to get nostalgic amid the trilling of the 1922 carousel, the clicking of the roller coaster as it creeps up the track, and the fateful pronouncements of the Zoltar machines, as seen in the film Big. It's also a popular spot for fishermen, who can be found at their posts well into the night, still hoping to catch more white sea bass, smackerel, and discarded Adlai Stevenson action figures.

At lunch the next day, the locals are lined up at Bay Cities, a small gourmet market with an unbeatable deli. Long lines are pretty much guaranteed, but sandwiches such as the freshly made Godmother sub prove well worth the wait, and the 10-minute walk back to the beach makes for a scenic picnic lunch.