Just moved to Santa Monica and looking to make friends?
I think the easiest way is to find something you actually enjoy and keep showing up. People here are generally very friendly, so don’t be afraid to talk to people. Some ideas:
- Beach volleyball: I love volleyball, so this would be my first choice. Join a volleyball group, league, or class and keep going regularly.
- Other sports: Pickleball, running groups, beach tennis, biking, and fitness classes are all good ways to meet people naturally.
- Volunteering: Try a food bank, community garden, animal shelter, or local community event.
- Meetup.com: Personally, I wouldn’t rely on Meetup too much. I looked around and didn’t find many interesting Santa Monica meetups, with quite a few being Spanish-language groups.
- Reddit: The Santa Monica subreddit has a lot of interesting recommendations from locals, so it’s worth browsing for ideas.
- Just talk to people: People in Santa Monica seem pretty open and friendly. A simple conversation at the beach, a class, or while doing an activity can easily turn into a friendship.
The main thing is consistency. Instead of trying something different every week, find a group or activity you like and keep showing up. Once people start recognizing you, making friends gets much easier.
— Alex