Back in 2010, as part of our California driving holiday we stopped in Santa Monica. First things first, we went to the Apple store and got the iPad I’d wanted and the camera connector.

We then wandered around town for a while just getting a feel for the place. Santa Monica is awesome, it has a really good vibe!

Santa Monica PIer

One of the most photographed locations in the world, Santa Monica Pier is a tourist heaven. Full of shops, activities and restaurants, it stretches out into the ocean. At night it is brightly lit with colourful LEDs.

Bubba Gump Shrimp

A chain restaurant based on a chain from a movie. Peculiar idea. The waiter guy was very impressed I had three pints with my meal, which appears to be a lot in the states.

I have found the American beer is actually fine. There are lots of bad beers around, but that's true in the UK too, Fosters is everywhere! Sam Adams is a good beer, had a few other local ones. It's the wine that seems to be the issue. Very expensive, most is about 9 dollars a glass, so at least 6 quid, and it's not great...

Cheesecake Factory

Everything you’ve ever heard about American portions is embodied in the Cheesecake factory. A vast menu of choices and the eponymous cheesecake is incredible, but literally thousands of calories a slice.