Ginger Rogers Beach

Located in the city of Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, Ginger Rogers Beach is a small beige sand beach.  This beach is a section of the immensely popular three-mile-long Will Rogers State Beach, positioned along the south of Pacific Coast Highway.  The area that stretches from lifeguard towers 17 and 18 is referred to as Ginger Rogers Beach, which has a beautiful backdrop of rugged cliffs and many oceanfront buildings, including a beach club, tennis courts, condominiums, hotels, and many restaurants. 

Ginger Rogers Beach has been known as an unofficial LGBTQ+ friendly beach since the 1940s.  This beach holds a significant place in LGBTQ+ history and culture and was considered a haven for this community during times of societal discrimination during World War II.  In the 1950s, there were beach patrols that targeted what was then referred to as “homosexual behavior” which led to a confrontation that occurred between beachgoers and police, highlighting tensions between the LGBTQ+ community and law enforcement.  This beach hosted numerous social gatherings and fundraising activities for LGBTQ+ organizations in the late 1980s.  After that, in June 2023, lifeguard towers 17 and 18 were painted with the colors of the Progress Pride Flag to honor the beach's LGBTQ+ history.  Shortly after being painted, the lifeguard towers were vandalized, but they were subsequently restored.  Despite challenges, the beach remains a symbol of resilience and pride for the LGBTQ+ community.

Ginger Rogers Beach has several amenities, including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, changing rooms, volleyball courts, a picnic area, beach equipment rental facilities, walking paths, cycling paths, snack bars, nearby restaurants, and hotels.

Ginger Rogers Beach offers several fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, strolling, building sandcastles, beach volleyball, biking, surfing, paddleboarding, and tidepooling.  If you plan to go into the water, we recommend being careful, as water is known to have unpredictable rip currents.  This beach is a popular spot for surfing due to its frequent windy weather.  If you enjoy tidepooling, you may spot an array of marine life, including anemones, crabs, starfish, and octopus, making it a fascinating spot for nature enthusiasts.  Hikers can enjoy the nearby hiking trails, which offer unique insights into the local biodiversity.  Visitors can also enjoy biking, as this beach is part of the popular Marvin Braude Bike Trail.  Dogs are allowed if they are on a leash, and it is open from sunrise until sunset.

Ginger Rogers Beach offers an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting to Ginger Rogers Beach is easy - the beach has a paid parking lot located near 14800 CA-1, Pacific Palisades, California 90272, United States, which offers easy access to the beach.

Interestingly, this beach is named after Ginger Rogers, who was the beloved actress and dancer admired by gay men won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starring role in the movie Kitty Foyle.  In the summer of 1957, drag queen Jose Sarria performed an impromptu show on the sands of Ginger Rogers Beach.  Also, it was the place where prominent LGBTQ+ figures like Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy connected.  In addition, it continues to be a gathering space for LGBTQ+ events and socializing.

There are many attractions near Ginger Rogers Beach.  Getty Villa is an art museum that showcases a vast array of ancient artifacts, including sculptures, pottery, jewelry, coins, and other objects from ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria, through interesting exhibits.  It also has an outdoor amphitheater that hosts educational programs, cultural events, theater performances, and lectures.  Santa Monica Pier is a waterfront family entertainment area that offers many fun activities, including a small amusement park, an aquarium, a carousel, a fishing pier, a shopping arcade, and many casual to fine dining restaurants.  In addition, it also hosts many interesting events throughout the year, including fireworks shows, pirate shows, open-air movies, and themed events.  Tongva Park is a dog-friendly park spread over six acres and features unique structures, art sculptures, modern architecture, efficient landscaping, energy-efficient lighting, and eco-friendly features.  It offers many amenities, including playgrounds with swing sets, a splash pad, picnic areas, picnic tables, benches, restrooms, paved paths, bike racks, and a parking lot.  

The Golden Triangle is an upscale shopping arcade in the heart of Beverly Hills, which is home to the world’s famous and luxurious fashion and retail brands and many fine dining restaurants and gourmet eateries.  It attracts visitors from all over the world who come to experience glamor and high-end shopping.  If you are looking for another nearby attraction, Will Rogers State Historic Park was once the private estate of famous humorist, actor, and social commentator Will Rogers, which was turned into a state park.  It features a ranch house where visitors can enjoy guided tours of the house of Will Rogers, which provide interesting insight into his life and personality.  In addition, visitors can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and many interesting events, including talks and events that celebrate the life and legacy of Will Rogers.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Ginger Rogers Beach.  Golden Bull Restaurant is an upscale seafood restaurant that serves incredible soups, salads, steaks, seafood, meat, poultry dishes, and desserts.  Locanda Portofino serves amazing Italian cuisine, including salads, soups, burgers, sandwiches, steaks, pizzas, pasta, ravioli, seafood, and poultry dishes.  Spumoni Pizza Restaurant serves salads, pasta, pizza, gnocchi, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  Pearl Dragon serves incredible Asian, sushi, and Japanese dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Fiesta Feast serves burritos, fajitas, salads, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and enchiladas.

If you are looking for a hotel near Ginger Rogers Beach, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an upscale oceanfront hotel, the 5-Star Regent Santa Monica Beach is just four minutes away by car and offers many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a spa, hot tubs, and many restaurants.  A more affordable hotel is the 4-Star Sandbourne Santa Monica, Autograph Collection, which offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a rooftop bar, a terrace, and a restaurant.  Another moderately priced option is the 4-star Fairmont Miramar - Hotel & Bungalows, which offers many amenities, including a spa, a heated outdoor pool, hot tubs, and a fitness center.  A more reasonably priced option is the beachfront 3-Star Holiday Inn Express West Los Angeles-Santa Monica, an IHG Hotel, which has several amenities including a fitness center, a garden, and a complimentary breakfast.  If you are looking for another good nearby hotel, the 3-Star Hotel Angeleno has many amenities, including a heated outdoor pool, a fitness center, a restaurant, and complimentary breakfast.