Best Santa Monica Historic Home & Garden Tours: Pricing, Reviews & Booking

While Santa Monica is famous for its pier and bustling beach, a quieter side of the city exists within the residential avenues of the North of Montana and Palisades neighborhoods. Garden Safaris offers a specialized way to experience these areas, blending architectural history with horticultural education on guided walking tours that feel more like a discovery hike than a standard sightseeing excursion.

The Garden Safari Experience

What distinguishes these tours is the focus on the "hidden" city. Instead of major tourist landmarks, guides lead small groups through quiet canyons, secret public stairways, and streets lined with meticulously maintained private gardens. The experience is designed to showcase the aesthetic evolution of Santa Monica, from early 20th-century Craftsman bungalows and Spanish Revival estates to the clean lines of Midcentury Modernism.

Garden Safaris currently offers two primary routes, each lasting approximately three hours:

• Garden Paths & Architectural Gems: A steady, photogenic walk focused on the elegant avenues where Mediterranean palms and rare pines frame significant residential designs. This route is mostly level ground and is ideal for those interested in landscape design and architecture.
• Secret Stairways, Storybook Streams & Ocean Views: A more active "urban hike" that involves navigating hidden neighborhood staircases and leafy canyons. This route offers a bit more physical challenge with inclines and stairs, rewarding walkers with unique coastal vistas.

Pricing and Booking Details

Group tours are generally priced at $75 per person. For those seeking a more tailored experience, private tours are available by request, typically starting at $200 for two guests, with a fee of approximately $75 for each additional person.

Bookings should be made in advance through the operator's website. Because these tours often traverse residential areas and narrow paths, group sizes are kept small to maintain an intimate atmosphere and minimize disruption to the local neighborhoods.

Good to Know

• Footwear: Wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes or sneakers. Even the "level" tours involve significant walking distances (often around 3–4 miles).
• Weather: Santa Monica’s coastal climate can be unpredictable. Mornings are often foggy (the "marine layer"), while afternoons can become quite warm. Dress in layers.
• Water and Sun Protection: Bring a reusable water bottle and wear sunscreen. While some canyon paths are shaded, much of the route is exposed to the Southern California sun.
• The Finale: Most tours conclude near a local "hidden gem"—often a neighborhood café or a quiet spot where you can grab a coffee or snack and decompress after the walk.

Who This Is For

These tours are ideal for travelers who prefer slow travel and local immersion over high-traffic tourist sites. Architecture buffs, garden enthusiasts, and photographers will find plenty of specialized content to enjoy. However, those with significant mobility issues may find the "Secret Stairways" route difficult; the "Garden Paths" route is a better alternative for those who prefer level terrain.

FAQ

How long are the tours?
Most Garden Safaris tours last approximately three hours and cover a distance of three to four miles at a moderate pace.

Are the tours suitable for children?
While older children who enjoy walking may find the gardens and "secret paths" interesting, the tours are primarily designed for adults interested in design and history. The three-hour duration and focus on architectural details may be challenging for younger children.

Do we go inside the homes?
No, these are exterior walking tours. The focus is on the architecture, the history of the property, and the surrounding landscape design as seen from the public right-of-way and garden paths.