Hollywood superstar, philosopher, cowboy and radio celebrity, the list of achievements to his name makes Will Rogers one of the most popular and well known names of the 1930s. At the time he was earning a whopping $300,000 per movie, a massive sum in those days. This meant that he could afford to develop his sprawling ranch in Santa Monica, a 300-acre plot of land that looks out into the Pacific Ocean with a 31 room ranch house, a stable, riding ring, roping arena, corrals, polo field, golf course and countless other amenities. Part of this estate was donated by his Wife to the County of Los Angeles, and has since become the state beach that brings countless families joyful afternoons in the sunshine.

Just as he spends his days cavorting on his ranch, people can now enjoy the volleyball courts, picnic tables, playground, gymnastic equipment, cycling paths and hiking trails that define this one and three quarter stretch of sandy beach. The superb quality of the water and the strong breeze makes it ideal for swimming, surfing, sailing and kite surfing, not to mention made it the beach of choice for the filming of the famous TV series, Baywatch. Dive, kayak, go fishing – the possibilities are endless, with the additional bonus of the lifeguards on duty meaning that you don’t have to worry about the safety of your little ones. The legacy of this good natured humanitarian is passed on through the peals of laughter that come from children as they delight in the charm of this seaside abode.