For Dr. Max Goldstein, the westside isn't just home—it's woven into nearly every chapter of his life. Born and raised in Santa Monica, he grew up surfing local beaches, worked as an ocean lifeguard in Venice and Will Rogers, attended medical school at UCLA and now cares for many of the same families he has known for decades. Today, the concierge family physician lives and works from a storybook Spanish-style home in the Santa Monica flats with his husband and young daughter, where he sees patients and develops his eponymous line of all-natural children's wellness products, Dr. Max’s. "As a physician, there is nothing more rewarding than helping children grow into healthy, thriving adults," Goldstein says. "Through my medical practice, I have the privilege of caring for families across generations. Through my product line, I've been able to take solutions I originally created for my own patients and make them available to families everywhere." What began as custom formulations for clients has evolved into a nationally distributed farm-to-pharmacy brand carried by retailers including Erewhon and specialty children's boutiques throughout Los Angeles. This fall, Dr. Max's will launch several new products, including a gentle Head-to-Toe Wash for babies and an all-natural Eczema Oil designed to support sensitive skin with clean, plant-based ingredients. "My roots here run incredibly deep,” Goldstein says. “There is a genuine sense of community here that is increasingly rare, and I can't imagine living anywhere else." Here, Goldstein shares a few of his favorite local spots. drmaxfamilyhealth.com; drmaxs.com
"The Santa Monica Farmers Market is, in my opinion, the best in the country. As someone who believes deeply in the connection between food and health, I love cooking seasonally and building meals around whatever is freshest that week. It's also one of the places where I constantly run into friends, patients and neighbors." Arizona Ave. & 2nd St., Santa Monica; santamonica.gov
"Sweet Rose Creamery is my favorite spot for a treat. I appreciate their commitment to high-quality, all-natural ingredients, and it's become a special place for me and my daughter to hang out together and look at all the people and their dogs. Woof woof!" 225 26th St., Suite 51; 310-260-2663; sweetrosecreamery.com
"Caffe Luxxe serves my favorite coffee in Los Angeles. Gary Chau, the owner, has built something truly special, and I love supporting people who care deeply about their craft. Some of my favorite moments are sitting outside with a cappuccino while my daughter enjoys her bottle and we watch the neighborhood go by." 225 26th St., Suite 53; 310-394-2222; caffeluxxe.com
"If I'm meeting friends for dinner or just sneaking away for a martini, R+D Kitchen is usually my first choice. It's a neighborhood institution and somehow always feels both familiar and special." 1323 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; 310-395-3314; rd-kitchen.com
"The free Sunday afternoon music at Palisades Park is one of the best family activities on the westside. My daughter loves the music, the ocean views are unbeatable and it's the kind of simple community experience that reminds me why I love raising a family here."
Ocean Ave., Santa Monica; santamonica.gov
"I've seen firsthand how much confidence and joy Sophie Dance gives children. Many of the families in my medical practice send their kids there, and it's amazing to watch how it helps young children develop confidence, discipline and friendships." 13050 San Vicente Blvd, Suite 201; 323-219-5930; sophiedancewestside.com
"Jon & Vinny's is one of my favorite family dinners. Beyond the great food, Helen of Helen’s Wine and Jon are both friends, and genuinely wonderful people who have created a restaurant that feels welcoming, fun and deeply connected to the community." 11938 San Vicente Blvd.; 310-442-2733; jonandvinnys.com