Ankura Cornhole Tournament Beach Picnic for 26 at Tower 20

In October 2022, a group from Ankura was staying at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Through Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, they asked us for something specific: a cornhole tournament on the beach, with snacks and drinks, on a Monday afternoon.

To keep the walk from the hotel short, we set up right next to Lifeguard Tower 20. A wooden walkway runs from the parking lot out across the sand there, and restrooms are nearby. We lined up five cornhole sets for the tournament and put the picnic tables alongside, so players could sit down between rounds.

With a two-hour window, the food stayed light. We brought chef's-choice charcuterie boards, a fruit platter, and still and sparkling water on ice. For a visiting group, it was an easy way to get a private beach activity without leaving the neighborhood: the whole setup was a short stroll from the hotel lobby.