If you’re visiting L.A., I highly recommend visiting the Santa Monica pier because you’ll most likely recognize it from movies and TV shows since it’s a popular filming location. I also recommend visiting the Santa Monica pier because there are a lot of fun things to see and do on and near the pier.
The Santa Monica Pier is the official end of Route 66. If you’re traveling to California on a Route 66 road trip, you can take a picture with the end of Route 66 sign on the pier.
The Santa Monica Pier has multiple restaurants and gift stores, scenic views, an amusement park called Pacific Park, and a historic carousel that has been used as a filming location in multiple TV shows and movies.
Parking
Parking at the Santa Monica Pier is really easy and there are several options. There is a parking lot located right on the pier, which is very convenient; although, sometimes this parking lot is closed for special events. There are also beach parking lots located just below the pier, and there are stairs that you can use to walk up to the pier. Another parking option is to park along the street (if you can find a spot) or in a parking garage in Santa Monica and walk onto the pier. There is a crosswalk right at the pier, so it is easy to access if you’re visiting the mall or the outdoor shopping area on the Third Street Promenade, for example.
Restaurants
As far as restaurants, there are three that I recommend. One is called Bubba Gump. This is a chain restaurant that you can find in lots of touristy locations. It’s themed after the movie “Forrest Gump.” If you like seafood and “Forrest Gump,” this is a fun place to eat.
A quick service restaurant we like is called Pier Burger. They have delicious burgers and ice-cream.
Our favorite restaurant on the Santa Monica Pier is called Maria Sol. This is a Mexican restaurant located at the very end of the pier. The food is good, but honestly, it’s not the best Mexican food I’ve ever had. What makes this restaurant my family’s favorite on the pier is the location and the view. Like I said, it’s at the very end of the pier!
Pacific Park
Pacific Park is free to walk around, but you’ll need to buy tickets to go on any of the rides. You can also buy an all-day wristband if you’d like to enjoy all the rides or ride some of them over and over again.
The most iconic ride on the pier is the ferris wheel, which is called the Pacific wheel. It is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel.
Another iconic attraction is the Santa Monica Pier’s rollercoaster which is called the West Coaster. This is the only oceanfront, steel roller coaster located on a Pier on the Pacific coast.
Pacific Park also has an arcade and multiple games you can play, again, for a small fee. It’s a very fun place to spend a few hours for some family fun!
The Carousel on the Santa Monica Pier
What’s Under the Santa Monica Pier?
