Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier embodies what Southern California is all about: fun in the sun. Popular with tourists and locals alike, this iconic boardwalk adjacent to the Pacific Ocean—filled with all the amusement rides, midway games, fried food, ice cream and cotton candy you can dream up—is a fantastic place to spend a nice day. My favorite attractions are the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium and the world’s first solar-paneled Ferris wheel, which provides breathtaking beach and ocean views as you ride ‘round and ‘round. Be sure to dip your toes in the soft Santa Monica sand, too. Nearby, you’ll find the Third Street Promenade, a bustling entertainment district filled with wonderful eateries and shops.

The walk along/above the beach close to the Pier is simply beautiful. On some hot days a few adorable high school kids set up a lemonade stand that makes it even more beautiful. Buy 2 glasses and get a homemade cookie for free! You can’t beat that and lemonade is great, comes garnished with a mint. Not sure if they are there all of the time, take the walk anyway, it’s worth it.

2 words - why not?

After a busy day of rollerblading along the Santa Monica beach bike path, I approached a sunset charity concert taking place on the pier. The weather was unusually cold, but the orange glow from the sun seemed to resonate warmth when I took this shot of the pier in the distance. The pathway signifies new beginnings for me with the security of ambient glow in our wonderful world. This happened to be one of the most important days of my life - the day I decided to move to the place I’ve always dreamt of living - Santa Monica, California in order to embark on my dream job of being a film maker and writer.

Celebrate the picturesque views of Santa Monica at the beach with food, wine, friends, and new friends. Every Thursday night throughout the summer the city has live music on the pier. Head down on your beach cruiser at sundown for a fabulous chilled-out summer night.

With inexpensive parking nearby, amusement rides, fried food, candy, and endless people watching; the Pier is a great way to spend a whole day in Southern California. Enjoy the activities on the pier but don’t forget to venture to the town that is filled with wonderful restaurants and shops.

When I am traveling I always remember to watch a sunset. In my real life, so many things get in the way. I need to remember that this amazing event happens every day.