Our destination today is Santa Monica, located in Southern California and also known as SoCal, a “sunny” destination on Santa Monica Bay. Here we will share with you: What to do in Santa Monica – California.
Undoubtedly, the answer is entertainment, beach, pier and famous movie images. While all of this is true, we must not forget that in addition to having a coastline of 3.7 miles, this is also a large city with around 90,000 inhabitants.
Santa Monica Pier
The starting point could not be any other than the pier, the most popular and representative landmark.
O Santa Monica Pier, symbol of both Los Angeles beach life and the legendary Route 66 (which marks the end), is one of those “classic” attractions that anyone planning a California travel itinerary should consider.
The pier is made up of several areas. The first is the access ramp with sections for vehicles, bicycles or pedestrians, which leads to the intersection of Colorado Avenue and Ocean Avenue, marked by the white and blue arch of the Santa Monica Yacht Harbor , in front of the pink building of the Del Frisco's Grille (located at 1551 Ocean Ave).
In reality, the arch is just a historical icon that dates back to the 1940s, when there was an internationally renowned harbor.
The first person who bought space for his boat was Charlie Chaplin . This is a place where many visitors stop to take a photo.
The ramp leads from the shore to the beginning of the pier itself, where there is a large square platform (which can also be accessed on foot from the beach). At the end of this platform, there is a traditional pier that extends over the water.
The pier is not just a place for a beautiful long walk on the Pacific Ocean, where you can admire romantic sunsets and views of the beach; It's full of life and there are activities and fun for everyone .
You will pass by restaurants and shops until you reach the playland arcade and then to pacific park , the amusement park overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the only one of its kind on the West Coast to be located on a pier. Its most representative point, an icon of Santa Monica par excellence, is the Ferris wheel.
Beach of Santa Monica
Now that we've described the pier, we turn our attention to Santa Monica State Beach (Pacific Coast Hwy.), the other spectacular place Santa Monica is famous for.
It is a magnificent beach that extends to the sides of the pier. This wide stretch of golden sand is just over 3.4 miles long and is accessible from sunrise to sunset.
In some places the coast is surrounded by slender palm trees that reach to the sky.
Here you can swim, surf, play volleyball, have a picnic in the picnic area and, best of all, enjoy pleasant walks.
On this beach there are parks, playgrounds and even a large paved chessboard . There are quieter, more unspoiled areas where you are surrounded by the ocean and nature, as well as livelier areas where the houses overlook the coast.
In addition, there are observation towers and orange jeeps that drive along the coast.
A section of the beach has been nicknamed “The Inkwell” and “Negro Beach”. This goes back to the mid-20th century, when the Bay Street shoreline was one of the few areas in California where African Americans could enjoy the beach at a time of severe discrimination against African Americans.
It's amazing to admire Santa Monica State Beach from one end to the other and enjoy a splendid view of the coastline along the Ocean Front Walk , a wide bike and pedestrian path lined with palm trees, in addition to enjoying the beauty of the coastline , you can truly feel like you are in California , as Santa Monica is used as a typical california scenery in numerous films and series.
Ocean Avenue, Palisades Park and Tongva Park
ocean avenue it is a long and well-kept street parallel to the beach with restaurants, hotels, some shops, trees and areas where you can walk and admire the coastline.
Although Santa Monica is a big city, it also has welcoming spaces for people to gather.
In fact, along Ocean Avenue, there are two places where you can relax, admire the view and take beautiful walks.
The Palisades Park it can be reached by a staircase or a bridge elevated by the modern structure.
From the top, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Santa Monica Bay, the coastline and the sunset over the ocean.
As you walk through the park, you can observe more than thirty varieties of plants and trees, such as eucalyptus, pine, palm, and fig trees. There is also a garden with roses and some sculptures, as well as benches and picnic areas.
The Tongva Park is another park, accessible from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm, which has paths, fountains, sheltered picnic areas and an amphitheater. There are three fig trees that weigh over a hundred tons each. This is another location ideal for admiring the Pacific Ocean and the pier. The park is named after the Native American tribe that lived in this area.
California Heritage Museum
A little further from the beach and pier is the California Heritage Museum (2612 Main St.), a museum that promotes the diversity and rich history of Californian culture through exhibitions, publications, readings and events.
The museum is located in a historic building built in 1894. You can visit this museum from Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm by purchasing a ticket. For more information, have a look at the official website.
The museum of Flight
Not far from the airport, for fans of the sector, we highlight the Museum of Flight (3100 Airport Ave.), with historic planes, collections of aeronautical finds and an interactive and educational area for children.
The most famous aircraft in the interior is the replica of the “Wright Flyer”, the aircraft with which the two brothers made their first flight experiments off the coast of North Carolina. To visit the museum, you must buy a ticket. Opening hours vary according to the season.
Downtown Santa Monica
In town, there are three main streets that are great for walking and shopping . At the center of the city, there is the 3rd street promenade , a pedestrian street with shops and restaurants.
The most famous place to shop here is the Santa Monica Place , a three-story outdoor mall where you can also catch concerts at the Comedy Theater .
Street lanes are separated by elongated fountains adorned with hedges that look like dinosaurs.
Not far from the 3rd Street Promenade is the main street . Here there are other shops and restaurants, the Centro das Artes, which has various programs and events, the Visitor Information, and the City Hall, which dates from 1938 and houses original Art Deco paintings.
Within walking distance of the city centre, along the Montana Avenue , there are boutiques, restaurants, offices and much more. Also located here are the Branch Library, a large technology library, and the Aero Movie Theater, a movie theater that opened in 1940.
At that time, this movie theater was the only place of its kind open 24 hours a day, so shift workers could go to watch movies too.
What to do in Santa Monica – California
Did you like the tips?!
Enjoy and also read:
Pingback: Fun facts about California - Wenttrip