When I’m not at work or I don’t have any school stuff to do, I usually spend most of my free time either binge-watching a series or going on a movie date with my boyfriend. Leave me on a deserted island with a laptop and a movie-loaded hard drive, and I’ll survive months of no Internet connection. Haha! Okay, that was an exaggeration. But yup, that’s me!
Given that I’m such a movie buff, it won’t come as a surprise that my bucket list includes visiting Santa Monica Pier. It is, after all, an iconic location for hundreds of hollywood movies.
During my recent trip to Los Angeles, I was finally able to tick Santa Monica Pier off my list. Yay! It was just as beautiful as I have imagined it to be—so laid-back, a bit chilly, and uber romantic all at the same time! I felt kilig as the beach scene of Terri and Jay from Raise Your Voice played in my head. The hype was even more heightened when I remembered the first few episodes of Lee Min Ho’s The Heirs.
Okay, so before I go on babbling about this whole dream-come-true extravaganza, allow me to make this post a little more helpful by sharing with you 6 fun things to do when you visit Santa Monica Pier. Haha! Pens out guys, and let’s begin!
1. Long walk on the beach
The main attraction, of course, is the Santa Monica beach. It’s hard to miss this one out as it basically runs the length of Santa Monica itself. I heard this long beach often attracts big crowds of tourists, but I wouldn’t mind if I were you. The fact that it’s often crowded adds to the holiday, weekend-ish vibe of the infamous attraction no matter what day it is.
2. Funfair at Pacific Park
Whether you’re planning a family bonding day or a romantic date with your partner, this is the place to be. It’s got a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, other thrilling and children-friendly rides, carnival games, and food stalls. The Pacific Park has got every ingredient you need for a fun day at the park.
3. More fun at the Playland Arcade
Fun games don’t end at the Pacific Park. Just beside it is this old but goodie arcade. They’ve got over 200 games, ranging from classic ones like PacMan to contemporary ones like Dance Revo. Make sure to spare some energy, which you’ll be needing to cheer on some stranger dude trying to beat the current high scores.
4. Food trip with a scenic view
The pier’s got several restaurants to choose from, a food court, and food stalls at every corner. While most locals would say that the food here are generally overpriced, I say what us tourists are actually paying for are the view and experience. Here’s a tip, if you’re planning to eat at any of the sit-down restaurants, prepare to bring some patience with you as the line can be quite lengthy especially on weekends and holidays.
5. Bike down the Marvin Braude Bike Trail
Feeling extra energetic? The famous paved bicycle path, also know as The Strand, passes along Santa Monica beach. If you wanna shed a few pounds while admiring the scenic view of the shore, you may borrow a bike at one of the rental shops in the area.
6. Find your own spot and people watch
The area is just so calm and full of energy at the same time. Seeing people coming from different places all over the world, and watching street entertainers do their art while you wait for the sun to set is the best way to end the day at Santa Monica Beach.
So there you have it! There’s a lot more to do here at Santa Monica Pier actually, and I really, really hope to experience all of them when I come back. My fingers are crossed! To cap off this post, let me share with you a few photos that we took—my sisters and I—on our visit.
Beautiful place, isn’t it? Hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I did writing it! Safe travels everyone ?