Some have taken the concept of pleasure piers to an all-time high with carnival rides, and others have discovered that food is a great form of entertainment on a pier, especially served with a cocktail and beer.

It was tough to pick just five piers alone...but in the final analysis, these piers won accolades and awards for their overall use of space and combination of dining, entertainment, and the ever popular sport that each pier guarantees per California state fishing regulations--free pier fishing.

Catalina's Avalon Green Pleasure Pier. This pier is located on Catalina Island, an hour's boat ride from the mainland California cities of Southern California.

Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park on the Pier. Located in the heart of Santa Monica's beachfront, the historic pier and rides were renovated a few decades ago and feature one of Southern California's most fun, and photographed piers.

San Francisco Pier 39. This is one of California's busiest piers as a tourist attraction, featuring special events, entertainment venues, dining and shops all in one complex.  Among its attractions that you can gain admission to with one ticket is Aquarium of the Bay with amazing aquatic life of the San Francisco Bay and its surrounding waters. 300 ft. of crystal clear tunnels holding over 20,000 marine mammals provides an experience like skin diving without getting wet. You can get close and personal with sharks, rays, skates, and sea stars in three touch pools.

Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure or Escape from the Rock Cruise departs the pier. Choose from two different adventures: Blue & Gold Fleet’s Bay Cruise or Escape from the Rock Cruise. The famous one-hour Bay Cruise Adventure sails along the City’s waterfront, past the PIER 39 sea lions, under Golden Fate Bridge, by Sausalito, past Angel Island and around Alcatraz. Escape from the Rock Cruise, an hour and a half bay cruise journey sails under the Golden Gate Bridge then circles Alcatraz Island allowing you to see every angle of this mysterious island. Hear chilling accounts of harrowing escapes by notorious criminals as well as descriptions of the brutality of life on the island.

San Francisco Sightseeing Trolley Hop included in the ticket and departing Pier 39 environs is a 1-hour narrated tour aboard an authentic motorized cable car. Drive through San Francisco’s most scenic neighborhoods such as Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, Nob Hill, Downtown, Union Square, Chinatown, and Ghirardelli Square. Passengers can hop on or off at the following stations: PIER 39, Ghirardelli Square, and Union Square.
 

Santa Cruz Wharf.

Redondo Beach Pier. Page coming soon on this fun, fun spot.