Santa Monica California Beach Vacation

piers Beautiful sunsets are the trademark of the quintessential California beach town, Santa Monica, which is also known for its pleasure pier that includes thrill rides.   16 miles west of downtown Los Angeles and 8 miles or 13 km north of Los Angeles International Airport is the one-of-a-kind Santa Monica. Bordered on the north by Malibu and the south by Venice Beach, the  "beachopolis" is part city and part beach town.   3.5 miles of sand on the Pacific Ocean with city life parked at its shore allows a thriving film industry to utilize the best of California in their own back yard.    Bicycle and jogging paths, Pacific Park amusements at Santa Monica Pier, three themed-shopping areas and over 20 historic buildings are a few of the reasons parking is at a premium here. Spaces are often hard to come by at such a popular place so a little time and patience is recommended to sustain you and make the excursion fulfill its promise of fun. Here's what you'll enjoy in the colorful city of Santa Monica.   Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier is located at Colorado Blvd. and Ocean Ave. Admission to the Park is free. Rides and games are  pay-as-you-go. Paid parking is available on and beneath the Pier. The park is open every day. Call for hours: (310) 260-8744   A book Santa Monica Story: Episode of the Rex dramatizes the era when gambling boats were anchored offshore in Santa Monica Bay during the 1930s. A ride on the  restored 1922 carousel in Pacific Park or a view from the roller coaster takes you back to that era. Pier amusements in a carnival atmosphere also include a towering Ferris wheel, arcade, bumper cars and motion simulator theater. Pacific Wheel is the only Ferris wheel in California situated over the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the only solar powered Ferris wheel in the world! It looms nine stories high and offers one of the best views around of the scenic coastline.   If beach amusements weren't enough to make this one of the most popular spots in Southern California, Santa Monica also has a reputation as a shopping mecca for unique, arty and funky items not available in the malls.  An artist's flair touches everything from road signs and welcome banners to shop displays. The City Arts Commission and Santa Monica Museum of Art help make this a graphically enhanced city. Other things to do include: Tour unique and historic buildings and visit the museums Shop in three colorful districts. Surf, swim, sunbathe, roller blade and bike at the beach. Films from independent film makers are featured in the year-round Santa Monica Film Festival. Tour the Getty Museum  10 miles up the hill.

Santa Monica  - Where Route 66 Begins (Click Map on Left) By Ron Bernthal   Special to The Christian Science Monitor  "Celebrating 75 years of America's legendary Route 66: The road goes on forever.  Between Lake Michigan's urban shoreline in downtown Chicago, and Santa Monica's trendy Pacific Ocean beaches, Route 66 winds its way through the heart of America, a 2,400-mile "Main Street" that may be the nation's most famous thoroughfare. Yes, that Route 66. The one the Dust Bowl refugees followed from the blinding sandstorms and blowing tumbleweeds of Oklahoma to the sunny skies of California. The rutted, dirt-covered highway that John Steinbeck called the Mother Road in The Grapes of Wrath. "

Angels Attic Museum   516 Colorado Ave. 90401 310/394-8331  California Heritage Museum   2612 Main St. 90405 310/392-8537  Museum of Flying   End of 28th St. 90405 310/392-8822 Pacific Park   Santa Monica Pier 90401 310/260-8744  Santa Monica Museum of Art  Bergamot Sta., 2525 Michigan Ave. 90404  310/586-6488 Santa Monica Pier   200 Santa Monica Pier 90401  Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, 1600 Ocean Front Walk 310/393-6149 THINGS TO DO: Shop in three colorful districts.  3rd Street Promenade Surf, swim, sunbathe, roller blade and bike and go on rides at the beach. Santa Monica Pier Independent film makers are featured in year-round Santa Monica Film Festival. Tour the Getty Museum  10 miles up the hill. Getty Museum Tour the Getty Villa on the border of Santa Monica in Pacific Palisades Getty Villa Tour  and visit the museums. Historic buildings Visit the Santa Monica Visitors Bureau on the web at www.santamonica.com Read about Historic Route 66 Route 66 Visit the beautiful hotels and enjoy great amenities.    Doubletree Hotel Suites