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. Heree'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 |
|
