Santa Monica Beach Travel Guide 🌊

Parking 🅿️: We parked at Beach Parking Lot 1 North, right next to the Santa Monica Pier. It costs $15 for the whole day, but since we only stayed for 2 hours, it wasn’t the most cost-effective option. I’d recommend looking for other parking spots nearby. The upside? This lot is super convenient, spacious, and usually has plenty of available spots. ⚠️ On our way to the pier, someone approached us holding a CD — avoid these people! It’s a well-known tourist scam. 📸 The iconic Route 66 End of the Trail sign is a must-visit! There was a small crowd waiting to take photos. We joined the line and kindly asked the girl behind us to take a picture of us — and we returned the favor for her! 🍔 Right next to the sign is Pier Burger 🍔🌭 — as the name suggests, they serve burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches. You can check out the menu hanging outside. We tried a Pier Burger (delicious!) and a hot dog (a bit too salty for our taste — or maybe that’s just how they make them here?). 🚶‍♂️ We strolled along the pier, soaking in the gorgeous ocean views 🌊. At the very end, there are benches where you can sit, enjoy the sea breeze (which is quite strong!), and admire the vast Pacific. We even spotted a PD helicopter flying overhead! 🚁 🎡 The pier is lined with restaurants (including the Forrest Gump-themed Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., which we’d tried in Monterey!), souvenir shops, and small vendors. There was also a Chinese calligraphy stand where the artist warmly explained her work to Mandarin-speaking visitors — it felt like home. 🎢 Pacific Park, the amusement park on the pier, features a Ferris wheel 🎡 and a roller coaster 🎢. If you come around sunset, you can experience the famous “sunset coaster” ride — super romantic! 🌅 🏖️ After exploring the pier, we took a relaxing walk along the beach. 🐠 We also passed a small aquarium near the pier, but since we’d just visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium a few days earlier, we skipped it this time. 🍻 The nearby bar Big Dean’s Ocean Front Cafe was buzzing with energy and packed with people — a perfect spot to unwind! #SantaMonica #California #PacificCoastHighway #LosAngeles #LATravel #CaliforniaTravel #TravelDiary #SunsetVibes #BeachLife #Route66