Santa Monica Pier

This notorious landmark marks the official western point of the legendary United States highway, Route 66. This vast stretch of road, famously immortalised in song, originally ran all the way from Chicago to Los Angeles, and was extended to Santa Monica in 1936. Over the decades since its extension, millions of visitors have sought out the Santa Monica Pier for some light-hearted fun and amusement.The Santa Monica Pier also has a certain historic reputation, being one of the last-standing piers in Southern California. However, despite its age, the Santa Monica Pier is no dated relic. Open literally every day of the year, 24 hours a day, the pier today is a bustling, busy venue packed full with musical and theatrical entertainment and a whole host of engaging activities that will appeal to people of all ages.The pier is particularly notable for its fairground rides, with prominent attractions such as a titanic rollercoaster and the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel. All the traditional sights, sounds and tastes of the fairground are here at Santa Monica Pier, with candyfloss and hot dogs, arcades, restaurants, artists and street performers. If you feel like joining in with the frivolity then you can take highflying acrobatic lessons at the resident trapeze school, or if solid ground is more your thing, simply hire a bike and cycle your way along the pier.The pier also houses a small aquarium dedicated to local sea life, with interactive activities that particularly appeal to children such as touch tanks and marine biology lessons.Possibly one of the most interesting attractions on the Santa Monica Pier is the fully restored wooden carousel, with its beautifully hand painted and carved wooden horses. This historic ride is housed within its own separate building called the Looff Hippodrome. The carousel may look familiar as it was once featured in the Robert Redford and Paul Newman classic ‘The Sting’.If you feel like a break from the crowds then some solitude and spectacular ocean views can be had on the second level viewing deck. Santa Monica Pier is a wonderful spot to spend an evening or day in Los Angeles, and is about 29 kilometres west of downtown, located just north of Venice Beach.