Santa Monica Beach has alot of things going for it - It's fun, it has alot of tourist attractions, dozens of hotels, and attracts millions. However, it can also be called expensive, overrated, and... More

Santa Monica Beach has alot of things going for it - It's fun, it has alot of tourist attractions, dozens of hotels, and attracts millions. However, it can also be called expensive, overrated, and just plain filthy and dirty. The Pier is great - but prices are HIGH and the water and sand are SO dirty. I grew up going to beautiful Padre Island and the beaches of the Gulf Coast, Texas, Alabama, and Florida - white sandy clean beaches. Santa Monica was a huge shock to me the first time I visited .. and saw YELLOW sand and BROWN GREY water instead of blue.. It's nice to visit but I would NEVER swim in it.
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If you walk along the beach and the pier you get a beautiful view of the ocean, which is amazing at sunset. The hotels along the beach are old and have a classic beach feel to them. On the pier you... More

If you walk along the beach and the pier you get a beautiful view of the ocean, which is amazing at sunset. The hotels along the beach are old and have a classic beach feel to them. On the pier you can buy food and ride small carnival rides or play minature golf. But the food is extremely overpriced and the rides are no better than a carnival. It's a beautiful place to visit if you have the money. Past the pier there are homeless people on every corner asking for money, some hold signs that ask for smiles, but most ask for money and you have to pass block, after block. I had a nice time at the pier but it's not a place I would visit again. Very crowded. But it's one of the placest you should visit when you come to L.A. and it's at least worth a look.
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If you visit Los Angeles you've gotta visit the Santa Monica pier and its surroundings. It has a variety of fun things to do, such as the ferris wheel and other carnival like games and rides, as... More

If you visit Los Angeles you've gotta visit the Santa Monica pier and its surroundings. It has a variety of fun things to do, such as the ferris wheel and other carnival like games and rides, as well as great dining. There is an arcade on the pier, and if you get tired of the beach you can go shopping on the Promenade. Third Street as well as the mall are blocks from the pier, so you probably won't run out of things to do.
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A visit to the beach or the promenade isn't the same unless you visit the pier. The views are breathtaking, I just love sitting and watching the ocean. There are a few shops and places to eat, but... More

A visit to the beach or the promenade isn't the same unless you visit the pier. The views are breathtaking, I just love sitting and watching the ocean. There are a few shops and places to eat, but they aren’t particularly interesting, but perhaps after the new Bubba Gump is finished it will breathe some life back into the place.
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The Santa Monica Pier is a great place to take the family. It offers an arcade, food, amusement rides, and carnival games. It also has a great carousel ride at a great price. We love going there... More

The Santa Monica Pier is a great place to take the family. It offers an arcade, food, amusement rides, and carnival games. It also has a great carousel ride at a great price. We love going there and riding the bumper cars. My daughter loves the rollercoaster. One downfall is that everything is pretty pricey, so you have to go with a lot of cash. The parking is pricey as well. The food isn't that great, not a lot of selection. But, it is a great place to take your kids and out-of-town visitors!
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The Santa Monica Pier is a really fun place to go to with the family. They have a lot of rides available for the kids and adults to enjoy. Free parking is unavailable unfortunately and the parking... More

The Santa Monica Pier is a really fun place to go to with the family. They have a lot of rides available for the kids and adults to enjoy. Free parking is unavailable unfortunately and the parking that is available is expensive. The rides are also a little pricey. They do have a lot of food stalls available though with many different varieties of food to choose from.
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Santa Monica pier should be one of the better known landmarks in southern california. There are all kinds of things to do there, whether it be to go to the aquarium or ride the carousel. Parking... More

Santa Monica pier should be one of the better known landmarks in southern california. There are all kinds of things to do there, whether it be to go to the aquarium or ride the carousel. Parking usually isn't too difficult, but it does cost money. You can always park around 3rd street and walk to the pier. There are some restaurants and arcades on the pier, but it's also a nice place to just sit and chill during a warm summer night.
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The pier in Santa Monica is still one of the best pier's around. It has rides, local carts selling their wares along with foods and drinks on the pier. The cost is comparatively low for foods and... More

The pier in Santa Monica is still one of the best pier's around. It has rides, local carts selling their wares along with foods and drinks on the pier. The cost is comparatively low for foods and drinks. The most favorite ride for some is the ferris wheel. The people on the pier are friendly and it is a safe area to walk, even after dark. The weather is always nice and cool. Parking may be a problem with it's popularity.
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The Santa Monica Pier is like a small amusement park, it has a roller coaster, carousel, merry-go-round, arcade, aquarium, and other carnival games. It's a great place to spend the day with family... More

The Santa Monica Pier is like a small amusement park, it has a roller coaster, carousel, merry-go-round, arcade, aquarium, and other carnival games. It's a great place to spend the day with family and friends. It's also right on the beach so theres a beautiful view from the pier. It doesn't cost any money to get in but you do have to pay to play the games or ride on the rides.
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