For an amusement park, Pacific Park is just ok. Its rather pricey and there are not very many rides. Its quite small and can be boring, even if you get an all-day pass, because you can only ride... More

For an amusement park, Pacific Park is just ok. Its rather pricey and there are not very many rides. Its quite small and can be boring, even if you get an all-day pass, because you can only ride the rides so many times. The games are a rip-off. But you can't beat the view from the top of the Ferris wheel.
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A park more for nostalgia than fun. It has a decent (but slow) roller coaster and a Ferris wheel. The whole park is set up at the end of the Santa Monica Pier close to Third Street Promenade. ... More

A park more for nostalgia than fun. It has a decent (but slow) roller coaster and a Ferris wheel. The whole park is set up at the end of the Santa Monica Pier close to Third Street Promenade. Good for a few hours before or after your shopping trip. Tickets can be pricey for the rides. I recall the Ferris wheel being about $4 or so per person. At night, there are a lot of teenagers and couples mulling around. Daytime is more for the tourists. Because the beach is right below the pier, it provides an idyllic setting for a small amusement park. However, the rides are not that fun or cheap... I would settle just for the beach.
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Busy and bustling place with great funnel cakes, a beach you can walk on, and lots and lots of people. There is a ferris wheel, roller coater, and lots of kiddie rides. There is also an arcade for... More

Busy and bustling place with great funnel cakes, a beach you can walk on, and lots and lots of people. There is a ferris wheel, roller coater, and lots of kiddie rides. There is also an arcade for those not interested in rides, but if you are interested in neither, the beach is the place for you. It could use some clowns, jugglers, or live entertainment like that, but it’s good for people-watching too.
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