Things to do in Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier is alive with rides and other things your children would enjoy. For adults, the beach is always the choice. It’s crowded on hot days and therefore you shall not expect privacy. LOL…

Competing with the beach crowd are cars looking for spaces to park conveniently. From the top, I find it ugly to see hundreds of cars parking on the beach. Like this.

Related: Things to do in California

Things to do in Santa Monica Pier

I’ll always remember Santa Monica in this view which I find kinda sore with all these cars right on the sandy beach.

A friend and I was there for an three hours and half. While we were digging the sand with our toes, we talked about our life in the past, how crazy we were and how things were simplier by then. We haven’t seen each other for a long time. And the beach scene, despite the crowd, seemed to be a perfect place to catch up all those years.

Things to do in Santa Monica Pier

Things to do in Santa Monica Pier

We wandered around barefoot for a little while before we decided to walk all the way to Venice Beach. But before we left, these things are what we found out you could do in Santa Monica Pier.

Things to do in Santa Monica Pier

Things to do in Santa Monica Beach / Pier

1. Try the rides

Well, we didn’t do this—because we didn’t find any adults doing it. Children rule—and we didn’t want to steal their joy. LOL… Guess what? The rides here are solar-powered!

Things to do in Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier Rides

2. Chase the waves

Most people were not really swimming but chasing waves even without a surfboard.

Santa Monica Beach Pier

Chasing the waves at Santa Monica Beach

3. Relax at the beach.

Or go sunbathing. Perhaps, wine and a book, too? Good luck, though, if you could find a relaxing place away from the madding crowd.

Things to do in Santa Monica Pier / Beach

Things to do in Santa Monica Pier / Beach

4. Honor those who died in the battlefield

This is kinda weird having a installation of crosses in shape of American flag with two caskets on it. I’m not sure if this is a permanent fixture in the beach but it’s creepy to be enjoying the sand, sun and sea with those crosses next to you.

Things to do in Santa Monica Pier / Beach

Things to do in Santa Monica Pier / Beach

5. Watch the sunset

Because you are in the West Coast—and it’s absolutely and amazing! And free!

6. Strut on the 3rd Street Promenade

This is not really at Santa Monica Pier but close enough to go on foot. If you want a break from the sun, the malls at this street will give you a much-needed cool. You can splurge, too, if you got moolah. If not, just walk along the promenade. There’s always something good, cool or weird happening there.

Things to do in Santa Monica Beach

Things to do in Santa Monica Beach

7. Go boy-watching or girl-watching

Well, you’re on a beach, so what would would expect? [easyazon_link asin=”1449407900″ locale=”US” new_window=”yes” nofollow=”default” tag=”pridecostume-20″ add_to_cart=”yes” cloaking=”default” localization=”yes” popups=”yes”]Hot Guys.[/easyazon_link] The surfers in their toned muscles are eye candies to behold. No catcalling, please…. LOL…

Venice Beach Hot Guys

An eye candy doing his routine. Sigh. 😉

8. Build a sand castle

Relive the time of your childhood, build a castle. It relieves stress. The kids would love to compete with you.

Things to do in Santa Monica Beach

The crowd at Santa Monica Beach in summer

9. Play beach volleyball

If there’s a sand, there’s a beach volleyball. While sitting nearby, a guy approached me if I wanted to play because they needed three more players. I declined because the searing heat was just too much for me. I asked if I could play for 20-30 minutes but he said they wanted one to play ’till the end. But, if they couldn’t find one, they’d get back at me. Of course, that didn’t happen. I was just contented watching some of them playing in their [easyazon_link asin=”B005D66Z3M” locale=”US” new_window=”yes” nofollow=”default” tag=”pridecostume-20″ add_to_cart=”yes” cloaking=”default” localization=”yes” popups=”yes”]swimming trunks[/easyazon_link]. LOL…

Things to do in Santa Monica Beach

Things to do in Santa Monica Beach

10. Go biking

Rent a [easyazon_link asin=”B00EMKLSSM” locale=”US” new_window=”yes” nofollow=”default” tag=”pridecostume-20″ add_to_cart=”yes” cloaking=”default” localization=”yes” popups=”yes”]bike[/easyazon_link] and ride the boardwalk—from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach.

Things to do in Santa Monica Beach

Biking on the boardwalk from Santa Monica Beach to Venice Beach is a good idea, instead of walking or taking the bus.

These are the things I could think of in my three and a half hour stay there as a traveler. But, I’m sure, there are more things to do and nooks to discover on the beach.

Things to do in Santa Monica Beach

Relax at Santa Monica Beach

KeepCalmAndWander

A wanderer. A frustrated photographer. Hiker. Lover. Half extrovert, half introvert. Solo traveler.

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KEEP CALM and WANDER