Santa Monica Pier - Santa Monica Attractions

Having just celebrated its 100th birthday in 2009, the Santa Monica Pier, at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, looks none the worse for wear. In fact, the family amusement park is still one of the city's top attractions. With more than four million visitors per year, the pier attracts a range of street performers, entertainers, and artists. The shining jewel of the pier is the carousel, an old-fashioned ride that still costs less than a dollar. Below the pier's eastern deck is the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. The pier is also home to a celebrated trapeze school, where brave visitors can sign up for daily flying trapeze classes, ropes courses, acrobatic yoga, and medieval sword combat. Alas, if the thought of flying on the trapeze scares you to death, you can at least check out nightly professional aerial and acrobatic shows. With a host of restaurants, bars, and stores—along with stunning vistas of the Southern California coastline and breathtaking sunset views—the pier is a lovely reminder of the city's past.

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Away Travel Expert: Christine Loomis

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This is the oldest pier in California, a destination since 1909. It's now a National Historic Landmark.
The beautiful historic carousel is a must-do for kids and adults. Few things are nicer than riding the carousel on a warm, starry night with the sound of the surf in your ears. Note that it is closed on Tuesdays.
The pier's other occupants include several restaurants, cart vendors, and shops, including a bait and tackle shop. It gets crowded and shops have mostly touristy trinkets, but you can't come to Santa Monica without playing on the pier.