The Santa Monica Pier: history, restaurants, vendors, shops

Santa Monica pier is as much synonymous to Los Angeles as much is Hollywood is. An undeniable attraction facing the ever tamed Blue colored Pacific Ocean.

Santa Monica has had several piers over the years, however the current Santa Monica Pier is actually two adjoining piers that long had separate owners. The long, narrow Municipal Pier opened September 9, 1909, primarily to carry sewer pipes beyond the breakers, and had no amenities. 

The short, wide adjoining Pleasure Pier to the south, a.k.a. Newcomb Pier, was built in 1916 by Charles I. D. Looff and his son Arthur, amusement park pioneers. Attractions on the Pleasure Pier eventually included the Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome building (which now houses the current carousel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places), the Blue Streak Racer wooden roller coaster (which was purchased from the defunct Wonderland amusement park in San Diego), the Whip, merry-go-rounds, Wurlitzer organs, and a funhouse.

The Carousel was built in 1922 on the Pleasure Pier and features 44 hand-carved horses. It was rebuilt in 1990 inside the Hippodrome. A calliope provides musical accompaniment.

Any and all type of restaurants are available near or walking distance from the pier. Either you are foodie, health conscious, sushi enthusiast, ethnic food muncher, every kind of restaurants you will find around the place, facing the beautiful sea in its scent full breeze.

Restaurants by the beach in Santa Monica have the obvious asset of sunsets and beach breezes: Ocean Avenue runs along Palisades Park, atop the sandstone bluffs overlooking the Pacific and has gourmet and seafood restaurants. Similar to that there are number of parks and utilities around the pier which gives ample options and bang for the buck, if you are on a budget, enjoying the picturesque sunset or sunrise or some lunch in the lazy afternoons, or dinner during date night.

All kinds of vendors are available near the pier. Where the "locals" meet and the "fun loving" tourist always return! Sun, Fun, Great Food, Beer, Wine, Music , Sports TV, Outdoor Patios and reasonable prices is what you will find at the world famous Big Dean's Cafe on the Santa Monica Boardwalk. Where nostalgia surrounds you while you relax and sip a beer or have a burger.

Bring the children, uncles, aunts, grandparents and each and every one will find something they would like. Be it antique tables or great mementos of your very fun visit. Exercise equipments, surfing necessities, ornaments, or just some fun toys for the kids. Everything you will find at the nearby shops and vendors without you breaking a sweat.

Santa Monica Pier is just the most fun place to be.

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