Santa Monica Pier

I work about a block away from here. Funny I rarely go there…

Great thing about Santa Monica pier on busy nights is that you’ll see all types of folks from all walks of life. I love to go have my picture taken in those old photo booths at the arcade. The skeetball is pretty cool, too. So classic.

This is a beautiful place to see. If you are here in the summer, just go and walk around. (In the winter everything is pretty much closed on the pier, and not much is happening.) Sometimes you can even see dolphins jumping in the water.

Don’t swim at the beach there. Locals never swim in LA beaches because the water is dirty, and you get this cold or flu like sickness after you swim in it. (Don’t swim in any beaches in SoCal unless they are north of Malibu or south of Laguna.)

Buy your souvenirs elsewhere. Everything on the pier is really overpriced. And if you want amusement rides, just go to Six Flags Magic Mountain. The ones at the pier’s prices are jacked up.

I went with my 7-year old sister and we had a great time. Lots to do and a scenic twist on the traditional American theam park.

Very cool place, be sure and visit all the shops and have a beer.

i spent the summer of 1984 in venice, with my father, and we went to the pier quite a few times.

i remember riding the bumper cars, the carousel not running, eating crab and corndogs. my dad and i playing skee-ball, getting loads of tickets.

back then there was a bike path back then that ran from the marina to just past the pier…i wonder if it’s still there? if it’s still packed with rollerskaters and biking children like it is in my head? i rode my bike from one end of that path to the other, over and over that summer…it was lovely.

I wasn’t terribly impressed. The only thing going on when we were there was a pretty happening Scientology tent.

it’s fun just to feel like a kid again.

Fun arcade games!

There’s nothing blindingly magical about Santa Monica Pier (today). Ignoring the cartooney Pacific Park amusement park rides, it does retain an old-timer charm that’s hard to beat.

That entry sign hasn’t changed since I was born. Aside from the carousel, it’s one of my favorite things at which to gaze at the pier, still.