The Santa Monica Pier appears in over half the movies or TV shows based in LA...and for good reason. While not the cheapest place, it provides semi-affordable entertainment with that California beach charm.

 

 

The Pier:   1) You must do the Ferris Wheel.  The view from the top is unrivalled at any tourist beach in California. You also should do the roller coaster. You get two rides for the price of a ticket and it’s quite impressive for being on a pier. 2) There are a variety of arcade games and kiddy rides, which we recommend skipping unless you have small children. 3) Finally, watch or partake in the iconic trapeze school (http://losangeles.trapezeschool.com/).  

 

 

The Food:  1) Your best option is Buba Gump’s Shrimp. This small chain is located exclusively in popular cities and is based off the film Forest Gump.It provides a fun, classy, and delicious experience. Who can say no to great shrimp? Huge portions, Forest Gump trivia for the movie buffs, and some of the best service ever do the restaurant's innovative green and red signs. 2) If you are looking for a quicker and more affordable bite, try the admittedly sketchy looking Pier Restaurant across from Buba Gump. Ironically, it's quite good. They serve up a great casadia! 3) The pier also has good quality and clean coffee and ice-cream places.  

 

The Beach: The Beach itself is quite popular. On the North side, people fly kites and swim. On the south side, many take to the public adult sized playground on the sand. Others rent bikes and make their