After years of ebbing popularity, the Santa Monica Pier has made a comeback. Now once again a center of recreation and entertainment, the pier offers visitors several options for fun in the sun and under the stars. Revitalized old standbys like the historic 1916 carousel and the Playland Arcade, with more than two hundred games, bring back a bit of the good old days. Right next door is Pacific Park which offers a waterfront roller coaster, Ferris wheel, and other rides that both kids and adults can enjoy.
The aquarium features interactive displays, touch tanks, and marine life from the Santa Monica Bay. In the summer visitors can dance the night away at the Twilight Dance Series or sit on the sand to enjoy live music performances. Restaurants are plenty, ranging from Mariasol Cocina Mexicana to the famous Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Both the pier and carousel can be rented for special parties and events.
