Santa Monica Pier, one of southern California’s remaining vintage piers now marks the official western point of the legendary Route 66, one of America’s first highways. It originally ran from Chicago to Los Angeles and was later extended to Santa Monica, where many travellers concluded their cross-country trek with a visit to the pleasure pier for plenty of fun and to soak up the carnival atmosphere. The pier may be vintage, but this is certainly no dilapidated relic of times gone by. The pier never sleeps. Visit at any time of day and night, at any time of the year, and you will find that it is alive with musical and theatrical entertainment and activities that the whole family can enjoy. Enjoy the thrills of a roller coaster ride or sit almost 40 metres above the Pacific Ocean at the top of the first solar-powered Ferris wheel. There are also arcades, restaurants, artists and street performers for your entertainment. Learn how to fly high like an acrobat at the trapeze school or hire a bike to see the sites on two wheels. Below the pier, at beach level, there’s an aquarium where you can learn all about the local marine life. Children can learn and discover at the attraction’s marine biology classes and enjoy the interactive activities such as the touch tanks.Visit the Looff Hippodrome, which houses a restored colourful wooden carousel with its hand-carved horses that famously featured in the Robert Redford and Paul Newman film, The Sting.

Sneak away to the viewing deck on the second level of the hippodrome for some peace and quiet. Most people don’t visit this part of the pier, making it a wonderfully tranquil spot from which to enjoy ocean views.Santa Monica is about 29 kilometres west of downtown, just north of Venice Beach.