At the westernmost edge of the Christopher Columbus Trans-Continental Highway is Santa Monica, California. Its location has allowed for a prominent place in a large number of TV shows, commercials and movies. The city may be best known for its huge pier, jutting several hundred yards out into the Pacific Ocean. The original pier took about 16 months to construct and was opened to the public on September 9th 1909, California Admission Day. In 1983, over 100,000 sq. ft. at the end of the pier was washed away by storms spawned by an unusually strong El Nino. Since 1988, a new concrete sub-structure has been built, insuring the strength to withstand the fury of future storms. The pier – at the end of the famed Route 66 – is an absolute must-see if you are visiting Southern California. Complete with the huge Looff Hippodrome and carousel that have been designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Government, the pier has been favored by still photographers and Hollywood film crews alike; it boasts 3 million visitors a year.
 

However, the famed pier is only one attraction in a city that is filled with things to do, places to go and people to see. Whether it’s Pacific Park (on the pier itself, complete with a 9-story Ferris wheel), Muscle Beach or Palisades Park… or whether you want to visit the downtown area – complete with Main Street Shopping, the Third Street Promenade or the Farmer’s Market with a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables – Santa Monica is a place where it would be easy to get lost … for days. It is “oh, soooo California” and oh so close to many other nearby places, the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else! Make this area a definite must on your next trip west.