Budget California Attractions – Santa Monica Pier

It’s the truth: California isn’t known as the place to go to save money. Likewise, USA Travel Guide isn’t always the most cost-conscious travel resource either. We know what’s good, but we leave it up to the reader to decide what’s worth it. And according to our About Us page, we promised nothing more, so :p

However, we, like California, have our moments. You can have a fantabulous time in California, and you can do it for less if you only know where to look. One go-to attraction for cost-control in Cali is undoubtedly the world famous Santa Monica Pier, what with its high-spirited sightseeing, admission-free amusement park and blissfully inexpensive aquarium. We just had to mention it!

A historic Santa Monica landmark and fun-filled attraction for visitors of all ages, Santa Monica Pier manages to be both nostalgic and modern at the same time. The look of the Pier, aided in no small part by the presence of a carousel from 1922, eagerly recalls the glory days of New York’s Coney Island. All the while, there’s plenty more going on for those wanting more of a 21^st-century era thrill.

Pacific Park is a favorite both here and among hundreds of thousands of locals as the central attraction of Santa Monica Pier. Pacific Park is an admission-free amusement park. In other words, the park is free to enter, and you are charged for individual rides, rather than for an upfront ticket. This can get out of hand if you plan to treat the place like a regular amusement park, but if you just stop in for a couple rides before or after some other attraction, you’ll save plenty off the all-day price.

Next is the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, which operates on a donation system ($2 minimum, at least $5 recommended). This family-friendly aquarium has plenty for the little ones with three touch tanks and plenty of other exciting exhibits. The ecology of the Pacific is the primary focus of the collection.

Those two are great, but my personal favorite far and away is the Playland Arcade. I love the games, of course, but there’s something about the pier atmosphere that makes it the much more enjoyable. It’s cinematic almost, you feel like you’re in an entirely other world. Maybe that’s just me.

There’s plenty more, of course: bike rentals, food, shopping, live music, street performers, people watching, a ferris wheel, the historic carousel, the beach, even a Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant, for you theme-food fans.

The Santa Monica Pier is open each and every day, with hours varying by the season. Individual attractions maintain their own hours, so you’ll want to double check everything before you go. Start your itinerary planning here.

Just a block from Santa Monica Pier, we’ve got to pick the Holiday Inn Santa Monica Hotel. The close proximity to the Pier means that you can walk in, avoiding the $8-10 parking fee that the commuters, making the Pier even that much more cost-friendly.

Have a great trip!

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