Pacific Park

Considered the focal point of Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica Pier is crowned by this traditional seaside amusement park—which just celebrated its 30th anniversary—stocked with a dozen rides, as well as fairground games, an arcade, and funnel cake, churro and cotton candy stands. Unsurprisingly, it’s a busy spot, especially on warm weekends. The carnival attractions aren’t reinventing the wheel here, but there’s a solidly fun roller coaster, and the very picturesque Pacific Wheel offers awesome ocean views. Stick around to see it lit up at night—more recently, the park has used pixel-mapping software for customizable themed displays. Another recent addition is a creepy clown-themed funhouse modeled after the historic Toonerville Funhouse. My personal favorite, though, is the Sea Dragon, a swinging ship with a 180-degree arc that recently received an upgrade after decades. If you’re a fan of rides, consider shelling out for an unlimited wristband for better value.