Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

The perfect California evening! We came here for a casual evening and ended up having the most iconic Santa Monica experience. The energy on the pier is just infectious, everyone is smiling, laughing, and just enjoying the moment. We rode the West Coaster as the sun was setting, and the views of the ocean and the coastline were absolutely breathtaking. It was the perfect mix of a fun ride and a stunning vista. We also picked up some cute souvenirs from the gift shop, great prices and a nice memento. But honestly, the best parts were free: feeling the ocean breeze, watching the incredible sunset paint the sky, walking on the sandy beach, and standing at the symbolic end of the historic Route 66. You can just feel the history and the joy here. It's a must-do for locals and tourists alike. A quintessential, feel-good spot that reminds you why we love California!

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier is a must-visit for its unbeatable mix of views, vibe, and family fun. The solar-powered Ferris wheel offers stunning panoramas of the Pacific and the coastline — especially magical at sunset — while the compact size makes it easy to enjoy with kids. With a dozen rides ranging from gentle attractions to a small roller coaster, plus classic games (arcade) and plenty of food stalls, it’s perfect for families or anyone looking for a laid-back California experience. Entry is free, you just pay per ride (or grab a wristband), making it flexible and budget-friendly. Overall, it’s not about extreme thrills, but about great atmosphere, ocean views, and memorable family time.

Had a fantastic time at the Santa Monica Pier We just got off the plane from Houston Texas to visit my father here and had to stop and enjoy everything We had a good time saw a few celebrities and tried to relax before we checked into our hotel Love the food love the vendors love the excitement and of course the beautiful breeze and sites need to show these pictures to Galveston Texas Pier and need to upgrade ASAP cuz I love my beach at home and I love this beach also haven't been here in 15 years🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🥥🥥🥥🏖️🌊🐚👙🩴⛱️🌞🌅🌻☀️😎🕶️👙🫡

A Classic Slice of California – With a Carousel Surprise! Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier is one of those places you have to visit at least once — a true California classic. Don’t go in expecting Disneyland-level thrills or cutting-edge rides, but if you take it for what it is — a nostalgic, colorful, oceanfront amusement park — it’s honestly pretty great. The whole atmosphere is full of energy: street performers, cotton candy, roller coasters over the ocean, and that iconic Ferris wheel you’ve seen in a hundred movies. It’s fun, it’s lively, it’s a little chaotic — but in a charming way. But the real hidden gem? The old wooden horse carousel tucked away right at the entrance of the pier! It’s easy to miss if you’re rushing toward the rides, but it’s by far the most magical part of the whole place. Beautifully preserved and full of vintage charm, it feels like stepping back in time. And here’s the coolest part (for movie fans like me): it’s the carousel from the final showdown in my favorite film, Falling Down with Michael Douglas. That little detail made the whole visit even more special — surreal, even. All in all, don’t expect too much — but expect to enjoy yourself. It’s a perfect little dose of seaside fun and nostalgia. Definitely worth a visit!

Visiting this place brought us back to scenes from all the great 80's and 90's movies. We visited this park to specifically ride the roller-coaster, which was a short ride but fun. There are lots of other carnival type games and rides here as well. The Santa Monica Pier makes for a great date night or a place to visit with a young family.

Pacific Park in Santa Monica is the perfect mix of ocean views, fun rides, and a lively boardwalk vibe. Great for families, friends, or a quick thrill stop by the pier. Always worth the visit.

I loved our visit! It was crowded but worth it. The vibe was happy. The rides were fun. The vendor food was terrific!

It's a little overpriced but it's a pleasant place for the views from the Ferris Wheel. You'd get more for your money if you buy the unlimited pass.

Ok, this is how to do it. First off, there is free parking on a Sunday if you hunt for it. I'm not giving away my secrets though here. ;) Also, prep for an expensive parking day if you take one of the Santa Monica public spaces. Over $20 depending on how long you stay, but at least they are plentiful. Walk down to the pier where you pull out a Groupon!! Please check groupon, Pacific does a unlimited ride pass there sometimes which makes this worth it. Rides one by one are way too overpriced. Even a day pass is kinda crazy expensive for what you get. However, if an unlimited wrist bad for roughly 21 dollars is what you grabbed, you're good for a day of fun. I like to get my kids wrist bands and let them loose while I enjoy happy hour with a friend at a nearby bar. The ferris wheel is pretty epic. Views are spectacular and if you can grab it at sunset--chef's kiss. The roller coaster is....not great. But it is nostalgic and classic and pure SM and you've got an unlimited wristband, so go have fun. Bumper cars are actually my kids fav and they ride those repeatedly. Scrambler, small drop tower, a pirate ship. All the classics. Lots of rip you off carnival games, although I won a prize with the basketball hoops right after watching 3 teen boys fail at it. There you go, my moment of showing off.

DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY tourist trap, way over priced, not even worth it at all, employees need more training,

While exploring Santa Monica Pier with some friends, they wanted to go on the ferris wheel in Pacific Park. A single ticket to ride the ferris wheel was $17, which seems outrageous. The duration of time on this ride was about 15 minutes, which I think was longer than usual just because it was a weekday morning and no one else was really riding it. There are nice views from the top of the ocean, the beach down the coastline, and inland toward the city. Nice but not worth the price to me.

The park in general is just overpriced. All the rides are approximately $15 per turn just to be on them for 2 minutes really. The only thing that I think was worth the money is the Ferris Wheel. The employees? 0/10 They did not seem happy to be here. Alex in particular that works at the cashier is super rude and there is another young lady that was sitting next to him on 11/7/2025 that was also very rude. They made my friends and I feel unwelcomed and honestly if it wasn't for my friend really wanting to experience the ride, I would have said NEVERMIND and left. Visually the park looks nice but it is not a vibe!

One of the most photographed parks out there as everyone knows of its iconic skyline on the beach! I've been to too many piers and boardwalks across the country and this one right here remains one of my all time favorites as it's just got a whole vibe here that can't be found on any of the other ones across America! This park is more geared towards kids but don't count out West Coaster as it really does provide some great fun for anyone kids and coaster enthusiasts alike as it totally rides like one of the huge Morgan's out there but with it being a quarter of the scale making for just an awesome ride on both laps! This park really does pack a good amount of rides on top of the pier making for just a super cool time all around and one of the best sunsets you could ask for! Overall it's Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier you really can't go wrong it's for this and the super fun times I've always had here that I hope to get back here again at some point because even the views alone are totally worth the trip!

When I come to Santa Monica I mostly like to come and ride the rides. It's not a full park n rides however, they seem to have a few that can make me scream still. The views from the top ferris wheel were miraculous. Prices can be pricey if there's children or if you just enjoy riding. There is plenty parking , games, food options. Oh before I forget I would like to give a huge shout out to all the workers yesterday. I had a senior with me who has Dementia. We wanted to go on a ride . But we send stairs it's a bit much for her. Well low and behold the staff said there was an available elevator. Within minutes we were heading up for our roller roster ride 52 and 76 living like we're 20 today lol.

Have been coming here since I was a kid, and Pacific Park is a Santa Monica classic. It's definitely changed over the years (especially since COVID), but there are still so many wonderful things about it. Restaurants, rides, performers, an arcade, beautiful views... Off the bat, if you want the experience of eating on the pier, go for it. Otherwise, I usually eat nearby (my favorite being Uovo) and then walk over to the pier afterward. You can park at the pier, but, as I said, I usually park elsewhere and walk over. If there is one thing you do at the pier, you have to ride the iconic Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel. It's $17/person, but totally worth it. Beautiful views over the city and the ocean. They have a bunch of other rides, and it can really add up. But the roller coaster is always a fun second pick. You have to walk to the end of the pier and enjoy the views - take a look for some wildlife in the water. It's also the symbolic end to the famous Route 66, and you'll find the sign signaling the end. Stop for a quick picture. Enjoy the performances all around. They're always so fun to watch, and you'll enjoy yourself. Overall, this is a great stop, especially if you've never been to Santa Monica or Los Angeles.

Pacific Park is a mini amusement park located at the Santa Monica Pier. They have a handful of rides that includes a roller coaster, ferris wheel, and lots of more mellow kid friendly rides. They also have a handful of carnival games where you can win various prizes. We opted to visit Pacific Park vs. Disneyland as this provided enough entertainment and fun for the kiddos without having to pay for all the adults just to enter the park. We got unlimited wristbands for the kids which was $20 for 7 and under and $40 for 8 years and over. They were able to ride the roller coaster twice, and 3 or 4 of the other rides in the short time we were there which seemed pretty worth it! They probably could have ridden more if we timed/planned the rides out better, but all in all they had fun. We also tried our hand at some of the carnival games like the ring toss. That seemed to be the most 'affordable' of all the choices, but no luck for us. We still enjoyed our time here though and were especially glad the kids had fun as it was their first time riding rides together.

I've coming to the pier since I was a little girl. I've brought my kids here and they also love it. I'm a big rollercoaster junkie, so I love experiencing rides. My favorite is the coaster. I love the view of the ocean you get to witness while on the ride. The prizes you win by playing on the game stands are cheap, but you can't expect very much. There's plenty of parking available, however, this is a popular spot so try to arrive in the morning. There's also a parking structure across the pier that's accessible. There's an arcade, other kid rides, a burger spot, an ice cream shop, and a few other restaurants. There's a Mexican restaurant at the end of the pier that offers amazing ocean views. I've been there a couple of times. Overall, I recommend this place. Great for families, fun date nights or to grab a quick bite.

My first time coming here was pretty cool. Prices are affordable. It was very cool nights so definitely bring a jacket if you come tonight. They have multiple photo booths and I love their games. Rollerball is my favorite. You should definitely try it if you come here! The Ferris wheel lights up at night and it is super pretty, definitely romantic or place for a group of friends.

Today was foggy. Can't even see the ocean but still it's a great place to hang out with friends and family. Food and entertainment

Santa Monica Piers is always a cool place to enjoy the beach, rides, various games, souvenirs, and sweet indulgences, not to mention plenty of great food. The breeze from the ocean, along with the warm sun, palm trees, really made the visit great!

I came back recently and was so excited to spend some time here in the evening with the family. However, with inflation, we expect that prices would have gone up especially at places like Pacific Park. I am so disappointed that they got rid of the pay for what you ride model and instead they're charging an all day wristband for $25 with unlimited rides. It just isn't worth it if you have 2 little ones along and just want to ride on the Ferris Wheel. So we skipped out and just enjoyed the vibe. It gets really crowded and if you have a stroller along, get ready for a bumpy ride in the pier. They've added a plastic cover in some area of the pier so that helped a little bit. There are other things you can do if you're not into the rides. The arcades are still there and there are still some vendors for churros, funnel cakes, and burgers.

Walk to the end of the Santa Monica Pier and you'll find Pacific Park with its iconic giant Ferris wheel. Lit up at night, it's visible up and down the Santa Monica Bay coast. The Park also has a roller coaster, arcade games, and other rides. I love the stunning views from Pacific Park of the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu to the north, and south along the coast -- especially from the top of the Ferris wheel. The Park is a great place to experience fabulous sunsets. Parking near the Santa Monica Pier is expensive and difficult. I like to park in one of the Santa Monica parking garages near the Third Street Promenade, about a 15-minute walk to Pacific Park. The LA Metro Expo line western terminus is also nearby, and city buses stop at the top of the Pier on Ocean Blvd.

I have been, wait... how many times at Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier? Dozens and dozens for years, lost track of it. I realized recently that I never got in the Ferris Wheel for all the years I have been living here. So we decided to be tourists for 1 day in our own town. On top, this was gonna be my birthday outing fun! $15 to ride the Ferris wheel, short line for tickets and to get on the actual wheel. You do spend some time up there and get to enjoy the views of Santa Monica, the Pier, the Ocean and the mountains with snow on top. It is a bit vertigo inducing and a tad scary (for me anyways), but it's fun and I am glad I finally got the idea to try it! We spend $15 for a roller coaster ride, we decided to go all the way, baby! Once again, we put more money on the card at the ticket booth and off we went! Short line and wait. You get to ride it twice, no phones out! Not the craziest ride, which is fine with me, but you get your thrills and you can scream your head off! We did! There are other rides, clean restrooms, places you can gran funnel cakes, drinks, ice-cream. Loads of fun! The Ferris wheel is pretty lit at night, this past weekend, they had hearts on it for V Day and a dragon for Chinese NYE! Fun and festive!

This place was not worth the cost. Half of the rides were closed but there wasn't any kind of discount. And it's a lot smaller than boardwalks where I grew up. I picked up a glass jar in one of the shops, got a shard in my hand, and when I asked about tweezers to get it out, the guy just kind of shrugged. If you want the touristy feel, have at it but you will be disappointed in what you get.

My eldest daughter and I were at Santa Monica Pier for the CHLA 5K walk fundraising event a couple months ago. Pacific Park is located on the pier. It is full of many roller coaster rides, a ferris wheel, outdoor games, indoor video games, specialty restaurants, and seaside shopping. I am actually surprised how much is here considering the space, but it's all nicely packed together. We didn't get on any rides, but we did enjoy some foods while overlooking the beach and ocean. It was really nice! It's such a great place for family and friends to enjoy throughout the year. If you haven't been here before and are curious about this place, plan for a full day on the weekend or weekday to come on over and have some fun. It can get really busy and crowded as the day goes by. I would recommend you come here early in the day to avoid most of the crowds. Enjoy your visit! Btw, Lot 1 parking is where you want to park at as it is right where the pier is located.

pacific park is located inside the Santa Monica Pier, but youll easily find it by locating the ferris wheel. the rides are nice, the ambiance is friendly and its a healthy way to enjoy los angeles and expand your Santa Monica Pier experience

Great place to hangout with the family. Got all day passes for rides...kids had a blast! Everything was conveniently connected eg rides, arcade, live music, and food/meals. Great day to spend and walk on the pier with the family.

My family and I went and had a great time there. We purchased the bands and had so much fun. The lines weren't too long and we were able to ride most of the attractions (my kids are older so we didn't try the rides intended for the younger kids). We will definitely be repeating customers.

Rather small amusement park located on a pier. I thought the price was ok, kinda pricey but not terrible. The selection of rides were good, everything was up and running. Lines were present on some rides and nonexistent on others. It didn't necessarily feel super clean, felt as though I needed a shower and hand sanitizer after. Some of the employees were great, others were not caring. I'd probably come back but don't know if I'd pay the price again.

We enjoyed Pacific Park for mostly strolling around on the pier. It has a lot of little stores and eateries and a huge Ferris wheel. It's like a little amusement park attached to the pier. We were mostly sightseeing, so we didn't really get a chance to stop at the shops or do the wheel. Extremely crowded on the weekends. Fun place.

After entertaining ourselves with games at the park. My friends and I got a funnel cake with ice cream. It was refreshing and boot up our energy. We were thinking about take some ride, but the line was too long, so we just had to pass that.

Horrible experience at the pacific park and would never come back. I wanted to ride the pacific wheel and bought my ticket at one of the ticket-venting machines. It turned out that I was unable to ride alone and it had to be in a group of two which is misleading because it didn't say on the ticket. I went to the ticket office and asked for a refund. They refused it but I insisted they had their manager come over. She refunded my purchase and I said thank you but she rolled her eyes which was the most disgusting demeanor I have ever encountered. It's like I was causing them trouble. Moreover, at one of the game sections, I told the operator, an African American man, who was extremely rude that I wanted to play twice but he just ignored me. It's an overrated, gross and dirty tourist spot. Do not come here.

This is my playground! If I live here, I would come by here every day, to ride the ferris wheel, and eat some funnel cakes & hot dogs! I would skip the roller coaster! I was traumatized at 13 1/2.

Located at the Santa Monica Pier, this family friendly spot offers more than 16 rides, 10 midway games and 7 new branded eateries in the oceanfront food plaza. If you can, avoid the busy times which are evenings and weekends. If you have a week day off and the kids are out of school, I would suggest coming early morning 11am and staying just before 3pm, This would avoid any traffic coming in and out of Santa Monica. Or you can go green which is what we did, rode the Expo line in Los Angeles straight to 3rd st. its about a 45min ride but well worth it. The unlimited wrist bands are priced $20 for 7- and $40 8+ . Eateries include; burgers, pizza, ice cream, coffee, funnel cakes, dippin dots.

I think Pacific Park is mostly for tourists. It is always crazy out here. Parking is horrible. All parking spots are ridiculously small. There is no way you can park without worrying that the car next to you will not hit your car. You do not pay at the gate anymore, now you self-pay at the kiosks and then have to walk back to your car to display your parking ticket. Up on the pier you cannot walk around without bumping into someone, especially near the rides. I did like that they have a Coffee Bean (not sure how long it has been here because I do not come here often). The second to last time I was at Pacific Park we did not even go up to the pier because of how packed it looked. They do have a lot of arcade games still, although some were out of service. They have the same rides, but I think they added a few more rides for kids. My boyfriend wanted to ride the Pacific Wheel, but we decided not to after seeing how long the line was and the prices were ridiculously high for these types of rides. We decided to just walk around instead and made our way back to the car within 15 minutes. The beach and even the pier are dirty and not as nice as they were back then. If you want a nice and clean beach, make the drive to Malibu. Getting out of the parking lot took forever, so be patient. After this last time, I highly doubt we will be back because of how busy it is and how inconvenient the parking situation is.

yoyoyo oza back with another review :3 came here last night with some friends on a spontaneous plot. only my friend aniah and i hopped on the west coaster tho. last time i rode it i was like 12 so i barely remembered it, just knew i liked it. line looked long but moved quick, we were up next before we knew it. lowkey side eyed each other at first cause $15 for a ride is wild, but we did it for the plot. honestly worth it tho cause the ride goes around twice and they snap two pics so u get a backup if u look chopped. last pic i completely mogged. overall solid lil coaster, def worth it.

This is the amusement park at the Santa Monica Pier! I actually didn't realize there was a separate yelp page for the amusement park, otherwise I would have checked in here too! I also talked about the amusement pack in my review for the Santa Monica Pier (oops lol I failed haha) Anyway- I'll give a recap so it's hopefully not too repetitive. This is a fun boardwalk like amusement park! Lots of games and fun things to do. You can win prizes and take fun photos! And eat all the foods! It's a good time. :D

Unlimited rides deal from Groupon was so worth it. Super fun and the view was awesome!

Came on a Saturday, spontaneously Parking at the pier is $10 They had 2 options when purchasing for rides: Wristband (unlimited rides): 7 & under for $20; 8 & above 40 Price per ride per person is stated on the board, you can load up how much you want and it all goes on a card you use for all and any rides My 2 kids enjoyed the rides; I personally rode the Pacific Wheel and it was a relaxing ride especially after sunset Such a cute little amusement park; will definitely be back!

I've lived in So Cal my whole life and seldom visit the Santa Monica Pier. I always thought it was a tourist trap and too crowded. Now that my son is 5 years old and 44 inches in height, I can take him to amusement parks. So last month, I made the decision to take him to Pacific Park in the Santa Monica Pier. What a great little amusement park! Reminds me of Adventure City in Anaheim. It's perfect for toddlers and kids. The all day wrist band for both of us came out to $60 ($20 for him and $40 for me). I think that's a great deal! We went on all the rides several times and lines weren't too long. We did go on a Saturday in October which might explain why it wasn't too crowded. Some highlights: - West Coaster: awesome roller coaster for kids! My son loved it. It's smooth during the helixes and there's actual pops of airtime during the bunny hills. Best part, you get to ride it twice! So cool. - Sea Dragon : Wow, this is the most intense swinging ship I've ever been. It feels like the ride is trying to do a loop. My son loves these rides so he definitely enjoyed this ride. - Pacific Plunge: It's the same ride at Adventure City but with a better view. Love the airtime as always. Not sure which side has the better view but you can go wrong with either side. All the other rides were great and overall we had a most amazing time. Cant wait to go back and take my son here, but probably on a similar day in Fall or Winter. Can't imagine what it'll be like in the Summer .

Very cool and a must visit when in the area! Make sure to plan for the weather appropriately!

Super crowded Sunday afternoon. I usually don't come here on weekends for this reason. Omg there was no space to walk. I convinced my son to go on one ride and leave. So he chose his most favorite, the roller coaster. Overall it's a great place to hang out but not on weekends.

This business raised their unlimited price from $25 to $50. Doubled up on a holiday week. I guess they think people are stupid. They deserve the empty rides. This is a ridiculous price for these carnival rides. Working class and fixed income people cannot afford these prices.

I loved seeing the roller coaster and Ferris wheel. Wasn't too happy about the prices however but it was so cool seeing these in person. Once I get back to Tulsa, Oklahoma, Imma get on GTA. And ride the coaster and drive vehicles off the pier.

Loved their dragon ride (don't know if they still operate it,) and their funnel cakes and pizza! Food can be expensive but it's worth it.

Who doesn't love a good amusement park!!! This park, at least the rides here, remind me a little of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or Belmont Park in San Diego. All three have old school rides, arcades, carnival games and similar junk food. Located on the Santa Monica Pier, it's not the biggest amusement park, but it's fun nonetheless. The Ferris Wheel and the Roller Coaster are the main big rides here. We would have rode the Roller Coaster cause it looked fun, but that line was crazy long!! We hit the arcade and carnival games and had a good time, plenty of fun here!!!

West coaster travels two loops around the track with each ride but the operators stop the coaster after the first loop in case anyone needs to get off. This little coaster has lots of airtime and gets some decent speed. As I get older, I still love roller coasters but cannot handle inversions anymore. Pacific wheel gets you great views of the ocean while enjoying its neon lights. The dragon swing and the pacific plunge are also noteworthy and fun. I love to bring my children here for a few rides, then have dinner at Maria Sol or Bubba Gump while enjoying ocean views. As of April 2023 prices are as follows: daily pass for children under 8 $20 daily pass for everyone over 8 $40 weekday annual pass $99 Anytime annual pass $149

For fans of the GTA game, this place will be especially enjoyable. It's true that there are a lot of people, but in general it doesn't interfere with that

This place is incredible I have been here many times over the years and every time I go it's always like it's the first time. Pacific Park is Formally known as the Santa Monica pier with its historic skyline view of the Ferris wheel. There are roller coasters many rides several restaurants quite a bit of touristy shopping as well. For the most part my kids love it so do I and my husband the ride are fun enough adults to enjoy with their kids. We purchased the all day wristbands for everyone who is going to be riding and enjoying the pier that day. Sometimes the lines can be a little bit long but they usually move very fast once you decide which ride you're going to get on parking is also available for a small fee per day. The feel of this town always brings me happiness and joy. Being surrounded by such diverse people, the ocean, and the beach with so many fun things to do makes this place a must visit for SoCal.

Did not wait in the queue long. The ticket booth reps were quick with payment & ticket disbursement. I was given an update on the amusement park ride wait time. The ferris wheel & roller coaster had an insane queue. I immediately selected the BUMPER CARS! There were two bumper car sections; one for participants short in height and the other for mature riders. No one fussed in line. The bumper cars were FUN! There's no steering wheel. You use two stick shifts placed on the left and right side of the car. One gear allows you to spin into oblivion and the other driving gears make the car reverse or excelerate. I had a BLAST! crashing into people and they the same.

A bit expensive but fun day trip while in the city! My favorite is the swinging boat ride, the prizes aren't too difficult to win either! A must-try for those visiting Santa monica and Los angeles.

This park was a blast to see at night, I don't think any rides were going but the lights were blasting brightly and there were street vendors selling food. The temperature around 72 degrees and a slight breeze made it enjoyable. For sure will be back.

Crummy rides at SKY HIGH prices.. The cost of 1 ride for 2 kids is equivalent to taking them for a day at Knott's, be warned this is a tourist trap, and a kids trap. Lackluster ride quality at a Ferrari cost. Grandkids were not impressed.

Plain and simple this place is fun but very expensive. Be prepared to pay a lot per ride abs per game. With one child we quickly blew $100. Thank god for the ocean view. It can get very crowded and chaotic so be prepared. I recommend you come early or on a weekday.

This was like our third time coming here we always have a good time strolling around and getting into some ride. We like to come here to get mixed up with some interesting people from all over the world. Plus you get to enjoy the beach if you are into that. Is definitely a nice place to spend some time with family and friends. One quick tip, if you are driving make sure you park far away from the busy streets is more cheaper and safer.

Terrible customer service. Ashlee as the team lead was horrific gave tons of attitude didn't listen, was obsessed with being right. Missed the mark multiple levels. I will not drain any money towards this place. I'm a local and to be treated like this is such poo.

I remember this spot from years ago. It was always kind of fun to come here and hang out, ride some rides, and just relax in the perfect SoCal weather for an afternoon. From miles away you can see the Ferris wheel lighting the sky which is the back drop for several pictures coming down out of Malibu that highlight Santa Monica and the pier. Not a ton of rides, but they are pretty much suitable for all ages. We were unable to gain access during our visit to LA because of the ridiculous line waiting to get in. They had capacity restrictions that prevented new people from entering, until other guests exited the park. Also, they had a sign up that indicated that they were only allowing in state residents access to the park - This was the first week of June 2021, so not sure if anything has changed with relationship to that. All that being said, if you are in Santa Monica, the pier should be on your list of stuff to do, and if you can get access to the park, ride the Ferris wheel for the amazing views.