A great California beach is just 45 minutes from the LAX airport.  Enjoy miles of beautiful, clean sandy beaches.  The Santa Monica Pier offers an amusement park right on the Pier with a great Roller Coaster and Ferris Wheel as well as a few other fun rides.  Although the rides are no match to a large theme park, the uniqueness of the pier make it worth a visit. You will find a few great dining selections right on the Pier. The most notable being the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.  The Third Street Promenade is just a few blocks up from the Pier with a lot of great shopping and all of the usual comforts.

Top things to do in Santa Monica

• Ride the Solar Power Ferris Wheel on the Pier
• Ride the Roller Coaster on the Pier
• Take a Trapese Lesson or Workshop
• Visit the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
• Lay on the beach and soak up the sun
• Surfing or surf lessons
• Bicycle Rentals, pedal or electric
• Segway or Hoverboard rentals
• Walk or bike the paved beach path miles and miles to enjoy
• Get your fortune from Zoltar on the Pier
• Third Street Promenade