Are you about to visit Santa Monica for the first time? The beach, sun, and ocean waves can be quite beautiful! Especially if you’re on the pier for the very first time with a group of friends or family members. Even if you decide to head out to Santa Monica alone, you could be in for a relaxing night of looking out at the boats and people watching.
Wondering what to do? Here, I’ll help you prepare for the best day possible in Santa Monica, especially if you’ve never been there before. From a couple of things to see to what you should prepare, get ready to have a good time!
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Look Into Luggage Storage in Santa Monica Pier
If you’re planning on checking out the Pier, it’s probably best for you to make sure that your luggage is safe while you’re exploring. Especially if you’re only going to be in the area for a day or so, it might not be worth it to find accommodations where your luggage would otherwise be safe.
Luggage storage in Santa Monica Pier could be quite convenient. It’s generally inexpensive, and it can really help you make the most of your day. If you’d rather not be weighed down by your bags while you’re walking around, try finding some luggage storage in Santa Monica Pier.
However, the Pier doesn’t directly offer this kind of storage. Generally, luggage storage in Santa Monica Pier is offered by some third-party companies, so make sure you do your homework before you hand over your bags.
Especially if you see a brand that you don’t recognize offering luggage storage in Santa Monica Pier, make sure that reviews on the vendor are positive. Additionally, make sure that the company itself has been in business for a while.
Unfortunately, this means that you likely can’t just trust your bags in a random locker area you see sitting around. The key is to keep your bags safe while you’re roaming around, and possibly even safer than they would be if you decided to keep your luggage with you.
Check Out Santa Monica Pier
Of course, while you’re in Santa Monica, especially if it’s your first time in the area, you have to visit Santa Monica Pier. There’s just a lot to do while you’re at the Pier itself.
You can spend some time watching the street performers, seeing people fish, and visiting all the vendors. But especially important is making sure you get all the way to the end of the Pier and looking at the sun as it reflects on the water.
Also, whether day or night you can see boats coming in and out of the area, whether these are cargo ships or little sailboats that people are taking out onto the water. These can also be quite lovely to see.
Many people also love visiting Santa Monica Pier because of all of the rides. While a bit pricey, if you have kids this is the best way to ensure that they’ll have an exciting and memorable time at the pier with their friends or family members.
Pack a Lunch
If you’re planning on spending several hours at the Santa Monica Pier, it would be a good idea to pack a small meal or a few snacks for yourself, especially if you’re trying to save money on food and refreshments while you’re there.
The food can be pretty pricey, so it doesn’t hurt to make sure that you have some of your food-related expenses covered before you head out for the day. Additionally, if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, it can be a little bit difficult to find foods that you can both eat and enjoy. Packing some of your own food can make this much less stressful on your part.
Watch the Street Performers
In my opinion, the most interesting part of Santa Monica has always been the street performers. Whether you’re visiting the shopping center or walking along Santa Monica Pier, or possibly even doing both, they can be quite entertaining. Plus, unless you decide to give the performers a much-deserved tip, this entertainment is free!
The street performances include a variety of exciting displays of skill, from karaoke singers, to dancers, to jugglers, to full-on bands coming out with all of their equipment just to perform for the crowds that have chosen to give the beloved city a visit.
Some of these performances can be awe-inspiring, beautiful, or just downright funny! You definitely don’t want to pass these up.
Put on Some Sun Protection
Pull out your sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen, because you’re going to need all the protection from the sun that you can get. Unless you didn’t know, California can be pretty sunny and warm the entire year. So if you aren’t prepared to face the rays of the California sun, consider yourself lucky if you don’t get burned.
