Peering at the Pier in Santa Monica

Santa Monica Yacht Harbor Sign at Night

Route 66 ends at the Santa Monica Pier
Route 66 ends at the Santa Monica Pier.

Have you ever wondered where Route 66 ends?

Rather than dumping travelers into the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica offered a better solution – a pleasure pier.

The pier is actually two piers side-by-side, one of which houses Pacific Park.

Pacific Park, Santa Monica Pier

The longer Municipal Pier was built in 1908 mainly for strolling and fishing, but things started to really pick up when the Hippodrome was built in 1916 to house the now famous carousel.

The Hippodrome at Santa Monica Pier

The carousel is a true work of art. Its forty-six wooden animals have delighted riders for almost 100 years.

The Carousel at the Santa Monica Pier
The rabbit always creeped Veronica out as a kid. Still does, actually.
Santa Monica Beach from the pier
The view from the Santa Monica Pier.

Strolling along the longer Municipal Pier we were delighted by the campy throw-back feel of place, complete with old-school pastimes, street performers, wacky businesses and odes to the old Muscle Beach days.

Your name on a grain of rice, Santa Monica Pier

Playland, with skeeball on the Santa Monica Pier

A puppeteer on the Santa Monica Pier

Big Dean's Muscle In Near the Santa Monica Pier

Hot dog cart on Santa Monica Pier

Lobster at The Lobster, Santa Monica California

That night, we walked over to The Lobster for an incredible seafood dinner.

When a restaurant is named The Lobster, it’s hardly necessary to look at a menu.

The drawn butter flowed like wine… as did the wine.

Butter Poached American Lobster at the Lobster, Santa Monica

Established in 1923, The Lobster has been shelling out deliciousness to generations of pier goers.

It would have been wrong of us not partake in a tradition like that – who do we think we are?

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

See all of our adventures in California!

YOUR TURN: Do you love the kitschy old school, Route 66-ish stuff as much as we do?


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