Sunday, September 13, 2009

Sundays In My City #6: Santa Monica Pier

Do you know Unknown Mami? She's awesome and she's started a fun Sunday theme inviting you to get out and take pictures of your city to share with the rest of us. Click here for details and her logo and click here to see Unknown Mami's City today

Since school started on Wednesday, Godson and I spent one last summer vacation day at the Santa Monica Pier near Los Angeles on Tuesday. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

When we arrived, we found out that Wednesday would mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Pier. Who knew!
Over the years, the Pier has had its ups and downs to that point that in the 1973 the City Council actually voted to tear it down in favor of a man-made island with a resort hotel. The "locals" didn't take that lightly and pitched such a huge fit that the council rescinded the vote and three of it's "anti-Pier" members were badly defeated in the next election.

Then, in 1983, Mother Nature had her way with our lovely Pier during two nasty storms and destroyed 1/3 of it, along with shops and restaurants. A Restoration Task Force was formed and by 1990 the entire Pier was restored and open to the public once again. Phew!

Yes, over the year, our lovely Pier has had a few face lifts but who hasn't in this town (wink, wink).

The Pier is 1,600 feet long. If you walked to the end (which has a terrific Mexican Restaurant) and back, you'll get sunburned. Trust me on that, so don't forget your sunscreen.

In 1996 Pacific Park opened, bringing back the first full-scale amusement park on the Pier since the 1930's. The Ferris Wheel was replaced last year with a more eco-friendly version. And by the way, I wouldn't be caught dead on that thing. I'm afraid of heights.

But honestly, it's the beach that brings Godson and I to the Pier. We're not much for the rides. We hang out at the beach for hours digging in the sand and chasing the waves. Then we'll make our way up to the Pier and have lunch at Bubba Gumps, grab a bag of freshly made cotton candy, and then head back down to the beautiful ocean.

Tuesday was a hot day but perfect for the beach. Since it was the last day before school started, it wasn't to crowded. That's Malibu in the distance.

This is the view of the Pacific and the beach from the middle of the Pier.
Like they say, "Life's a beach!"

How's your Sunday?
Welcome to The Fifty Factor - Joanna

51 comments:

  1. love these shots! i´m sooo jealous! happy sunday! besos!

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  2. Loved the pics. and your write up went well with the shots. Good job my friend!

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  3. Gorgeous Pier!
    And I just love the beach.. I could live on it!

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  4. I really enjoy your Sunday tours because I've never been in your neck of the woods. I know SF and maybe 100 miles south along the coastal towns, but that's it.

    My Sunday has much to do with laundry and other small chores. You don't know what you're missing!

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  5. I love Santa Monica only been there once in the spring. Would love to go again. Great pictures sure wish I had some cotton candy right now. Life is a beach!

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  6. This reminds me of a MUCH LARGER version of what we use to have in Lower Michigan on Lake Michigan. It was Silver Beach Amusement Park. There was an old ferris wheel on the rickety old "pier" right by the waterside of things, an old rickety roller coaster, a merry go round that you could try to catch the brass ring and many other forms of "entertainment". But the biggest draw was the beautiful beach. I understand why you had such a wonderful day!

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  7. Thanks for showing us your pier. The pictures are great. Like you I would head for the beach, but I like the amusement park shots too.

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  8. Whaat an Awesome Day Joanna, I love the shots, I knew you would not like the ride because of the heights. Great to get out and about. That beach looks me some fine!Have a wonderful day!

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  9. Beautiful pics, especially the one with the bird flying.
    I love the beach too, its something about the waves, the smell the sound, that can keep me sitting and staring at the water for hours.

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  10. You seem like the kind of gal I could hang out with at the beach all day.

    Look at that water!

    Unlike our ocean, yours is a bit nippy in the thermometer, but the color is just amazing!

    Glad you and Godson had fun.

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  11. Isn't it great to get a beautiful day when you go out? Your pictures turned out swell. Looks like a beautiful area.

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  12. Great post. One of the things I like about your blog is that your enthusiasm is contagious. Very nice photos. I grew up in southern CA and was on this pier many times. Great area and wonderful pier. Anytime you want to adopt me for a goddaughter even if I am waaaaay older than you are it is okay with me. You are an awesome godmother!!

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  13. sounds like you had a fun afternoon. the picslook wonderful.
    heading out on a picnic this Sunday afternoon ourselves. have a great one!

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  14. I so enjoyed this field trip with you today. And, I know my trip to the Great Lake was wonderful, but goodness, Snarky Sister....this is what big bodies of water are supposed to be and do and look like. Thank you for giving me a smidge of a taste of what I miss so much.

    HUGS!

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  15. I'm with your on the Ferris Wheel...that is to say, I'm with you on the ground looking up at the Ferris Wheel. Way too high! Great pictures and a great tour of the pier and the beach.

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  16. loved the pictures and your description of the Pier; I haven't been in years; we were going to go on Labor Day but took a day trip in a different direction; but it is on my list of things to do; will have to check out that Mexican restaurant

    thanks for sharing Santa Monica Pier with us

    betty

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  17. I can just picture myself there right now!

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  18. Great post. I miss the ocean so much. Even though we didn´t go there that often, when we lived in Canada, it´s still a part of me, and makes me feel home sick. I´m glad you had such a good day, and got to show us about it.
    I think I´ll head on over to Mike Smith´s now, because he hates Sunday´s, and see what that´s about.... :)

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  19. I saw a piece on tv about the pier's birthday. Thanks for the photos

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  20. I've never been west of Lake Havasu, Arizon so between you and Unknown Mami, I'm really wanting to go to CA. :)

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  21. Love the pier.. reminds me of Brighton, except yours is bigger, brighter and you also have a sandy beach and good weather.

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  22. Those beach shots? I want that now. Now. It's 11pm and 30 degrees....what the hell???

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  23. 30 degrees celsius, you imperialist Americans :))

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  24. I was there once a long time ago, it's such a 'happening' kind of place, lovely.

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  25. I just love, love, LOVE these pictures. And I loved how you described your day with your godson! So special : ) What a wonderful place. One of my sweetest friends is in San Fransico right now. I think she went there last night.

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  26. Thanks for sharing. I haven't been there since I was in College. i just love the beach - makes me home sick for Cali.

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  27. Yay the Pier! We lived in Redlands for awhile and we spent some time at the Pier and loved it every single time. We loved hanging out on the beach and playing in the water. I sure miss the warm water. Awesome photos!!

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  28. Oh gosh, how warm and lovely does that look? Thanks for stopping by earlier, I love your pics! x

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  29. Your pictures bring back so many wonderful memories. The first and last time I ever went to a fortune teller was on that pier.

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  30. Sounds and looks like a beautiful day. How nice that you had this special time with your godson.

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  31. Too bad you are afraid of heights Joanna, the Ferris Wheel is a lovely gentle experience and way to see things from above. Nothing like those rides that shake rattle and roll you, hehe. You and Godson had a perfect Sunday.

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  32. Isn't that where they filmed "The Lost Boys"?

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  33. I miss the beach sooooo much! Thanks for the pics!

    Happy Sunday to you and I hope you have a happy week and all your pool troubles get fixed quickly and easily!

    Hugs!!

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  34. Wow it's just gorgeous. Love that there are mountains in the background. Hope I get to visit that area some day!

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  35. What beautiful water you have in Santa Monica! The ocean in Jersey (where I grew up) doesn't look close to that blue. Even in my fondest memories it's always a dirty green/brown. I think I'll just pretend it's like your side of the ocean.

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  36. I want to live where you live! Michigan has been far too cool for swimming or the beach.

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  37. Ummm....how can you have 40 COMMENTS ALREADY?? Oh right. It's because you rock.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  38. Great photos! What a fantastic place.

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  39. Santa Monica Pier is beautiful. Off to read the King's 9/11 piece.

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  40. I love the beach. Your water is prettier than my water on the other coast and I don't have mountains. Very pretty.

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  41. Lovely pictures! We were just there in July and the water didn't look half as pretty as your pictures.

    I'm a transplanted CA girl and dearly miss the ocean! Your pictures made me smile. Glad you had such a wonderful day!

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  42. I also love the pier and remember attempting to fish off of it. Didn't catch anything but it was still fun trying.

    What is Bubba Gumps? Loved the pictures!

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  43. Oh, how this farm chick is longing to squish gooey sand between her toes again. Here we have dirt....lots of dirt! Great pictures gal, have a blessed day!!!

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  44. Beautiful shots -- I did not know the pier was destroyed back in the 80's. We were just there three years ago and enjoyed our time on the pier.

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  45. What a wonderful spot--I hope the locals appreciate it as much as the tourists probably do!

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  46. I have been to that pier a million times. I often wondered about its history. Thank you for this information. I will look at it with different eyes next time I go there.

    And thank you for the beautiful read. I love following your postings.

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  47. I grew up in a mobile home park on the Ventura County side of Malibu. These photos are screaming "ET - phone home" to me.

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Thanks for stopping by and commenting, I really appreciate it.