Visit Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica was the site of my first job in the Computer Software Industry, I worked there for Scientific Data Systems (SDS) just prior to the Xerox purchase of SDS - who turned the company into Xerox Data Systems (XDS). Santa Monica had not originally been one of our "Trip Destinations", but with the fires burning in Sequoia National Park, we were forced to change our Trip Itinerary.

Due to those fires (our Three Rivers cabin reservation was cancelled due to its proximity to the fire), the opportunity arose for us to spend some time near Santa Monica (and Agoura Hills, CA), I realized that Celeste and I would be able to visit the Santa Monica Pier area, and I could show her some of my old stomping grounds.

The northern sections of the city of Santa Monica once belonged to Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica and Rancho Boca de Santa Monica (prior to 1848 when California became a U.S. possession). The Sepulveda family sold 38,409 acres of Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica for $54,000 in 1872 to Colonel Robert S. Baker and his wife, Arcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker. They then subdivided part of their joint holdings in 1875 and created the town of Santa Monica. The town site fronted on the ocean and was bounded on the northwest by Montana Avenue, on the southeast by Colorado Avenue and on the northeast by 26th Street. The avenues were all named after the states of the West, the streets being simply numbered. The first lots in Santa Monica were sold on July 15, 1875. Click here to read the full Wikipedia Article on Santa Monica.

By 1879, the Southern Pacific Railroad connected Santa Monica to Los Angeles, spurring development. In 1909, the famous Santa Monica Pier was built, initially serving as a municipal pier and later as an entertainment destination.

The beaches in the Santa Monica area, while naturally occurring, have been significantly modified and expanded through man-made efforts. In the early 20th century, coastal erosion and the growing popularity of beach activities led to initiatives to enhance the shoreline.

One of the largest efforts occurred in the 1930s when beach nourishment was undertaken to widen the beaches. Sand was dredged and transported from offshore or nearby coastal areas to create the expansive, wide beaches seen today. They brought in sand from the dunes that existed further south in Playa del Rey, by what is now the sprawling Los Angeles International Airport, as well as sand from the Pacific Ocean floor, and from a failed project to create a marina in Santa Monica. Millions of cubic yards of sand were brought in over time to create and maintain the beach's iconic wide shores, enhancing its appeal as a major attraction for visitors. Additionally, the construction of breakwaters and jetties helped protect the beach from erosion and maintain its new, larger size.

By the 1950s and 1960s, the Santa Monica beach areas were further developed with amenities such as piers, parking lots, and public facilities to cater to the influx of visitors. The beach along Santa Monica Bay became a more structured and managed space, designed to support recreational use while preventing coastal erosion.

Click above Image to view larger Google Map

Click the above video poster image to view our California road trip which allows you to get a glimpse of San Francisco, Muir Woods, Sausalito, Napa and Sonoma, Yosemite, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Pacific Coast Highway, Monterey, Carmel by the Sea... We did this short video to inspire others to try it out.

The Santa Monica Pier opened in 1909 with the seemingly mundane purpose of sanitation. The long, narrow Municipal Pier was built to extend sewage pipes far from the shore. However, its stunning ocean views made it a popular spot for strolling and fishing. This unexpected popularity caught the eye of amusement entrepreneur Charles Looff. Looff, who built Coney Island's first carousel, saw the pier's potential and constructed his own Pleasure Pier in 1916 right next door. This pier, featuring the iconic Looff Hippodrome with its merry-go-rounds, Wurlitzer organs, and thrilling rides, became a magnet for fun seekers. The two piers eventually merged, forming the Santa Monica Pier we know today.

The pier went through various stages from those early days until the 1970's when the Santa Monica City Council slated the pier for destruction & replacement, and the citizens of the city reacted vigorously and defeated the attempt. Three of the council members were eventually defeated during elections !

In 1983 the pier was badly damaged by a storm, and the city created the Pier Restoration and Development Task Force to oversee the pier's reconstruction. The reconstruction work took until April 1990 to complete and once again, the pier was a popular destination. The pier's real revival came in 1996 with the opening of Pacific Park, the first permanent amusement park on the pier since the 1930s. Anchored by the world-famous Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel, the park brought back the spirit of fun and frivolity.

The pier now draws over four million visitors annually, and it remains a popular recreation area. As you can see in our images, the beaches on both sides of the pier are very large and are popular with swimmers & surfers alike.

When I worked in Santa Monica, we would occasionally come over to the Pier area to eat lunch, or to hang out after work. Venice Beach is only a couple of miles south of the Pier, so there were a number of places to hang out along the beach.

As you can see in this static map, we had a number of destinations (as well as a number of side trips) that would require a considerable amount of driving. Each of the itinerary stops is linked to our content (or page) to allow you to view our content.

Locations / Start & End points are both San Francisco International Airport

1. San Francisco Hilton Financial District.
2. Bonita Point Lighthouse and Fort Baker area.
3. Sausalito, CA.
4. Santa Rosa, CA in the heart of the Sonoma County Wine District.
5. Salida, CA - overnight rest stop along the way to Yosemite.
6. Yosemite National Park, CA where we stayed at the Rush Creek Lodge.
7. Frontieres Underground Garden Fresno, CA - this was an entertainment side stop, as we had read about this place and also wanted to get lunch.
8. Santa Barbara, CA
9. Morro Bay, CA.
10. Monterey Bay, CA to explore the Monterey Bay and Carmel by the Sea areas.