Hello, As nice as a palm tree lined beach ocean photo is, this is a good optical illusion. The actual Santa Monica Beach is well below the tall cliff top road and set of cool palm trees. If one were to think of the ocean on the West coast and a palm tree lined street, the top of the cliff is pretty nice to just sit and watch the ocean below. My wife and I were regulars at this particular beach. It was a drive to get there, but it was different. Nice restaurants in the shoreside locations, the long pier with fun attractions and the wide beach to just enjoy the ocean in front of you. As college students, we had been traveling all over the California coastline, enjoying what it has to offer. It was one of those “things” we had to do to continue our relationship at the time. Relaxing locations, empty beaches and again, the ocean right in front of us. The ocean is usually not a true surfing beach, although at times, the South side of the pier does get some waves. The traffic on PCH below the cliff area can get horrendous on the weekends and around lunch time daily. On our road trips north and south, it is a preferrable route along the shoreline than the always stuck 405 freeway just mile or so at its location. That portion of the freeway is always stuck, as it is a lead-in to the nearby L.A. Airport a few miles down the coast. So, what traffic is here on PCH, is preferrable, by far. The palm tree lined street is on top of that tall cliff in front and runs parallel to the actual PCH coast highway below. It offers wonderful views down below on the actual sand and ocean. The 180 degree view of the coastline north to “the Rock,” versus the view South to the Palos Verdes Peninsula cliff is a nice unobstructed view from the park above. As one goes North on the Coast Highway or Ocean Avenue, it will eventually connect to the Pacific Palisades area that just got devastated by fire. Down by the actual ocean ahead in both photos is a dark mountain with white construction of some buildings, barely visible. Those homes that run along the shoreline were the ones that also got burned to the ground. Jnaki This is one of the Los Angeles County’s pristine beaches and is going to be selected as the real sand volleyball event in the 2028 L.A. Olympics coming soon. Although, it may be closer to the Santa Monica Pier (end of Route 66 for you hot rod buffs…) for best seating provided and views of the event. It is a projected plan to be a "bus only entry" for the Olympic events, although that seems like a miracle. YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
