To help out those still piecing together their most romantic date night ever, we’ve outlined some of the top reasons the Santa Monica Pier is the most romantic place to take your date in LA.
Love is in the air at the Santa Monica Pier. Often lauded as one of the most romantic places in Los Angeles, the Pier should not be overlooked when planning that special evening with your significant other. Surrounded by top-rated restaurants in Downtown Santa Monica and Main Street and shouldered by miles of white-sand beaches, the Pier offers couples the full package when it comes to options for date night.
Romantic live music, just for couples on the Pacific Wheel – Valentine’s Day Only!
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On Friday, February 14, violist Daniel Morris will serenade couples inside the Park as they enjoy a ride on the Pacific Wheel. Daniel has been a featured performer on The Santa Monica Pier, State Street in Santa Barbara, and Universal City Walk. He plays the viola, a string instrument that is typically played with a bow and is slightly larger than a violin, but with a lower and deeper sound. Daniel’s music can be heard inside the Park on the Pacific Wheel from 6 – 9 PM.
Watch the sun set into the Pacific Ocean
The LA Times recently reported that winter sunsets in Los Angeles are more colorful and due to high clouds in the our rainy season, less particulate matter in the air, and when the days are short, the “angle the sun takes setting makes sunset colors last a bit longer.” While you can watch the sunset from just about anywhere in LA, there is just something magical about watching the sun slowly slink behind the horizon far out past the sandy beaches and crashing waves. Don’t want sand in your shoes? Walk out to the west end of the Santa Monica Pier where there is stadium seating from which you can sit with your date and watch nature’s evening light show.
See Romantic Hearts and Whimsical Messages on the Pacific Wheel
Each February, Pacific Park’s Ferris Wheel displays a Valentine’s Day themed light program. The lights come on at sundown and run through midnight each night. The light program features red beating hearts, kissing emojis, and cute Valentine’s Day messages. You can see the lights of the Pacific Wheel from Palisades Park, the beaches surrounding the Pier or from the Pier itself. You and your date can take a selfie from the Pier boardwalk with a 90ft tall heart in the background.
Win your date a cute plush prize from the Midway
Inside Pacific Park, check out all of the cute plush and prizes at the 12+ midways games. For as little as $2, you can test your skill and win cute stuffed animal for your date to carry home as a memento for the evening.
Get a Photo with your Date in a Photo Booth
There are over 6 photo booths on the Santa Monica Pier. Choose from a classic photo strip or portrait and snap a memory of your romantic evening. The Photo Booth experience is a classic, boardwalk experience. The new-school photo booths on the Pier now take credit cards and in addition to the printed photo souvenir, you can download a digital version of the photo to share online.
Take in the views of the city lights from atop the Ferris Wheel
The Pacific Wheel has been a famous place for Hollywood to take dates for over 20 years having been featured in The Bachelor, countless music videos, and who could forget 2008’s Hottie and the Nottie? For $20, two people can enjoy a cozy gondola to themselves as they rise 130 feet over the Pacific Ocean to see sweeping views of the Bay of the Los Angeles.
Take a stroll on the Beach
The expansive beaches of Santa Monica are a great place to take a stroll after your romantic dinner. With abundant, beach side parking available in Lot 1 North, and many points of access to public transportation including the Metro Expo line just 4 blocks away at Colorado Boulevard, Santa Monica’s beaches are a great destination for couples wanting to hear the waves crash and taste the salt in the air.
Listen to live music by the Boardwalk
Up to a dozen independent musicians will be playing on the Pier on weekend evenings. You can hear romantic ballads by violinists, island vibes from a steel drum, high-energy rock and roll – there are tunes for every taste. There is no published list of performers, and the line up changes every 3 hours. It’s best to stroll along the Pier to find the music that suits you and your SO. If you hear a song that’s special for you, be sure drop a few bucks in the hat for the performer.
Share a sweet with your Sweetie
The shops and restaurants on the Santa Monica Pier serve up a cornucopia of desserts and treats for anyone with a sweet tooth or cravings for classic boardwalk fare. Scoops Ice Cream and Treats inside Pacific Park’s dining plaza offers artisanal, small-batch ice cream made right here in California. With delectable flavors like Sea Salt Caramel and Kauai Pie, you and your date are sure to find a flavor that will melt your hearts. Looking for a warm treat? Why not share a famous Santa Monica Pier Funnel Cake from the Funnel Cakes Shops next to the Pier Gear souvenir shop. Get your funnel cake loaded with strawberries and whipped cream, or keep it classic with a dusting of powdered sugar. These funnel cakes are made fresh-to-order and best enjoyed when shared with others.