Santa Monica Beach Outing

What: A morning out on Santa Monica Beach

Where: Santa Monica Beach, just south of the pier. I like to park at Shutters Hotel, valet is $7 with validation. Beach parking at the base of the pier is $8, and if you don't have cash you have to walk to the ATM and then walk back (a pain if you are usually unprepared in the cash department, like myself).

Shutters Hotel Parking: From the 10 west, exit 4th/5th st. Make a Left on 4th st. Turn Right on Pico. Shutters valet parking is on the right hand side just before you hit the beach.
Address: 1 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone: (310)458-0030

When to go: Mornings on a weekday around 10a.m. are perfect. The beach is freshly combed, the only sunbathers are a few brave spring-breakers, and the dolphins are close to shore skimming the surface.

Who: First-time walkers will love the safe sand to topple in and older kids will love to play in the sand and watch the dolphins.

Mama of L.A. Review:
This morning my daughter, my dad, my grandma, and I, all headed down to the Santa Monica beach. Not something I would typically think of doing, but because my family is from MN, any chance to catch a little sun and see the ocean is more than welcome. We got to Santa Monica at about 9:45a.m., parked at the Shutters Hotel, and immediately headed directly out to where the waves crash. My daughter loved the long walk on the sand, frequently stopping to scoop it up, toss it in the air, and inevitably landing some in her eyes. We walked north for a while, watching dolphins the whole way and only had a dozen people sharing the beach. Just before the pier, we headed back to the boardwalk, and we ran right into a cute park set up for little ones. It had toddler and adult swings, large rocks to climb and sit on and a few more places for kids to explore. My daughter loved it and it was nice to stop for a break after walking on the sand for a while.
After playing for almost 2 hours, we stopped to have lunch at the lovely Shutters on the Beach. They have an amazing fish & chips and my daughter was entertained by the water fountain and people walking by on the boardwalk the entire lunch. They also bring crunchy breadsticks that kids love to snack on while waiting for their food.
Overall, going to the Santa Monica Beach in the morning, on a weekday, is a really nice and easy way to spend time at the beach with your kids. With the kid parks and natural entertainment the beach provides, your kids will have a blast enjoying the fresh air and be exhausted from running around in the sand all morning.

Extra tips: Bring a washcloth for sand in the eyes, sand toys, a light blanket if you want to hang out and sunscreen.
Shutters lunch is on the expensive side, so a good option is to pack sandwiches and have a picnic on the beach.
The Pier has A LOT of fun games and rides for kids. Click Here for a time schedule and list of activities.
Heal the Bay aquarium is a great small aquarium for kids to see sharks, jellyfish, large fish and touch starfish. Click here for their hours of operation and information.

All comments and suggestions about Santa Monica Beach are welcome and helpful!