Santa Monica State Beach Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Santa Monica State Beach

Santa Monica State Beach Location in California Show map of California Santa Monica State Beach Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Los Angeles County, California
Nearest city	Santa Monica
Governing body	California Department of Parks and Recreation

The famous Route 66 sign at Santa Monica Pier.

Santa Monica State Beach is a fun and sunny place in Santa Monica. It's a California State Park, but the city of Santa Monica helps run it.

This amazing beach stretches for about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) along the Pacific Coast Highway. It has lots of cool things to do! You can find parks, picnic spots, and playgrounds. There are also restrooms and lifeguards to keep everyone safe. You might even spot the famous Muscle Beach area. You can rent bikes, grab a snack, and walk on special wooden paths. These paths make it easy for everyone to enjoy the sand.

Fun Things to Do at the Beach
Wildlife at the Beach
A Special Place: "Ink Well"
Arlington West Memorial
Images for kids
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Fun Things to Do at the Beach

A beautiful sunset at Santa Monica Beach.

Palm trees swaying by the beach.

Santa Monica State Beach is packed with activities. You can play volleyball, go surfing, or try stand-up paddleboarding. Swimming in the ocean is also a popular choice. Just remember, smoking is not allowed on the beach.

The Santa Monica Pier

At one end of the beach, you'll find the famous Santa Monica Pier. It was built way back in 1909! On the pier, there's a special old carousel called the 1922 Looff Hippodrome Carousel. It's a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a very important historical place.

Chess Park and Palisades Park

Close to the pier, there's the International Chess Park. It has public chess tables where you can play a game. There's even a giant chessboard on the ground! Above the beach, on the cliffs, is Palisades Park. From there, you get an amazing view of the beach and the huge Pacific Ocean.

Beach in Pop Culture and Sports

Did you know this beach was featured on the album cover for the song "Umbrella Beach" by the band Owl City? It's also going to be a big sports spot! In the 2028 Summer Olympics, Santa Monica State Beach will host the beach volleyball and surfing events.

Wildlife at the Beach

The beach is home to some interesting animals. Small birds called Snowy Plovers build their nests right on the sand.

The city of Santa Monica is working to help nature here. In 2023, they announced a plan to restore a 5-acre (2-hectare) part of the beach. This area, north of the pier, will become a natural home for plants and animals that live near the coast.

A Special Place: "Ink Well"

In the early 1900s, a part of Santa Monica Beach was known as "Ink Well" or "Negro Beach." This was a time when many places in California were segregated. This meant that African Americans were often not allowed to use the same beaches as white people. "Ink Well" was one of the few places where Black families could enjoy the ocean.

Nick Gabaldon was one of the first Black surfers in California. He lived in Santa Monica and often surfed at this special 200-foot (61-meter) section of the beach.

Arlington West Memorial

The Arlington West memorial on Santa Monica Beach.

Arlington West is a special temporary memorial set up on Santa Monica Beach. It's located just north of the Santa Monica Pier. Every Sunday, from sunrise to sunset, crosses are placed on the sand. Each cross represents a U.S. military person who has died in the Iraq War.

This memorial is a project by a group called Veterans For Peace. It helps visitors think about the sacrifices made by military members. For those who died in the past week, flag-draped coffins with blue crosses are placed in front.