Top 5 Santa Monica Tickets & Passes: A Local’s Review

Unlocking Santa Monica: What Tickets & Passes do you Really Need?

Okay, so you’re thinking about checking out Santa Monica? That’s rad! It’s almost like, as someone who has lived nearby for a bit, I can tell you there are a bunch of tickets and passes thrown around, and sifting through them can be…well, a lot. Like, really a lot! Instead of going with all of them, I am going to cover what is worth it, and what might be better skipped, depending on, like, what you’re planning to do. So you know how to see the best of the best.

1. Santa Monica Pier Aquarium Ticket: Peeks Under the Sea!

So, first up is the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium ticket. Just so you know, it’s not quite a massive aquarium, you know? This one’s way smaller and focuses quite a bit more on the local sea life right around the Santa Monica Bay. We could say the charm here is that its educational programs are, generally, cool for kids and adults alike, and also the up-close view of local marine life you get just by being there. You can actually touch some sea creatures in the touch tanks! That’s pretty interesting stuff if you’re bringing the family, I believe. Just a little tip: check ahead, because, as a matter of fact, they usually have feeding times scheduled that are super engaging.

Okay, so who is it for? Very likely, the ones with kiddos. The price is also quite modest, and that too means if you’re looking for something short and sweet, that’s also quite affordable. Actually, if you are expecting something really similar to the Monterey Bay Aquarium? This might be a little less, alright. Instead, this one is about local ocean life in a way, yet. Still cool if you like that kind of thing.

2. Pacific Park All-Day Ride Pass: For the Thrill-Seekers

So you know that iconic Ferris wheel that you just think of when you imagine the Santa Monica Pier? That’s located in Pacific Park! It’s very cool if you enjoy amusement park rides and all of that excitement. What an all-day ride pass gets you is really a ticket to all the rides in the park without limits! (Of course, that doesn’t include games and other attractions in the park that could be there too.)

Who is this very awesome pass good for? Almost anyone who loves that classic boardwalk experience! You see the vibe? We are talking rides, the ocean air, and maybe too it’s almost those really crazy fair foods? That is the right setting for you! Now I must admit: if you are not too fond of rides or boardwalk type setups then, you could be content just walking around the pier and possibly skip this pass instead.

3. Santa Monica Bike Tour: Pedaling Through Paradise

So then, you want to get a good workout, yet, at the same time, check out what Santa Monica offers? How very about hopping on a bike! You are able to see quite a bit this way since you can follow the beach path, so also too you can explore what makes this coastal paradise shine. So you get exercise and sightseeing that are right together in a way!

Basically, what happens during one of these bike tours is this. That actually takes you through the beaches and, like, the neighborhood, plus all those cool sites along the way that, without your guide, might have not seen, alright. Anyway it’s fun if you like staying active and also a way to see a little more than if, say, you were just on foot. For active types, adventure seekers, and those looking to, well, stretch those legs and explore a bit—this option is a win! It is probably too also good for travelers who don’t want the generic touristy stuff either.

4. Los Angeles Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (with Santa Monica Stop): See it all!

So then, if you would like to see much more than Santa Monica and maybe even the rest of Los Angeles? Alright, the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus is what is actually a cool pick! You could basically sit back, unwind, and, for the most part, let someone else handle driving while taking it all in, basically. It can take you, for instance, to Hollywood to the Santa Monica, and maybe downtown LA, etc., that allows you to actually experience all these districts a bit. So consider that one, too!

So you could find yourself at all the very best destinations at your very own speed! Okay, so you actually like seeing different places, yet not dealing with driving yourself? That bus is like it’s for you then! The kind of bus tour does have a few trade-offs, of course, like traffic that could be like it impacts schedules at the end of the day. Then again, it is one easy way to explore what Los Angeles provides without having to be behind the wheel.

5. Celebrity Homes Tour (Starting Near Santa Monica): Spot a Star

Basically, one popular thing that people often are interested in when in Los Angeles? Looking into the world of celebrities. Very likely, this type of tour does have you head into Beverly Hills, and other parts of the area, where the houses of many stars sit, for the most part. You could get the outside views of those famous people’s residences as, well, learn a thing or two regarding them from the tour guides too!

The tours often kick off near Santa Monica, then take you down the neighborhoods with many stars, you know? What that pass comes down to is seeing some big, rad houses while maybe catching, very likely, just a peek at celebrity lifestyles—and, of course, a pretty amazing backdrop. Alright, so do you follow celebrity gossip and you like the area, then that will suit you nicely indeed. But for those that care more about beaches and amusement rides, it is probably not what it is after for yourself. Very, very cool thing, just give it a think!