A visit to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica is more than a shopping experience. You'll stroll down the middle of a street that was closed to vehicular traffic years ago. Now pedestrians rule the road, at least within this three block stretch located within walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Bordered by the Santa Monica Place shopping mall to the south, and busy Wilshire Boulevard to the north, Third Street is lined with a variety of shops ranging from traditional to unusual. Clothing outlets and stores prevail, sprinkled amongst specialty shops, book stores, gift shops, restaurants and coffee shops.
Third Street Promenade attracts a wide spectrum of street performers who display their talents for onlookers in hopes of a donation from an appreciative visitor. The city of Santa Monica issues permits to street performers, and talent is obviously not a requirement to obtain this authorization. Walking down the street you'll witness a variety of performances that range from the downright good to the blatantly unqualified. Either way, it's quite entertaining. If you find an entertainer who amuses you, they will be grateful for a donation of a dollar or two. You'll find that there are more performers on weekends, when there are more visitors.
After visiting Third Street, you'll want to continue on to Santa Monica Place, a modern shopping mall complete with department stores, food court, specialty stores and more.
Next, head west to Ocean Street for overhead views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Pier. Bring your camera to take photos of the pier and ocean, or simply walk along the path and view a spectacular sunset over the ocean. Finally, head on down to the pier to find more shops and restaurants, as well as carnival games and rides at Pacific Park.
