Things to Do in Palisades Park: A Scenic Coastal Escape in Santa Monica

Palisades Park is a 26.4-acre linear park in Santa Monica, California and located on the coastal bluffs of Ocean Avenue, which has a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and the coastal mountains. It was constructed in 1892 on the land donated by John Percival Jones and Arcadia Bandini de Baker. The park was called Linda Vista Park until 1915 and was designed using the concept of preserving the bluffs against erosion. It has more than 30 types of plants and trees, paved jogging and walking trails, a gorgeous rose garden, picnic grounds, bathrooms, and other landmarks such as the historic Idaho Gate and an Indian totem pole. Visitors can take leisure strolls, jog, take photographs, or just sit on benches and view the gorgeous sunsets, all within a short distance of the crowded Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade. 

What Can You See & Do at Palisades Park?

Here are the seven best things to see and do at the Palisades Park in Santa Monica:

1. Scenic Oceanfront Walks: The park has a paved road that is best for walking, running, or jogging. Benches are placed all along the path that offers lots of places to rest and have a view of the Santa Monica Bay and coast. To go on a longer walk. Marvin Braude Bike Trail is located to the south of the park, near the Santa Monica Pier. 
2. Sunset Viewing Spots, Picnic & Relaxation Areas: The location of the park in the bluffs is ideal for viewing the sunset. Sunset hour gives a magical effect that creates a dramatic and beautiful backdrop for the ocean. Seat yourself on a bench on the west side of the park and enjoy a great view of the park, or sit on a blanket in the green grass. The park has an open green area of 26 acres and is ideal for enjoying an interesting picnic. The grass and sea breezes are well kept, making the atmosphere pleasant. In the lawns, you can lay down a blanket or get a picnic table at the Palisades Park Picnic Area.
3. Public Art & Monuments: Palisades Park has several monuments and sculptural work of public art pieces. The park has an art lab in the form of a historic Camera Obscura that is maintained by the City of Santa Monica. 
4. Yoga, Meditation & Mindful Activities: Palisades Park is a good location to practice yoga, meditate, and other mindful activities due to the peaceful and scenic environment. The grass lawns are ideal for doing a personal yoga or stretching session. 
5. Creation of content and photography. The scene of the ocean, palm trees, and ocean romance is ideal for photography. The period before sunset (the golden hour) is popular for dramatic seashore and land photographs. The palm trees that surround the park and the panorama of the Santa Monica Pier are some of the iconic photo opportunities. 
6. Palm Tree & Garden Scenery: The park has a beautiful landscape with colourful rose gardens and the typical palm trees. The rose garden, situated on the side of Ocean Avenue and Palisades Avenue, is a beautiful and addictive place to visit. 
7. Dog-friendly walks: The Palisades Park is a dog-friendly area to take picturesque walks with a dog. Visitors come across quite a number of people out walking their dogs as they go through the paved paths. Always remember to put a leash on your dog. 

What Are the Best Times to Visit Palisades Park?

The golden hour just before sunset is the best time to visit Palisades Park in Santa Monica, when the ocean views and colours are magnificent. To experience a more peaceful picnic with fewer people, go during a weekday or at an early time in the morning. The summer is the busiest because of the holidays and the weather conditions. The fall (September to November) is pleasant and with fewer crowds. Mornings on weekdays are also good when you feel like taking a peaceful walk. 

How to Get to Palisades Park?

Here are the five best ways to go to the Palisades Park in Santa Monica:

1. By Car: Drive your car on I-10, West, exit via 4th and 5th streets, and move towards Ocean Avenue. Go right on 4th Street and take the first left on Colorado Boulevard, then left on Ocean Avenue. Go to the parking lot of the Santa Monica pier on Appian Way. 
2. By Public Transport: Take the Metro E Line (or Expo Line), which links both Santa Monica and Downtown Los Angeles and has stops in the city. The Big Blue Bus system serves nearby locations, and the LAX City Bus Centre serves Santa Monica. 
3.  By Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Type in ‘Palisades Park’ as the destination in the Uber and Lyft apps. The driver will be aware of the most appropriate route to take to get you to a drop-off point with easy access to the park. 
4. By Bike or Scooter: Ride or drive a scooter to the park, and it is a wonderful way to have fun in the area. There are bike lanes and specific bike paths, and trails around the beaches of Santa Monica and the surrounding areas. Visitors can also use services such as Unlimited Biking, which provides guided bike tours of the park through apps. 
5. By Limo Service: To enjoy the tour more richly, you can rent a Limousine service Los Angeles. Provide the address of Palisades Park to the driver, and they will do the transportation, and it will be a stress-free way of getting to the park. 

Where to Eat Near Palisades Park?

Here are the three best eating places near the Palisades Park in Santa Monica:

1. The Misfit Restaurant & Bar (American Comfort & Brunch): Misfit Restaurant and Bar is a hip gastropub situated in the legendary Clock Tower Building right before the beach and the Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica. It is reputable with its innovative American comfort food, fresh and ingredient-based culinary preparation and hand-crafted cocktails. It has a colourful Art Deco atmosphere, provides daily happy hour with half-off cocktails till 7 pm, and weekend brunch. The most popular menu foods are the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, the Misfit Burger, and a free sea salt chocolate chip cookie at the end of the meal. It has a vibrant bar atmosphere, as well as a quieter fine dining experience, including a second-floor mezzanine.
2. Blue Plate Taco (Mexican Coastal Cuisine): Blue Plate Taco is a new eating place which serves Baja-style Mexican beach food and is situated at 1515 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401, right opposite the historic Santa Monica Pier. The restaurant offers colourful views of the ocean and the pier, and a heated outdoor patio. The food is made up of organic and sustainably grown ingredients, with fresh ceviche, shrimp tacos, and house-made margaritas made out of farmer market fruit. The ambience is vibrant, and the style of the place is casual, beachy and ideal to have lunch, dinner, or brunch. The restaurant belongs to the group of restaurants Blue Plate and is situated next to The Shore Hotel, which also provides self-parking validation. 
3. The Georgian Room (Upscale Californian & European Fusion): The Georgian Room is a fine dining restaurant in the historic Georgian Hotel on Ocean Avenue across Palisade Park. It is a fine dining restaurant that is designed on the structure of Old-Hollywood glamour and modern sophistication. The restaurant has a heavy Italian chophouse menu that includes dry-aged New York strip steak, spaghetti, and some seafood combination, as well as a wine program of world standards. The small, speakeasy atmosphere, formerly a true Prohibition-era bar, is laced with interiors in the strong Art Deco style, with racing green leather booths and red walls, and live jazz music, played on a vintage Steinway grand piano. 

Is Palisades Park Worth Visiting?

Palisades Park is a worth watching place because of its beautiful panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and the mountainous coast. The park has palm trees, benches and picnic tables, and provides the ideal place to take a serious or casual stroll, jog or just sit down and enjoy the sunset, which is a great place to rest. It is situated in an area where other attractions, such as the Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade, are also popular, and the best option to explore the neighbourhood in one day. It has beautiful restaurants like Blue Plate Taco, which serves pure food.