Palisades Park is a scenic park in Santa Monica that offers walking paths, picturesque views from cliffs, and a collection of art installations and diverse tree species. From the cliffs, you can gaze out over the ocean and the coastal mountains for some impressive horizons.
You can find all sorts of fun here, whether you're looking for a simple stroll, scenic views, or insight into local artworks. Most people spend an hour or 2 at the park, but there's enough here to keep people entertained for several hours on a clear day, which is most days in LA.
Palisades Park in Santa Monica - one of the highlights of 10 Best Things to Do in Santa Monica and 11 Best Parks in Los Angeles (Read all about Santa Monica here)
Palisades Park highlights
Within this park, you'll find a collection of historic monuments and public art installations. Amongst the best, you can see a Civil War cannon and a Native American totem pole. As for art, the Statue of Santa Monica by Eugene H. Monrahan and Masahito Sanae's Bust of Arcadia Bandini de Baker tend to stand out.
Nature lovers are sure to notice the diversity of plants and trees here, as there are more than 30 unique species on display. Palm trees tend to take precedence, but you'll find quite the variety, including European and Mexican fan palms alongside the Senegal date palm and several figs and yate trees.
Good to know when visiting Palisades Park
The cliffside views in this park are certainly breathtaking, but it's important that you don't get too close to the edge. Barriers and signs will remind you of this. Most of the visitors to the area will be down at the beach, so you won't usually encounter many crowds in the park itself.
Being located in Santa Monica, a visit to this park will put you close to a variety of other attractions. Sorrento Beach is just a short walk away, and the Santa Monica Pier is less than a mile to the southeast.
Palisades Park in Santa Monica
Location: Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA
Open: Daily from 5 am to midnight
Phone: +1 310-458-8300
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