Santa Monica

The Pacific Wheel -Santa Monica 

From Runway to Ocean Air

For our vacation, we chose Santa Monica and Los Angeles—two places I had never seen before. I was excited to be back near the ocean, even knowing I wouldn’t be diving—the Pacific has a reputation for a cold that seeps in fast and lingers. I hoped we might make it back to Disneyland Park, though that would depend on traffic—and in Los Angeles, that’s never a small variable. We were staying directly across from the beach and the iconic Santa Monica Pier.

The flight from Denver was smooth and quick—just over two and a half hours. I had reserved a car so we could explore freely, but when we arrived to pick up our SUV, it had just been given to the group ahead of us. So they offered me a choice: a Dodge Charger—all horsepower and temptation—or a brand-new Toyota Prius. Knowing we were in California, where gas prices tend to climb, I went with the Prius. And honestly, with its new body shape, black paint, and matching black wheels, the car looked incredible.

With the car sorted, we pointed ourselves toward the coast, where the ocean—and our stay near the iconic Santa Monica Pier—was waiting.

Santa Monica Pier

Part of the boardwalk on Santa Monica Pier

Once we were settled into our hotel, we walked across the street and onto the Santa Monica Pier. It felt like its own small town—restaurants, an amusement park, and crowds moving in every direction. The air was filled with sound—the distant crash of waves beneath the pier, seagulls calling overhead, and the steady hum of conversation all around us.

What stood out immediately was that this marked the western end of the famous 2,400-mile Route 66. Growing up in Tulsa, where Route 66 runs through the city, I had always known it—but seeing where it ends felt different. It felt complete.

Street vendors lined the walkway, cameras were everywhere, and a few fishermen stood quietly along the railings. Looking out beyond the pier, I could see surfers riding the rolling waves.

Then I spotted something familiar—a Zoltar fortune teller machine. You might recognize it from the movie Big with Tom Hanks. I always stop when I see one. There’s something about it—the old glass, the mechanical voice, the small ritual of it—that pulls me in. Of course, I had to get my fortune.

Western End of Route 66

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Kermit the Frog

The famous magician Houdini

Rodeo Drive

A lion sculpture by French artist Richard Orlinski

Our next stop was Rodeo Drive, the heart of luxury shopping in Beverly Hills. With it being just before Christmas, the entire street was dressed up in holiday decorations—lights wrapped around palm trees, storefronts glowing, and a festive energy that made the whole area feel even more surreal.

I didn’t spot any celebrities, but the shops themselves were impressive enough.

French artist Richard Orlinski had an open-air exhibit on display, and his bold animal sculptures were impossible to miss.

We also spent time inside the Mr Brainwash Art Museum—easily one of my favorite pop art spaces.

And of course, I took time to admire the cars—Bentley, Rolls-Royce, custom-painted Ferraris, and Lamborghinis lined the streets like part of the scenery.

Panther sculpture by Richard Orlinski

La Brea Tar Pits

 Ice Age Columbian Mammoth

The next day, we headed to the La Brea Tar Pits. Having watched the NBC tv series La Brea, I was especially curious to see the tar pits in real life.

The tar pits themselves are incredible—dark, bubbling patches of earth that have preserved thousands of fossils over time. There was something eerie about it—the slow bubbles rising to the surface, a quiet reminder of how many creatures had been trapped here thousands of years ago.

Walking through the museum, it was impossible not to feel the weight of time. Skeletons of ancient creatures, like the Columbian mammoth stood frozen mid-stride, their size and structure hinting at a world that looked very different from the one outside. Some displays showed how the animals had been trapped—drawn in, unable to escape—while others highlighted the painstaking work of excavation happening even today. It was fascinating to realize that discoveries are still being made here, right in the middle of a modern city. Stepping back outside, with traffic moving past and people going about their day, the contrast was striking—beneath all of it lies a place that has quietly preserved thousands of years of history.

A Block of Bones

Venice Beach

Sunset on Venice Beach

"Awake, shake dreams from your hair." The Doors

Our final stop in the city was Venice Beach. It’s the famous stretch of coastline with the open-air gym you’ve probably seen in countless TV shows.

Walking along the boardwalk, we passed vibrant murals, including R. Cronk’s Homage to Starry Night and Jules Muck’s bold Don’t Be a Pussycat. One piece that stood out to me was Cronk’s “Morning Shot,” a striking mural of Jim Morrison. I made sure to stop and capture a photo of it.

Out in the water, surfers rode the rolling waves as we watched a beautiful orange sunset, the surf crashing rhythmically against the rocks.

But what excited me most about this area was its connection to the legendary rock band The Doors. Standing there, I could easily imagine Jim Morrison walking these same paths, taking in the scene and turning it into something timeless.

A local restaurant

A Wonderful Holiday Trip