Do not be put off by the large number of homeless people at the park. They did not bother me when walking alone and one person kindly told me I had dropped my sunglasses, other wise I might not have noticed when fumbling with the camera. The toilets were clean on the occasions I needed to know with soap, water, paper and even toilet seat covers; Australia please note. The views are expansive and it is real postcard stuff. Stella
I've never seen another park like this. It's a great place. In the morning Yoga classes and bikers fill the grass. The views over look Santa Monica Beach and the Santa Monica Bluffs. Very pretty.
My parents came to Santa Monica in 1948 and stood in Palisades Park over looking the Pacific Ocean and never left. It's a beautiful sight that never tires and the sunsets can be magical.
This is a great way to stroll the cliffs and see the western edge of Santa Monica. If its your first time to the area, I recommend this at some time during y our stay.
This lovely park has paths for strolling, green grass for lounging, loads of people for watching, and great ocean and mountain and sometimes mountain views. If the droughts continue, will we be forced to give up the lawn?
If you have never been to Santa Monica, this is absolutely a Must. I have been visiting the park for over 50 years. What is rally unique about it is the vistas from the winding path that borders the cliff tops at least 50 feet above the Coast Highway. The park stretches several miles and is an aboretist's joy with towering palms, rose and succulent gardens. There is also some rather amazing gnarled old olive trees. One can park along the street (Ocean Ave) and picnic anywhere although most of the picnicking is of the blanket on the grass type. The views stretch north to Malibu and south to the Santa Monica Pier and beyond. And if one is particularly energetic, there are scattered paths down to the Highway and across to the beach. Or one can simply walk a few blocks and arrive at the Third Street Promenade. I never feel unsafe walking this beautiful boardwalk during the day and it is a particularly beautiful spot to catch a sunset over the ocean. Recommend a couple of hours for a gentle stroll.
How's this for praise: Palisades Park is the second favorite park that I've ever been to after Tuileries Garden in Paris. Better than Central Park in New York. Better than Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Better than Grant Park in Chicago. It's the ambience. The palm trees. The ocean. The quiet solitude. The meandering sidewalks. The homeless men don't even disturb the scenery. When I die, I want to be cremated and my ashes scattered under a palm tree at Palisades. Wait a minute! Homeless men? Forget it. Just keep walking. They don't disturb anyone, and no one disturbs them. If you were homeless, you'd want to come here too. It's a paradise for everyone!
This is a delightful Park on a City bluff above the Pacific Ocean. The landscaping is superior, but there are those grafitti and scratchitti people who have defaced even beautiful plants, minding their own business, swaying in the breeze. There are many homeless people about and a lot of tourists. But the views are unsurpassed. There is architectural beauty which has also been marred by graffiti and neglect. Sigh. This area could be so nice if it was given some care.
Great place to enjoy the beauty of Santa Monica. Exercise, walk, or just sit and relax. Very enjoyable.
Having grown up in Southern California, then moved to Asia, this would not have been one of my strongest recommendations. As a boy, the beach held the fascination. But this park is a wonderful stroll, with lots of decorative trees and plants, and the ocean and coastal view is wonderful. If you stay in one of the nearby hotels, this becomes almost an extension of the hotel grounds. It is also a good place to take photos, such as close ups, with a plant or tree in the picture.