While in the area I had to see the Pacific Ocean at least once. So I chose the famous Santa Monica Pier at Pacific Park. Big mistake!

Driving throughout all the places I went in the LA area was fine, until I turned onto I-10 to head towards Santa Monica. That drive of just a few miles too nearly an hour. Then I could not find a place to park for quite a while (I actually parked illegally for a couple of minutes to jump out to photograph the Pacific). Then I realized that I was actually nowhere near the water despite being on the "Ocean View" road. There was a dropoff cliff that had to be at least 120 feet tall. Then it was another quarter to half mile to the ocean edge. So I did not really get to experience the ocean.

When I judge a place as to whether I like it or not, a strong factor in that is how easy/difficult was it to get around the place by car. Santa Monica has taken over the #1 spot from Santa Fe NM as being my Least Favorite place in the U.S.