Palisades Park.

Palisades Park offers a cinematic stretch of green that runs along the sandstone bluffs of Santa Monica, separating the city’s urban grid from the Pacific Coast Highway and the beach below. Established in the late 19th century, this narrow, 26-acre park is defined by its towering palm trees and a meandering path popular with local joggers and sunset seekers. Beyond the panoramic ocean views, the grounds house a curated collection of historical oddities and art, including a 1912 Craftsman-style redwood pergola, the Beacon Overlook sculpture, and a bust of Arcadia Bandini de Baker, the city benefactor who gifted the land. It is a prime vantage point for spotting migrating whales or simply observing the carnival-like atmosphere of the Santa Monica Pier from a peaceful distance.