Tongva Park in the SoCal Desert
Tongva Park in Santa Monica is probably one of the nicest parks in SM proper that you can enjoy with your kids. Unfortunately the prime location to the Santa Monica Pier implies that there will be tons of homeless people hanging out at the park as well. Thus, we’d recommend parents to take your children the nearby Pacific Palisades park that stretches along the Ocean Ave).
Park’s proximity of the 3rd street promenade makes it convenient for visiting tourists to take their toddlers to a shaded play area if they’ve had enough of beach time. It is also a good quite secluded place if your flight was delayed at LAX and you need to spend a few hours in LA.
The park features all year round running fountains, fun rock climbing wall and a fountains activated by secret buttons. Our son had a great time while we explored S.M. with our grand Parents.
In either case if you’re staying in one of the hotels in Santa Monica and you need to wear your kids our before a nap you should head over to this little oasis in the SoCal desert.
If you’re a savvy parent, we’d definitely recommend avoiding Santa Monica altogether and actually suggest that you stay at the Huntington beach instead. Huntington beach and all the beaches in Orange county are far more laid back, less hectic and pleasant than LA county.
Side note: The park was named after the indigenous Native Americans who were whipped out along with the Chumash people (Check out Chumash paintings in Santa Barbara) by the European colonizers.
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