According to the Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau, 94% of international tourists that come to Santa Monica visit the promenade. Really? Wow. We don't dislike the promenade. Parking isn't the best but it could be a lot worse and while it is often crowded, it isn't overwhelmingly so. We just don't get why it is so loved by visitors. As time has passed, 3rd street has found itself with fewer and fewer unique retailers and more chain stores. Nevermind that they feature some chains we like (Apple and Adidas we're looking at you) but we just can't help but think that you could get the same consumer experience at home. Besides that, we've noticed many of the street performers getting much more aggressive with their audiences, practically scaring people into giving their money. And with the pier just a few steps away and Main Street and Venice Beach close by (not to mention the Marina), isn't there something better for tourists to be doing? Or is there something really great about the promenade that we're missing?
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Any shopping you can do at The Promenade you can do on-line, sans parking issues and poor size selection. The theaters desperately need make-overs. I'm a local and I do go infrequently, but only for the Monica 4. Big budget movies are best seen at the Bridge. But we like all the tax dollars the tourists bring, so keep on promoting it. I'll watch from afar.
I used to love the 3rd St. Promenade, until it got too touristy, and even the independent bookstores had to leave.
And you're absolutely right about the aggressive street performers. A couple of Saturday nights ago, two performance artists dressed in "street gang garb" dragged me into the alley and took my money. I didn't really get the meaning of the whole theater piece, but I tend to go to big musical revivals like "Guys and Dolls" rather than more riskier independent theater.
Still, I would have gladly given them some money without their aggressive "overacting" shtick.
the powers that be need to ban amplification for the street performers. i found myself there last weekend and couldn't think straight from the competing noise. it made the place annoying, noisy, needlessly chaotic and just plain low-class.
I think its hard to avoid the Promenade if you're a tourist in Santa Monica - its sort of the center ring.
If you're visiting the Pier, you're likely to park at the Promendade and walk down.
If you're taking the Big Blue Bus or other public transpo, everything seems to start and end at the Promendade.
Besides, an out door car free pedestrian mall is pretty cool... unless you live here.
I just don't understand why if you're a tourist in SoCal, why you'd go to Santa Monica in the first place.
The Promenade is one of the few places in LA where a tourist can do some people-watching.
I've been to Santa Monica a couple times. The first time we hadn't even heard of the promenade - we went in search of a vegan restaurant. This year someone recommended the Promenade and I didn't see the real draw. Big crowds of tourists, a few nice displays and we got to wait a really long time at Starbucks. And definitely not enough street lights to keep someone travelling far from home feeling safe.
Santa Monica has plenty of nice places to see off the Promenade. Beautiful scenary down by the beach and nice restaurants.
Shhhhhhhhh!!!! Let the tourists go there! It keeps them away from the really cool places that we residents know and love so well!
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Is there a program to encourage independent or local businesses on the Promenade?