That Ferris Wheel stands on the Santa Monica Pier the home of the oldest amusement park on the West Coast. The Wheel itself though is a new, neon spangled technological marvel with a fantastic view of the beach and city inside large, comfortable cars that can seat up to six people. It’s not a scary ride, and the view of ocean and town is a perfect way to orient yourself to the Santa Monica beach scene. And specifically, the amusement park below with its gentle roller coaster, and pure kiddie rides like the mini-submarine or tot size bumper cars. You’ll also find video games and cotton candy. And just below the pier you’ll find an old fashioned carousel with forty four hand crafted animals to ride.

While none of these rides are free, here’s an attraction that won’t cost a cent: Carousel Park. Just below the pier this playground has a kid-satisfying wooden ship and a great ocean view from its swing set. And if you’re heading for the beach, Santa Monica offers a broad expanse of smooth white sand. The ocean here is excellent for swimming. The coast has no abrupt drop-offs here, the waves are gentle here, making it ideal for little waders. Umbrella rentals are available, too.

Only a few blocks from the beach is the Third Street Promenade, a  pedestrian-only open air mall with a variety of restaurants and shops, street performers and fountains. Movie theaters, casual restaurants and outdoor cafes, and shops that sell eclectic toys and books make the promenade a pleasant place to stroll and browse. We like the Broadway Deli for its large selection of sandwiches, salads, and of course bagels, chewy and fresh. There’s a huge Disney Store and branch of Gymboree here, but a hands down favorite is the Puzzle Zoo with a huge selection of  miniatures, actions figures, collectibles, and yes, puzzles of all shapes and sizes. On Wednesdays and Saturdays a massive morning farmer’s market fills Arizona Street at the northern end of the promenade.

Opening onto the Promenade is the newly redesigned Santa Monica Place which is a hot spot for kids of all ages these days. The shiny new complex, also open air, replaced an outdated enclosed mall that locals were glad to see change. On the third floor,  you’ll find excellent and inexpensive quick eats – try the tasty fish tacos at Pinches or the vegetable sushi at Sarku Japan. This is an eclectic and healthy food court; and it has spectacular ocean views, too, and comfortable seating areas to relax.

Speaking of eclectic, our kids have long enjoyed a unique Santa Monica museum, just south of downtown Santa Monica. The Museum of Flying recently relocated to the Santa Monica Municipal Airport, and has expanded its exhibits. This wonderful kid-centric museum always featured explorable vintage planes from World War I and II. Our kids loved the flight simulator and a variety of hands on exhibits that allowed them to play aviator. With an exhibit area now doubled in size, the new museum is focusing on the history of the airport and the Douglas Aircraft Company, with over two dozen airplanes ranging historically from aeronautics early years to the jet age.

Also located in the airport is the family friendly Spitfire Grille, a restaurant filled with WWII era aircraft memorabilia. The restaurant has great views of planes departing and landing. It also serves breakfast treats like fluffy pancakes until 3 pm.

Not far from Santa Monica Airport, you’ll find Clover Park a theme play ground with flight–designed art on the climbing equipment and a kid size Observation Tower.

If you’re looking for a little more art than the aeronautical designs on the playground, it’s only a few blocks north to Bergamont Station. Once a depot for Los Angeles’ red line street cars, this large complex contains thirty plus galleries and the Santa Monica Museum of Art. It’s one of the Los Angeles area’s largest arts complexes, and it’s great fun to explore. Skewing heavily on contemporary art, this light, bright, modern exhibit space is a natural for kids. The museum itself prides itself on featuring local artists along with those who have wider acclaim. Our kids have long enjoyed checking out the sculptures, paintings, and found-art exhibits that rotate through this wonderful collection. The museum itself is very stroller friendly, as are most of the larger galleries. Overall, we’ve found gallery owners to be child friendly, as long as your little ones can adhere to a ‘look don’t touch’ philosophy.

If you’re visiting from out of town, I’ve already given you two days of activities and eateries that will be a big hit with both kids and adults. But I haven’t recommended a place to rest. For a good night’s sleep, we recommend Santa Monica’s Hotel California, a newly updated and moderately priced hotel with large rooms and a surfer-style decor. The Ocean Avenue location offers prime access to the pier and the beach, too.

When morning comes, one of our favorite breakfast spots is the Huckleberry Bakery. Dr. Seuss lovers rejoice: one of the dishes is a haute cuisine version of Green Eggs and Ham made with pesto. The pastries are light and large, and the room has a country diner feel with an upscale edge.

Want to walk off your breakfast or take a swim without getting sandy?

Palisades Park on Ocean Avenue is a lovely swath of grass and palms with paths overlooking the sea and pier;  the Annenberg Community Beach House just north of downtown on Pacific Coast Highway has a beautiful pool open May-October; the Santa Monica Swim Center on 16th Street is open to the public year ‘round.