This could be a romantic spot I suppose, with the right person at the right moment, but it wasn't for me. Cloudy skies plus strong winds made it a forgettable experience. There are nearby beaches that look promising, but we weren't able to check them out. It is a worthwhile stop if you're in this neck of the woods or heading to the beach. However, I wouldn't sit through 2 hours of traffic on the notorious L.A. freeways just to come here.

It was nice to walk around the Promenade and browse the shops. My coworker, the shopaholic, had a great time here. There was entertainment on the street, but of course she didn't care about that. There was a mall with retail stores. I expected to see more funky shops there, but there weren't. It was nice to walk around, though.

The quintessential feel of LA can be found at Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. Here, you may find movie stars, UCLA students, tourists, beach lovers, skaters, and everyone else in-between. Located just a few blocks from Santa Monica Beach/Pier, these few blocks of shops and restaurants is a pleasant area to dine, shop, and enjoy the sunny Southern California weather. While there is a large, traditional shopping mall on one end of the Promenade, the shops along 3rd Street are more unique and eclectic. From grungy music shops to trendy fashions to ethnic arts, there isn’t much that you won’t find here. Yes, this is where infamous Heidi Fleiss owned a lingerie shop, though I’ve heard she is now bankrupt! The varied restaurants around here generally serve up fair to good meals; appropriate for meeting up with friends and family in a casual-nice setting. Besides the sit-down, semi-trendy restaurants like Trilussa or Yangstze, there are also fast-food type restaurants, including Benita Frites and Johnny Rockets.