Palm trees leaning towards the Pacific Ocean at Palisades Park in Santa Monica, California. Why do palm trees lean towards the sea? Palm trees lean to get more light called “phototropism.” The ocean acts as a mirror for light, so there is much more light coming from the sea than from a single building.
Located on the world famous Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park is the family place to play! It’s the West Coast’s only amusement park located on a pier. There are a total of twelve rides in Pacific Park, including the world’s first and only solar powered Ferris wheel that provides a view of the Pacific Ocean and a roller coaster that circles the majority of the park. Pacific Park is also home to 14 midway games and over-the-ocean food and retail outlets. It has appeared in over 500 movies and television shows.
Santa Monica State Beach on the north side of the pier is separated from the city by the palisades (an ocean bluff) and the Pacific Coast Highway. A series of bridges, walkways and stairs provide access to the beach. One doesn’t have to face heavy traffic on Pacific Coast Hwy. 1, but can cross over from Ocean Blvd. to the Santa Monica Pier and beaches via a walking bridge.
A sheltered spot to relax by the ocean while viewing the turquoise waters and blue sky
An ideal spot to dine while overlooking the ocean. Birds too have a sheltered cove for their feeding.
While the gentle waves of the ocean can be soothing, rough seas cause waves that could display the ocean’s fury
Viewing the various shades of blue – water, clouds and sky – from an ocean cruise liner
A scene from Diani Beach, Mombasa, Kenya, right off the Indian Ocean
Oceans have featured prominently in our various trips around the world. This week’s theme is scenes by the oceans. Here is an image of full tide at Half Moon Bay, California.
The receding tide of the ocean creates nature’s design on a beach utilizing sand and stones, almost like an abstract painting
We end our series on images from Isle of Palms, Mt. Pleasant and Sullivan’s Island areas of South Carolina with a view of the Ravenel Bridge across the ocean
A sail boat on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina matches the colors of the blue sky and ocean
A striking panorama of the beach, sand, sky, clouds, reflections, and ocean at Isle of Palms, South Carolina
Wind surfing over the ocean at Isle of Palms, South Carolina
A gorgeous blue sky with clouds meets the ocean casting reflections at the beach in Isle of Palms
Beach chairs are set up by the pier for visitors to enjoy the ocean and activities for the day at Isle of Palms
Water enthusiasts and a surfer at the beach at Isle of Palms thinking at sunrise about venturing into the ocean
A lone surfer ventures out into the ocean at dawn in Isle of Palms, South Carolina
After three weeks of sunsets, it is time to appreciate the beauty of monochrome. The bright sun in the sky creates interesting shadows and silhouettes at a pier on the ocean.
It is time to get out of the ocean as the sun has already set at Naples Pier, Florida
Time to Get Out
Photos by Ravi 