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    International Chess Park

    4.3 (18 reviews)

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    Mandy T.

    My kids were excited to play giant chess here. When we arrived we saw lots of tables with built-in chess boards (but you bring your own pieces). Unfortunately, the giant pieces were locked up. I asked a small group playing about it, and I'm so glad I did, because there was no sign with directions. You can get the key to unlock pieces from the Santa Monica police department on the Pier (across from Bubba Gump). You sign the key out and they hold your drivers license until you return the key. The locals tell me it rarely gets use, and it was evident. The locks were a bit rusty and challenging to unlock. It was worth the effort though. My kids had a blast. A local hanging out started giving my younger boy advice on his moves and he ended up beating his older brother, who is a good player (this never happens). We all got a kick out of it. He learned later his new friend was homeless. A lot of homeless do frequent this park. Don't let that scare you away. They were kind, welcoming and genuinely pleased to see kids enjoying chess - something they all clearly enjoy, too. Four stars because getting the pieces out was a pain. But, we enjoyed it anyway.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Cool spot for Giant Chess. I heard the keys are at the information center on the pier

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    10 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    22 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Pretty cool spot whereby people can play chess, overlooks the beach and muscle park.

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    11 years ago

    Planning to go to chess park tomorrow(10/17) with my girlfriend if anyone wants to meet up for a quick game.

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    18 years ago

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    Review Highlights - International Chess Park

    “Close by to the Hot Dog On a Stick stand at the Santa Monica Pier, this place lures some characters.”

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Palisades Park - September 5, 2025 | Friday | Palisades Park | Gorgeous flowers!!

    Palisades Park

    4.6(176 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    This park is frequented by people who enjoy the beautiful outdoors. I saw so many people either…read morejogging through the park or doing a group exercise class on the geen spaces. The paved paths are mostly smooth except where the earth is settling or where the brown squirrels have dug out the ground near the railings that overlook to the beach. There are plenty of food vendors to buy a lunch and enjoy a picnic. There is paid parking lots and bicycle parking as well. There are bathrooms that a secured by an attendant at the entrance. I loved the people watching and the views of the beach area. It was very relaxing.

    I have walked through this park many whenever I am visiting the Santa Monica Pier. Mostly because I…read morepark on the PCH and have to walk through this park to get to the pier. Palisades Park is a long linear park that stretches over twenty-six acres along Ocean Avenue. I love the view of the beach from here. There are picnic areas, benches, restrooms and monuments throughout the park. It is a nice park to take a stroll and enjoy the cool breeze from the ocean. Some things to check out while in the park are the Santa Monica Camera Obscura and some civil war canons near the iconic Santa Monica Pier entrance sign.

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    Palisades Park - September 5, 2025 | Friday | Palisades Park | Gorgeous flowers!!

    September 5, 2025 | Friday | Palisades Park | Gorgeous flowers!!

    Palisades Park
    Palisades Park - What journey be long and straight and sensitive at hand? To what end must man go to discover the depths of his ecstasy? #BnWPhoto #Fall2022

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    What journey be long and straight and sensitive at hand? To what end must man go to discover the depths of his ecstasy? #BnWPhoto #Fall2022

    Marine Park - Slide under the shady canopy

    Marine Park

    4.4(23 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Our baby friend Felix K.-L. turned two last month, and we went to Marine Park in Santa Monica to…read morecelebrate his birthday. The park was fantastic, pristine and spacious with a top tier playground. Felix's parents claimed a prime seating area right outside the playground, where we could eat and socialize while keeping an eye on our various kids. The set-up felt very safe and easy. I admit to losing track of my five-year-old for long stretches at a time, and once finding him in a piece of playground equipment with a group of children he didn't know, giggling as two of their dads spun them around and around. My two-year-old spent a lot of time in the sand with several toddler friends, pouring sand into a play table and also all up in their clothes. We brought our elderly basset hound Duke in a mobility stroller, and he got lots of attention, too. It was a nice outing for our whole family. I also couldn't help but notice that the park was right next to the Santa Monica Airport and other airplane-themed entertainment. We live pretty far from Marine Park, but I have a feeling we'll be back.

    Another BBQ in the park. The family was able to make reservations in advance, which was…read moreappreciated for planning a birthday gathering. When we arrived a reserved sign and permit number was displayed on three picnic tables for our group. We had a nice area with shady trees that covered the grassy areas near the picnic tables. A BBQ grill was beside us; the Pavilion and the children's playground were a few feet away. The amenities are: - Baseball Diamond - Basketball Court - BBQ Grills - Picnic Tables - Soccer Field - Tennis Court - Parking Lot (no charge) - Pavilion (shaped like a castle pink & blue, I forgot to take a photo) The park facilities, equipment and restrooms were clean. Sincerely, Rosemary

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    Marine Park - Coaching, and getting high-fives

    Coaching, and getting high-fives

    Marine Park - Happy that he'swas  the best goalie that day

    Happy that he'swas the best goalie that day

    Marine Park - Maroon Lightening

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    Maroon Lightening

    Joslyn Park - The church meeting at Joslyn Park auditorium has a seating area for people with dogs who want to enjoy a worship service.

    Joslyn Park

    4.2(59 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    I went to Joslyn Park for my little friend Felix K.-L.'s 3rd birthday the other week. It was a nice…read morepark, a great place to spend a couple easy Saturday hours with the kids. Parking was a breeze. The park has an indoor room you can reserve if you plan far enough ahead, but the outdoor tables are first come first served. Felix's parents claimed a couple tables and brought two of their own, creating a sizable shady party space right next to the playground. I think the whole area was surrounded by a fence, so none of the pre-school age children could easily wander off. My boys had a blast playing in the sand and on the cute structure. There was also a little set-up for puppet shows, and all the kids kept going over there and pretending to buy and sell ice cream. I live too far from Santa Monica to make much use of Joslyn Park, but I know a good park when I see one. I'd recommend this place if you have young children, whether for party time or just a relaxing hour of play.

    This is a great dog park! I have a small dog and enjoy the small dog area. I was a pleasantly…read moresurprised one Sunday morning when I discovered a great little church meets at the park auditorium adjacent to the dog park. They had a covered area outside with a speaker so I could enjoy the church service with my dog after playing at the park! They even brought coffee out to me and had water for my dog. I'll definitely come back on Sunday's more often.

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    Joslyn Park
    Joslyn Park - Always quiet in here

    Always quiet in here

    Joslyn Park

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    Goose Egg Park

    Goose Egg Park

    4.1(17 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Cute little park shaped like a goose egg, what a clever name!? I wouldn't really call it so much a…read morepark. But, more a eggs shaped part of grass in the middle of some residential homes. The street parking has a 2 hour limit Monday-Thursday and Friday has no parking zones.

    Do you know why they call it Goose Egg Park?…read more Well... A group was looking for a restroom one day and saw there was a Park on the map and drove over and BIG GOOSE EGG--No Restroom in the park! Another group was looking to have a birthday party and use the Picnic Tables for the celebration and BIG GOOSE EGG--no Tables in the park! Another group was looking for a playground for their kids and BIG GOOSE EGG--no playground. Another group was looking for a Park to smoke, blast loud music, and yell and disturb everyone else in a park and BIG GOOSE EGG--no smoking allowed, no radios, no noise in the park! Another group was looking for a pond and BIG GOOSE EGG--no pond or body of water in the park! Another group came to the park to play baseball and BIG GOOSE EGG--no baseball field. Another group came to the park to play basketball and BIG GOOSE EGG...you get the point. Then what can you do in the park? It's a Poop Factory Park, that's it! Dozens of people bring their Poop Factory (dog) to the park. If it was any smaller it would be called a traffic circle. Few people sit down because you don't know what you will be sitting in. I just like riding my bike around and around it on the street, and watching people yell when they step in.....

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    Goose Egg Park - Laying down on the grass and looking at the sky through the brunches and leaves of the tree

    Laying down on the grass and looking at the sky through the brunches and leaves of the tree

    Goose Egg Park
    Goose Egg Park

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    International Chess Park - parks - Updated September 2026

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