Pacific Park (Santa Monica, CA)
Pacific Park is a really small park compared to other parks that I mentioned above. The Park is located on a pier so there is a gorgeous view of the ocean and if you are ever there during the evenings, it is even better watching the sunset. But remember to bring a sweater because it can get chilly at night. This is one of the amusement parks in Southern California that gets a lot of attention because it is location right on Santa Monica, which is also a tourist destination. The park itself is free to enter and you can pay separately for the rides or obtain an unlimited ride wristband. The only con about Pacific Park is parking. Parking is controlled by the City of Santa Monica but it is priced at a reasonable rate. If you carpool and max out the number of passengers, then it is not a big deal.
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Belmont Park (San Diego, CA)
Belmont Park is located on Mission Beach so you get a beautiful park near a wonderful beach. The park has arcades, games, shops, restaurants, and rides. It is great for families and dates. Also, If you ever get bored of the park, you can easily head over to the beach and take a walk. The only issue with the park is parking. The parking lot seems to be pack every weekend so you might have to go around the parking lot multiple times to find parking.
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Balboa Fun Zone (Newport Beach, CA)
Balboa Fun Zone is perfect for dates and you are not overwhelmed by a lot of people. There are bumper cars, photo booths, restaurants, shops, tours, bike rentals, fire pits, and a Ferris wheel all in one place. The rides are relatively inexpensive and if you are not a fan of rides, just being in Balboa Fun Zone can make you feel younger by inhaling the fresh ocean air.