Pacific Wheel Named One Of World's 50 Coolest Places: TIME

SANTA MONICA, CA —The Ferris wheel at Pacific Park was named one of TIME For Kids' World's 50 Coolest Places of 2019, TIME For Kids announced Thursday.

The first-ever list spotlights a mix of educational, innovative and fun destinations that are tailored to kids' interests, the Pacific Park press release said.

TIME for Kids gathered nominations from its network of TFK Kid Reporters and from young readers around the world to compile the list. Each nomination was then evaluated for factors such as quality, originality, sustainability and accessibility, the press release said.

The result was a list of 50 destinations from around the world, including a Michelin-starred restaurant in Singapore with a gourmet kids’ menu, to America’s tallest sand dunes — and Santa Monica's iconic Ferris wheel.

Here's what TIME For Kids said about the Pacific Park Ferris Wheel: "Santa Monica Pier is a well-known destination. 'It has been featured in more than a thousand different movies, TV shows, and music videos,' Nathan Smithson, who works at the pier, said. The Pacific Park amusement complex features classic rides and games. But the park’s centerpiece has a futuristic twist: It’s the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel. The eco-friendly attraction uses LED lighting. It’s more energy-efficient than the bulbs used on traditional wheels. And the structure itself is powered by the sun. That means the ride—which carries you up nine stories, until you’re hanging some 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean—comes with minimal environmental impact."

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier is the only admission-free amusement park in Los Angeles, and offers 12 amusement rides, 14 midway games, an oceanfront food plaza and beachside shopping, Pacific Park said.

To see the rest of the World's 50 Coolest Places of 2019 list, visit the TIME Magazine website.