Marina Del Rey, California, is famous for being one of Los Angeles’s most beloved coastal playgrounds. Visitors who are lovers of the great outdoors will love how the unincorporated seaside community provides easy access to the ocean. For this reason, Marina del Rey has become well known for being a hub for almost every aquatic activity and sport.
For travelers who are more comfortable being on solid land, in the surrounding area there are plenty of scenic trails, sandy beaches, award-winning restaurants, and seaside parks.
Simply put, there’s no place quite like Marina del Rey! This charming coastal community sits just six miles north of Los Angeles International Airport. So, you should have no problem finding it if you’re flying into town.
The eponymous harbor in Marina Del Rey began as an estuary frequented by local duck hunters and fishermen, but in 1965 it became the country’s largest man-made, small-craft harbor. Since then, the community surrounding this bustling harbor has seen a great deal of growth.
The area is popular with kayakers, paddleboarders, and yacht owners. In town, you’ll find numerous shops, boutiques, and galleries.
Dolphins and whales occasionally pay the deeper waters of the harbor a visit. The most significant wildlife watching opportunities, however, include harbor seals and California sea lions.
Marina del Rey is an excellent vacation destination. Still, travelers who have never been here before might find themselves at a bit of a loss when trying to figure out where to start exploring and what’s worth seeing. Keep watching to learn what we believe are the top things to see and do in and around Marina del Rey.
Marina Beach
Also known as Mother’s Beach, this family-friendly, man-made beach was first developed as part of the town in 1957. Marina beach is known for offering a safer environment for children since there is no surf in the area. But even if your childless, Marina Beach is one of the best places in Marina Del Rey to lay out a towel and soak up some sun.
The Sandy beach is about half a mile in length and features amenities like showers, restrooms, barbecue grills, picnic tables, and volleyball courts. Additionally, the little ones will be happy to hear that the beach features a playground.
If you get hungry, there are several restaurants just a short walk away. As far as water activities go, windsurfing and kayaking are pretty popular here.
Fisherman’s Village
This tourist attraction features a waterfront mall and a commercial boat anchorage. It boasts having one of the world’s largest man-made port’s for small boats and models itself after a New England fishing village.
The Fisherman’s Village stands out with it’s five brightly painted buildings. It also has a water fountain, lighthouse, and waterfront promenade.
There are plenty of things to see and do here. Grab a gift to take back home with you at one of the numerous souvenir shops, take a ride on a ferry, grab a bite to eat at one of the many cafes and restaurants, rent a boat or bicycle to explore the region in style, catch a live musical performance at one of the seaside venues, or embark on a fishing excursion that you wont soon forget.
The Village also offers stellar views from the waterfront promenade. So, don’t forget to snap a few photos!
UCLA Marina Aquatic Center
Owned and operated by the university, this aquatic center is one of the premier waterfront leisure facilities in Marina del Rey.
It’s located about 1 mile from the university and offers classes in various water sports like surfing, sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing. Visitors should definitely cease the chance to learn while visiting here.
It also provides several amenities like group programs, solo instruction, and rental facilities.
While visiting the aquatic center, make use of it’s fire pits and barbeque grills. And don’t forget to take a moment to stop and enjoy the views. It’s a particularly lovely spot to watch a sunrise or sunset.
Burton W. Chace Park
This park was established in 1972 and was named after long-time LA County supervisor and patron of the Marina, Burton W. Chace.
The park opens daily at 6:00 am and remains open until 10:00 pm. It features beautifully scenic viewing areas, outdoor programs, picnic tables and shelters, barbecue grills, and guest docks.
Several times a year, community events are held here. Visitors can take a ride around the marina on a water bus for a nominal fee. Free concerts also take place here during the warm summer months.
Marina Del Rey Parasailing
Located at 13717 Fiji Way, this company specializes in introducing people to one of the easiest and safest water sports there is. While gliding through the air, guests can take in breathtaking panoramic views of the harbor, Venice beach boardwalk, and Santa Monica Pier.
If you’ve never been parasailing before, prepare to be lifted gently up in the air while being pulled behind a boat. If you’re nervous about heights, you should know that you have the ability to choose the altitude you desire to climb to up to 800 feet.
Flights with Marina del Rey parasailing can accommodate up to three people at a time. If there is room on the boat, observers can come along for the ride.
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And don’t go anywhere just yet. Keep watching to learn more about some of Marina Del Rey’s best-kept secrets!
Bluewater Sailing
This company has been dedicated to offering world-class sailing adventures, skippered charter outings, bareboats and sailing education since it’s founding in 1978. The company provides private aboard classes, sunset sailing expeditions, special community events, island cruises, seminars, private one-on-one lessons, yacht charters and group team building activities.
Sailers of all skill levels can receive training here. It doesn’t matter if you are an absolute beginner or an international cruiser, instructors are always available for both in-classroom and out on the water lessons.
They are one of the nation’s few facilities to teach the entire range of students, from novices to experts. They also employ national-level instructors.
Ballona Creek
Locals generally tend to agree that the Ballona Creek path is the town of Marina Del Rey’s nicest for cycling. Ballona Creek offers cyclists a scenic, breezy, and all-around pleasant ride of just over seven miles in length that begins at National Boulevard and ends at the Pacific ocean.
There are numerous interesting sights and parks to see along the ride. Free parking is provided on the streets closest to the Ballona Creek Path, but it should be pointed out that the entrances are sometimes locked if there happens to be a threat of substantial rain.
Marina Del Rey Whale Watching
Marina Del Rey is widely considered to be one of the best places in the Los Angles area for ocean wildlife viewing and whale watching. Climb aboard the ‘Big Whale’, a classic passenger boat that takes riders on an expedition to spot the seasonal gray whales that migrate through the area in the wintertime.
You might also spot native oceanic creatures like sea lions, dolphins, turtles, porpoises, minke whales, and the giant mola mola at other times throughout the year. Cruises with Marina del Rey Whale Watching are held Wednesday through Sunday and depart from Dock 52. Their offices are at 13442 Fiji Way.
60out Escape Rooms
If you’re looking for something different to do while visiting Marina del Rey, this is the place for you! 60Out Escape Rooms is a company that offers innovative, interactive, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable live-action adventure games.
Players try to solve problems, unravel mysteries, and escape perilous mind-bending situations before the clock runs out. There are numerous themed rooms available that are fine-tuned to just about anyone’s tastes – some even feature themes based upon well-known films and intellectual properties.
Marina Del Rey’s Visitors Center
If you want to learn about discounts and promos around the Marina Del Rey area, then you’ll definitely want to make a pit stop at this visitor’s center.
It’s conveniently located just around the corner of Mindanao and Admirarlty Way. Here, you’ll find info about all of the area’s hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and natural wonders. The visitor’s center is open year-round, except on Christmas, Easter, New Year’s Day, and Thanksgiving.
Salt Restaurant & Bar
While there are plenty of phenomenal restaurants, cafes, diners and eateries in Marina del Rey, this one is particularly recommended. Located directly on Los Angeles’s most popular marina, Salt at the Marina Del Rey Hotel offers guests fantastic seafood dishes with an awe-inspiring view of the marina.
Chef Mark Murray Gold’s menu features seasonal menu items at market prices. While it’s not cheap, you can expect for everything to be fresh as it possibly can be. Most everything featured on the menu was caught earlier that day – you can’t get fresher than that!
We highly recommend the Maine Lobster Pasta, a dish served with handmade udon noodles and Spanish seabass served over a bed of lemon rice. Shelled items like clams, mussels, and oysters are also quite popular.
For dessert, try the s’mores, especially if you’re dining near the fireplace!
Marina Del Rey has become one of Los Angeles’ top tourist neighborhoods in recent years – and for very good reason. Not only is it one of the most beautiful locales in Los Angeles county, but there are just so many exciting things to do in the area.
Now’s your turn to let your voice be heard.
What are you most excited to see and do on your upcoming trip to Marina Del Rey? If you’ve already been before, what are some of your personal favorite attractions in the region? Let us know in the comments section down below.
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As always, thanks for watching and happy travels!