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Census-designated place in California, United States
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Marina del Rey is a community of 39,000 people (2018) on the West Side of Los Angeles that is best known as the world's largest man-made small craft harbor, capable of berthing 5,300 boats. Today it is also home to a wide array of hotels and restaurants, and its close proximity to Los Angeles International Airport and popular local destinations makes it an excellent option for visitors looking for a base to explore the Los Angeles area.
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This tiny park is where the North Jetty Promenade begins. You can walk along the North Jetty, watch the community sailing regattas at several of the outposts' benches, or to enjoy a picnic. There are several platform areas from which you can fish.
Bordering Marina del Rey to the south, the Ballona Wetlands are a remnant of the wetlands that once dominated the landscape; it is estimated that the current 600-acre wetlands represent just one percent of what was present in the past. Despite the habitat loss, the wetlands that remain are an important refuge that serves as a home to 73 native bird species, more than 3,000 native trees, and 10,000 native shrubs and grasses. Activities include a trail along the freshwater marsh (located at the southwest corner of Lincoln & Jefferson), with information panels along the way; portions of the trail are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. Free docent-led tours of the interior as well as restoration workdays are coordinated usually on the weekends through the Friends of Ballona Wetlands.
This beautiful 10-acre park juts out into the Marina's main channel, offering an excellent view of the area. The park offers waterside picnic tables, lawn areas, and covered picnic areas with barbeque grills. It also serves as the hub of community activities, with free outdoor concerts in the summer. On select Thursdays, (classical music with full symphony orchestra) and Saturdays (easy listening pop) concerts begin at 7PM and last about 2 hours. Seating is first-come, first-serve on the green (many bring their own low lawn chairs or blankets to sit on), and many spectators bring picnics to enjoy before the concert; bring a jacket or sweater to stay comfortable by the water in the evening. Parking for the park activities is in pay lots only located a block or two from the park. During the winter the park serves as a great viewing area for the annual December Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade.
Fisherman's Village is at the southern end of the Marina and is home to restaurants, souvenir shops, and a number of boat rental options. From here you can also join a public sport fishing excursion, or a weekend dinner or Sunday Brunch cruise. All kinds of small boats are available to rent by the hour - sail or motor, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and jet skis, and parasailing and bike rentals are also offered there. Free weekend concerts on Saturday and Sunday afternoons are a local favorite.
This park features a walking path and an 18-step Parcourse Circuit Trail to challenge your fitness level. Look overhead and you may find the various nesting areas of the black crested night herons or snowy egrets in the large shade trees along the path.
Private yacht rental for harbor tours, sunset cruises, coastal cruises, marriage proposals, surfing excursions, and Catalina day trips.
Hornblower is an upscale option for dinner cruises and social events. Food is prepared onboard from local ingredients, and entertainment options include DJs and live bands. Hornblower operates five boats in the marina, with a combined passenger capacity of up to 500 guests. Seasonal and special-event cruises are offered throughout the year, including winter holiday cruises, New Year's Eve cruises, Valentine's Day cruises, Mother's Day cruises, Father's Day cruises, 4th of July cruises, and Thanksgiving cruises.
Offers private yacht charters, sailboat charters and other types of boat rentals. All services include a boat rental with captain.
Marina Paddle offers kayak and paddle board rental, as well as lessons. Reservations are recommended in the summer, but during the rest of the year rentals are first-come, first-served. They also rent electric bikes. Online specials are offered, so check their website for discounts.
Offers parasailing with options for a ride on a 500 or 800 foot tow rope for 2-3 people at a time, with take-off and landings from the boat, although the "touch n go" option gives riders a chance to get their feet wet (note that no matter the length of the tow rope, FAA restrictions limit the maximum elevation to 500 feet). Boats hold 15 passengers and trips last about 90 minutes. Minimum age is 6, maximum combined weight is (subject to wind and captain's approval), and observers are welcome to join for $40, or $30 on a space-available basis. Like any good adventure company, photos and GoPro video of the experience can be purchased for an additional $25-65. Discounts are sometimes available online, and reservations are strongly recommended and should be made 1-2 weeks in advance for weekend trips. Parasailing is not offered from early November through early February.
Offers sports fishing trips for 1/2- or 3/4-day for halibut, yellowtail, calico bass, sand bass, barracuda and white sea bass. Rod rentals, tackle, bait, fishing licenses available. During the winter months on weekends, whale watching and wildlife tours are offered. Reservations required. Depart from Dock 52, where parking is free. A valid fishing license is required for anyone over the age of 15.
Provides largest selection of yachts in Los Angeles area. It offers sailing boats, catamarans and power boats, and fabulous party boats in Los Angeles port of Long Beach.
UCLA's aquatic center offers windsurfing, surfing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, rowing and sailing. Equipment rental is significantly discounted for UCLA students and members of the aquatic center. Extensive classes are also offered for sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and rowing, with the opportunity available to gain sailing qualifications.
Offers luxury private yacht charters and boat rentals for harbor and coastal cruises and Catalina trips.
Mother's Beach
If you're looking for a little sand and sun for kids and toddlers, this non-ocean facing sandy cove offers 12 acres of a public swimming, windsurfing and non-motored boating lagoon for kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. Seasonally staffed by County lifeguards, the beach has no surf and is a pleasant spot for family outings. It features a children's play area, public picnic shelters with barbecue grills, benches and tables. Restaurants and bicycle rentals are nearby.
Fun and challenging for anglers of all ages, this early summer event awards prizes for catching the biggest fish on a rod and reel. Fishing starts Saturday at sunrise. Public weigh-ins held at Burton Chace Park at the end of the day. Divisions for adults and youth.
Enjoy sunset from waterfront restaurants, Fisherman's Village and the North Jetty during Marina del Rey's largest sailing event as scores of sailors compete.
This popular series of outdoor classical and pop evening concerts is set in Burton Chace Park, surrounded on three sides by the water. All concerts begin at 7PM and take place outside on the green, lasting about two hours. Select Thursdays feature Classical and Saturdays are Pops. All are free, and ground seating space is first come, first served. Spectactors are encouraged to bring low chairs or blankets and dress for cool evening weather.
Celebrate America's birthday in the marina with the annual firework display. At 9PM explosives are shot from a barge across the marina's main channel, mirrored by the harbor below. Spectators may watch the display and listen to synchronized music on KXLU 88.9FM, also playing over loud-speaker throughout Burton Chace Park. Popular viewing spots also include Fisherman's Village and harborside restaurants.
Features displays of vintage yacht, antique classic cars, motorcycles, vintage steam engines and ship models. In Burton Chace Park; free.
This free family event explores the Marina from a child's point of view. Dozens of bouncy houses, ball pits, blow-up slides, games & rides; theater, arts & crafts, and face-painting. Parents can surf information booths for future visits and get out on the water with little ones. All-access wristbands sold onsight.
Festively decorated boats illuminate the main channel in one of the Marina's most visually exciting events. The parade starts at 6PM Best viewing is at Burton Chace Park and Fisherman's Village.
Free outdoor concerts, including R&B, Jazz, Latin, Pop and Blues.
This is a place to go if you're in search of authentic New York Pizza by the slice.
For those who like a dozen musicians playing mariachi music on a raised stage while traditional Mexican food is served, this is your restaurant. While entertainment is provided every night, weekends feature a packed dining room with live mariachi music blaring. The draw is obviously the music, but the food is excellent if a bit pricey. Reservations are recommended on weekends, and visitors must either purchase two drinks or one entree to avoid paying a $20 cover charge.
Billing itself as "upscale comfort food", selections include a variety of made-from-scratch meals including breakfast standards (served daily until 2PM), sandwiches, meatloaf, ribs, steaks, pork chops, salads, and pizzas. Expect unique touches with most dishes - English muffins are homemade, fries are served in conical containers, and the turkey stuffing is made from cornbread.
A local hangout that offers good food at a reasonable price with friendly service and incredible views of the water. The restaurant has spacious indoor dining and a large outdoor heated patio overlooking the Marina. The staff is very kid-friendly and they do have a children's menu. The restaurant features 100 beers from all over the world, a collection of more than 1,400 beer pulls on display and 27 flat screen TVs, including eight 65" LED High-Defs in the tavern. The Tavern has also been voted #1 Sports Tavern in West Los Angeles. Open daily for lunch and dinner; weekends for breakfast.
This restaurant, part of the Jamaica Bay Inn has large windows which bring the beach, garden and marina inside while the trellis-covered heated outdoor dining area overlooks both beach and garden, making it an excellent place to enjoy food and drinks. Menu includes specially selected food and innovative chef's creations. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Waterfront dining with a focus on locally produced ingredients. Enjoy your meal with waterfront views, on the patio or in the lounge by the fireplace. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sunday brunch.
This waterfront eatery has been serving the famous and famished for over 35 years. It has an international menu featuring seafood, steaks, pastas and salads. Plus, they have a large selection of California and International wines. They offer a Sunday buffet brunch and a seasonal Saturday buffet brunch, May through August. Live music on weekends. Open for lunch and dinner.
previously Shanghai Red's
Located along the waterway that all boats use to enter/leave the marina, this restaurant offers seafood, steaks, chicken, and pasta with a great waterfront view. The weekend buffet is massive and hugely popular and is consistently rated among LA's top buffets. If you aren't hungry but are in the area the entrance to the restaurant features a garden and carp pond that is worth a look.
Try one of their "Beggel" (a 2-egg omelet on a bagel) breakfast sandwiches with a cuppa joe!
An excellent spot for a drink and a game of pool, Sinder (formerly Glow) offers an indoor lounge an outdoor space that features numerous fire elements - firepits, fireplaces, and a wall of flames. During the summer a DJ plays on weeknights and it turns into a hipster hotspot with an eclectic vibe, but at other times of the year it is a relaxed spot to enjoy a (pricey) drink and upscale snacks.
Each of the quaintly-appointed rooms offers a private patio or balcony with views of the sand and scenic harbor.
134 comfortable rooms near Marina Beach. Pool, whirlpool, complimentary WiFi, mini-refrigerators in all rooms; restaurant on site.
68 rooms, including 36 suites. Amenities include: complimentary continental breakfast each day, free high-speed wireless Internet, outdoor heated pool, exercise room, interior courtyard, covered/secure parking.
Resembles a West Indies resort complete with lush garden, lovely beachside pool and marina views. Its restaurant features trellis-covered outdoor areas.
This 164-room luxury hotel is the closest lodging you can get to the water in Marina del Rey, with rooms literally a stone's throw from the main channel of the marina. First opened in 1965, it underwent a $25-million renovation in 2014-15. Amenities include flat screen TVs, free wired & wireless internet, balconies on most rooms, 24-hour room service, meeting spaces, lounges on each floor, and an infinity pool and outdoor lounge area that faces the water. Parking is valet-only and costs $30 per day (in and out privileges included). The onsite SALT Restaurant and Bar is an upscale restaurant with good food and great outdoor seating - firepits and mood lighting next to the water is tough to beat. Happy hour is daily from 4:30 to 6PM and offers a variety of appetizers and drinks for $5 each. Outside of happy hour, expect to pay $10-15 for cocktails and appetizers and $20-30 for mains.
370 guest rooms offering both water and mountain view.
Guests enjoy ocean, marina or city skyline views from private balconies featured in every room.
Bank of America (ATM), Ralphs Market (with deli), men, women and children's clothing, gift shops, boating supplies, and UPS shipping. Dining options include both sit-down restaurants (Sugarfish, California Pizza Kitchen) and fast food options (Chipotle).
Shop for essentials and local services here. Bagels, pet store, haircuts, quick service cafes and the favorite of locals, Joni's Coffee Roaster Cafe. There is also a Wells Fargo Bank (ATM).
This shopping area sprawls across a large area, including a multi-story complex and a more traditional shopping center. The two-story complex features upscale restaurants (Ruth Chris, Yardhouse, Ra Sushi, and several more) and offers services like an Equinox gym, a dine-in AMC movie theater and a nail salon. Across the street, the shopping center has several chain restaurants (Panda Express, Jamba Juice, Baja Fresh), a Pavilion's market, a Discount Shoe Warehouse, Barne's & Noble books, a 24-hr. drug store, self-service laundry, numerous smaller retail outlets, a CitiBank (ATM) and Chase Bank (ATM), and a post office.
Offers massage services, facials, body treatments and salon services in a luxurious setting.
Offers dermatological services such as Laser Gensis to help restore the skins' natural glow, aromatherapy massage, manicures and pedicures as well as waxing.
A Byogenesis Skin Care Salon featuring scientific facials along with micro dermabrasion, cellulite control, body therapy and permanent make-up and lash tinting.
Offers customized massages and healthy skin facials.
Marina del Rey is less than four miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), within walking distance of Venice Beach, and less than ten minutes by car from Santa Monica.
Read in the guideBike rental
Biking is popular in Marina del Rey thanks to the flat, well marked bike trails through the Marina and beyond.
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