Waypoint: Marina Del Rey, California
Five thousand boaters can’t be wrong. Take a west coast passage to Marina Del Rey and Venice Beach.
Photos by Dori Arrington
Bigger isn’t always better, but in the case of Marina del Rey, California, bigger is pretty darn good. As the largest man-made recreational harbor in North America, the boat basin at Marina del Rey is truly a Mecca for Southern California boaters. Marina del Rey’s harbor holds over 5,000 boats and is the focal point for one of Los Angeles’ most vibrant waterfront communities. It might also hold the record for the greatest concentration of yacht clubs in any boating community, with six well-established clubs in a one square mile area.
Regardless of what your boating interests are, you will find it in Marina del Rey. From rowing to deep sea fishing, and from Opti sailing camps, to offshore cruising. Of course, wherever you find this many boats, the services to care for them are present as well. With mild year-round weather there is no “off-season” in Southern California. Boaters have no need to winterize, and there isn’t a hurricane season to escape. As an east coast boater who seasonally deals with both of these issues, this sounds pretty attractive to me.
Marina del Rey is uniquely situated in a rare quiet coastal area of Los Angeles. Carved out of the marshy wetlands surrounding Ballona Creek, Marina del Rey is bordered to the south by the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, the second largest undeveloped tract of land in the Greater Los Angeles area behind Griffith Park. A boater could come and go from Marina del Rey, and never know they were in the heart of one of the world’s most populous mega-cities.
The neighborhoods around Marina del Rey are comfortably walkable, with shopping, entertainment and personal services literally minutes from the boat. Add to that, nearby Burton W. Chace Park, Mother’s Beach, Marina del Rey Art Walk, along with numerous other cultural and artistic attractions and it’s easy to see why Marina del Rey is such a popular, lively, close-knit community.
Marina del Rey’s neighbor to the north, which is an easy walk or bike from the harbor, is the famed Venice Beach. Known for its bohemian culture and historic canals, Venice is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The Venice Beach Boardwalk is always an entertaining attraction, as a popular place to walk, bike (the 22-mile beachfront Marvin Braude bike trail runs from Will Rogers State Beach through Marina Del Rey down to Torrance), skate, or just people-watch.
Venice Beach is also home to a number of cultural and artistic attractions, including the Venice Beach Skatepark, the Venice Beach Drum Circle, and the Venice Beach Street Performers Program. The neighborhood houses numerous public art installations and murals, which can be found throughout the area. Venice Beach is a vibrant, diverse, and culturally rich neighborhood that offers a unique blend of beach culture, avant-garde flair, and artistic expression.
Venice’s boardwalk and adjoining streets are full of restaurants, shops and street performers, all making it a great place to spend a sunny day. The beach itself is also a popular spot for swimming, surfing, and other water sports.
A few blocks from the boardwalk are the original Venice canals, which opened in 1905 as a pedestrian-friendly, Italian-themed coastal playground, complete with seven canals, four islands, a large saltwater lagoon, miniature railroad, roller coaster and Italianate buildings with colonnades. Much has been rebuilt in the years since, but many of the original canals are still in place, including the bridges and walking paths through the one-of-a-kind neighborhood.
The California coast is one of the most beautiful shorelines in the world, with wide, sandy beaches and rocky cliffs, dramatically plunging into the cold clear Pacific waters. Boating here requires a commitment, and should be taken seriously, because once you’ve cleared the safety of the marina inlet, you are in the deep blue. Boaters based in Marina del Rey are fortunate to have several equally beautiful destinations in a day’s run, in multiple directions.
An easy 38-mile run southwest from Marina del Rey’s jetty, is the picturesque harbor of Avalon, on Santa Catalina Island. A lively, well-protected mooring field awaits the arriving boater in Avalon’s harbor. Do check though, that Santa Ana winds aren’t forecast. These uncommon but fierce blows off California’s inland deserts can make the east-facing Avalon Harbor very dangerous. A weekend Avalon stay is easily filled with a wide variety of water sports available, including world-class snorkeling and scuba diving in the lush undersea kelp forests. When visiting, don’t miss the Catalina Island Museum, which chronicles the history of the island, or the Avalon Theatre, which is a popular venue for live performances.
A quick run south from Marina del Rey takes you to San Pedro and Long Beach. Best known as a busy port for commercial vessels, Long Beach and nearby Huntington Harbor make a great getaway for cruising yachtsmen. The large, well-marked inlets are easily approached in any weather, and numerous resort style marinas welcome visiting boats.
Five thousand boat owners can’t be wrong, clearly there is a lot to like about Marina del Rey. Even if you’re not arriving by boat, visiting the area is easy, as Marina del Rey is only a short drive from Los Angeles International Airport. A wide selection of hotels for every budget are located right in the marina village. Captained and bareboat charters are available in both power and sail, so it’s easy to enjoy all of the area’s yachting ambience and nautical attractions.
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This article originally appeared in the March 2023 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
Source: https://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/voyaging/marina-del-rey-and-venice-california-by-boat
