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Marina Del Rey, California
Courtesy of Marina del Rey Convention and Visitors Bureau

Marina del Rey

Marina del Rey
Visit this inviting waterfront community near Venice Beach and Santa Monica for laid-back fun

Roughly six miles north of Los Angeles International Airport sits Marina del Rey, a charming coastal community with yachts, beaches and cycle paths. Marina del Rey began as an estuary frequented by fishermen and duck hunters, but in 1965 became the largest man-made, small-craft harbour in the country. Today, visitors flock to the area for its year-round sunshine and laid-back, Californian vibe.

Treat yourself to an overnight stay at the Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey, a luxury hotel with Juliet balconies off of every room and the 650-square-metre Spa del Rey, which offers massage treatments, body wraps and facials. Enjoy a farm-to-table meal at restaurants such as Cast & Plow inside the hotel, or venture along Admiralty Way to the upmarket New American restaurant Cafe del Rey or the more casual Tony P’s Dockside Grill. Also consider checking into the modern Marina del Rey Hotel, which features a heated infinity pool, marina-view sundeck and cycle hire. The hotel's SALT Restaurant & Bar offers seasonally inspired Californian cuisine with indoor and outdoor seating. 

Marina del Rey will probably inspire you to spend your day on the water doing something active, like sailing, fishing, parasailing or kayaking. As part of the 22-mile Marvin Brauda Coastal Bike Trail, it’s also the ideal place to go on a cycling adventure. It’s possible to take cycle paths up to Will Rogers Beach in Santa Monica (about 6 miles), or south all the way to South Bay (about 13 miles). Yoga enthusiasts can downward-dog in the fresh ocean air and sunshine at Burton Chace Park, or try YOGAqua, which combines yoga with stand-up paddle boarding. A great place for runners day or night (it’s lit for after-sunset workouts) is Yvonne B. Burke Park, an 8-acre linear park with a free fitness circuit.

If you’d rather relax, climb aboard a dinner cruise boat or gondola for a ride while you take in the breathtaking scenery. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and whales as you explore Santa Monica Bay. If you are more of a landlubber, sink into the sand at the family-friendly Marina Beach, dubbed Mother’s Beach by locals, or at the mellow Marina Peninsula Beach just south of Venice Pier. Transport yourself to Italy with a walk through the Venice Canals, a man-made historic district built in 1905.

Marina del Rey also serves as a home base for nearby attractions. Hire a bicycle and cruise north from the start of the Venice Boardwalk at Washington Boulevard, all the way to Santa Monica, or even Pacific Palisades, or take it easy and enjoy a cocktail or meal at one of the popular places just east of Venice Pier. If you have one too many cocktails, text 323 435 5000 to arrange for one of Circuit’s five-passenger electric shuttles to pick you up and take you back to your hotel.

 

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Photo by Ryan Killackey

Southern California

Discover Los Angeles County

See a movie star. Sip a cocktail on a rooftop bar at sunset. Slip on a pair of designer shoes in an ultra-luxurious boutique in Beverly Hills. Play at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, explore world-class museums, or dance the night away in a starlet-filled club. Welcome to California’s liveliest city, entertainment capital of America, with megastar wattage and nonstop activities.

“You know, you’re really a nobody in L.A. unless you have a really big door.”  –comedian Steve Martin

The main hub is the City of Los Angeles, with legendary Hollywood northwest of downtown, the San Fernando Valley to the east, and the inviting beaches of Santa Monica and Malibu to the west.

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