Welcome to "My Marina," the official blog of the Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau! With a fun, first-hand perspective, "My Marina" tells different stories of what makes this coastal destination so unique – from water sports like sailing and paddle boarding to waterfront dining and yacht cruises and local personalities. Experience Marina del Rey through these shared adventures.
The world is buzzing in anticipation of the London 2012 Summer Olympics. This year, over 8,000 inspirational people will carry the Olympic Flame across the United Kingdom—including one of our own: Marina del Rey resident Leslie Billinger. Selected by her peers at The Coca Cola Company, Leslie will join the thousands of torchbearers to light up more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages in England.
If you can’t travel across the pond, there are still plenty of ways to join Leslie in true Olympian spirit right here in Marina del Rey:
Learn to row like an Olympian. The Whitehall Spirit Rowing Club on Marina Beach offers one-hour beginner lessons starting at $50. No experience is required and everyone must take an initial one-on-one lesson. Want to race for Gold? Let the ocean be your course and race a friend—or the clock—to the finish line.
Paddleboarding is a fun mix of surfing and kayaking but takes equal parts balance and focus to master. Marina del Rey Boat Rentals offers stand-up paddleboarding for $25 an hour. Seasoned veterans and first-timers alike will enjoy the adventure. Master one of the fastest growing water sports…and maybe one day, you’ll have a shot at competing in the Olympics.
As many Olympians would testify “practice makes perfect.” Start fine-tuning your kayaking skills for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As the perfect water sport for those who enjoy a challenge, kayaking is a fun and breezy way to burn some calories and spend quality time with friends. UCLA Marina Aquatic Center is open for kayaking on Saturdays & Sundays from 7a.m-6:30p.m ($25 for Double Kayaks and $20 for Single Kayaks). Want to practice mid-week? Marina del Rey Boat Rentals is open 7-days a week from 10a.m-5:45p.m. Rent a single kayak for $15 per hour or a double kayak for $25 per hour.
Is it your dream to carry the Olympic torch? If so, tell us below and be sure to celebrate the games in the Marina del Rey!
