Summertime Fun in Marina del Rey!

Three things come to mind when I think of Marina del Rey – boats, beaches, and food! It’s an easy drive from the Valley, about 45 minutes or less, depending on traffic. With the upcoming Fourth of July weekend coming up, this is the perfect place to get away for the day!

Just recently, my family and I spent a gorgeous sunny Saturday exploring this seaside town. First up on our list of things to do, head to Mother’s Beach! Now I’ve lived in SoCal my whole life and have always wanted to visit Mother’s Beach, which is situated at the end of the protected marina. This beach is known for its calm waters and there is a section that is roped off, making it perfect for families with little ones to go wading or swimming.

After valet parking our car at the Jamaica Bay Inn, we headed over to Mother’s Beach to check out the view.

Out in the distance, we saw a group of people doing yoga on paddle boards. I was super excited because my daughter & I had plans to go on a stand-up paddle board excursion that morning! After watching the yogis go through there downward dog exercises, we headed over to the Pro SUP Shop that is next to Jamaica Bay Inn (they share the same parking lot).

The folks who manage Pro SUP Shop are so helpful and friendly. Oscar gave us a brief lesson on the beach and then we were off!

Even though this was my daughter’s first-time doing SUP, she was a natural – not once did she fall in! I’ve done SUP in Hawaii, and this experience was so much easier. It helps that the water is smooth like glass! 😉

As we gently paddled around the marina, Oscar helped my daughter navigate her board, teaching her how to turn and steer with the “C-curve.” We marveled at all of the boats, from yachts to sailboats and everything in between! We even saw a few sea lions swimming around and lazily sunning themselves on the dock.

We really worked up an appetite after being out on the water for an hour or two, so we checked our rental boards back into the shop and thanked Oscar for the private lesson.

Beachside Restaurant is in Jamaica Bay Inn, just steps away from Mother’s Beach, with indoor and outdoor seating.

The view is amazing, but the food is even better! We were treated to a yummy brunch. For starters, we had warm sourdough bread with fresh ricotta cheese.

My hubby loves seafood, so he ordered the crab cake benedict, while my daughter opted for the cheeseburger & fries. I was craving eggs and potatoes, so I got the Beachside Scramble.

There is plenty of patio seating, a nice sized bar, large indoor dining area, and the wait staff is very attentive. We were very impressed with the different options on the menu and can’t wait to go back again. One thing to note, there is a kid’s menu for those with young children.

My family had so much fun in Marina del Rey that we are already planning another day trip before the summer ends. If you’d like to try out stand-up paddle boarding, I highly recommend Pro SUP Shop which offers SUP rentals, private and group lessons.

For more info on Jamaica Bay Inn and the lovely Beachside Restaurant, check out their website here.

Thanks to the Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau for recommendations and arranging our excursion!

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. I received complimentary meals and stand-up paddle boarding lessons, which helped facilitate this review. All images & opinions are 100% my own.