This summer, since we didn’t have any ‘big’ vacations planned, we decided to head over to Marina del Rey for a fun, family staycation. We love Marina del Rey with its beautiful weather, walkability, and lots of fun things to choose from!
Summers are warm in the San Fernando Valley, so we wanted to take advantage of the mild temps in Marina del Rey and do as many outdoor activities as possible.
With Marina del Rey Marriott as our home base for the weekend, we were able to walk to all the restaurants, shops, and activities.
Our room at the Marriott was spacious (two queen beds), sofa and sitting area, mini fridge, and a desk. The hotel has 370 newly renovated guest rooms and suites. The pool area is super nice, the fitness gym is one of the biggest hotel gyms I’ve ever seen, and they have an outdoor lounge called Sinder.
Before we checked into the hotel, we had breakfast at Fratelli Café, a local restaurant on Washington Blvd. It was cozy, the food was delicious, and you could tell that the locals flocked here a lot to get their baked goods and entrees.
@realmomofsfv Breakfast at @Fratelli Cafe is a must when you are in Marina del Rey! Make sure to @visitmdr this summer and check it out! #ilovemdr #hosted #FratelliCafe #marinadelrey
The Marina del Rey Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday from 9am-2pm. It was literally steps away from our hotel, so of course we had to check it out! They have produce from local area farmers, as well as quick service food (the tacos looked SO good, even at 10am) and vendors selling bread, flowers, jewelry, and more!
All of the shopping at the Farmers’ Market worked up our appetites, so we headed over to Killer Shrimp Restaurant & Bar which has tasty seafood and killer views of the marina!
Later that evening, we took a WaterBus from Mother’s Beach to Burton Chase Park. There was a gentle breeze in the air as we looked at the different motorboats and yachts in the marina, although we didn’t see any sea lions. Getting around to different parts of Marina del Rey via boat is fun and it was nice to leave our car in the hotel parking garage. Best part, it’s only $1 per person (cash only), and there are eight stops to choose from!
Once we landed at Burton Chase Park, we checked out the area where the Annual Summer Concert Series is held. The event that Saturday night was Disney-Pixar’s Coco in Concert Live to Film!
Since we got to the park early, we decided to eat dinner first. We went to HiHoCheeseburger, which has the tastiest Wagyu burgers! The beef is one hundred percent grass-fed Wagyu, but if you’re a chicken eater, then order the Honey Tenders served with a side of Matty sauce. Oh and don’t forget to save room for dessert! Their Banana Cream Pie in a cup is delicious! Everything was so filling and since I couldn’t eat all of my banana cream pie, I took it with me to the concert.
After dinner we headed back to the park and chose a spot on the grassy hill. The Marina del Rey Summer Symphony performed Coco’s musical score live along to the film.
On Sunday morning, we had breakfast at Beachside Restaurant & Bar that’s located inside Jamaica Bay Inn.
Their yummy food hit the spot and gave us the fuel we needed to go bike riding. After picking up our rental bikes at the Marriott, we cruised part of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail and took in the scenery.
You can see more photos/videos taken during our staycation here!
We had an awesome time exploring Marina del Rey and making core memories! Thanks, Marina del Rey Marriott for hosting our stay.
Need help planning your visit to Marina del Rey? You can get visitor info and sample itineraries at the Visit Marina del Rey website. Also, make sure to check out their Facebook page and Instagram to get the latest updates!
Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The Marina del Rey Tourism Board arranged our dining and hotel accommodations, which helped facilitate this review. All images and opinions are 100% my own.
This looks like such an incredible place to stay. I’ll keep it in mind for sure. That food looks delish as well!
Amber Myers recently posted…How To Get From Orlando Airport To Disney Resorts
This looks like the perfect spot for a relaxing staycation! I love when you can unwind and feel like you’re on vacation without having to travel far. The views and amenities at the Marriott Marina del Rey look amazing!
Jess Benoit recently posted…What Food Pantries Really Need: Our Story and How You Can Help
Sounds like a great staycation. I need to put this on my list of travel ideas,
The hotel room has all the essentials you could need including spacious rooms. I do love the fact it’s in walking distance to restaurants and shops.
Melanie E recently posted…Cute Summer Footwear 2025
This staycation looks so relaxing! The Marriott Marina del Rey seems like a wonderful spot to unwind and enjoy beautiful views 😍.
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I think i stayed in this place (or somewhere near here) ages ago (it seems like now) and loved the location ..and the stay as well
Love the two beds in the room. The highlight of this trip for me is that burger! Look at it. Happy for you that got to make these memories. All my best.