Marina del Rey
Tucked between Los Angeles International Airport and the acclaimed beach at Santa Monica is the largest man-made small boat harbor in the world. Home to well over 6,000 private boats, Marina del Rey has become world-famous as a center of boating culture. Its miles of docks were opened in 1965 after nearly a century of planning and wrangling transformed it from Southern California marshland. Private boats surround visitors to Marina del Rey, no matter how they arrive. Restaurants and shops overlook the marina and its myriad activities all focus on the water. Harbor cruises, sailing lessons, kayaking and windsurfing all take place in the shadow of private boats, which range from tiny dinghies to 100-foot-plus megayachts.