Mothers Beach — Restaurant in Santa Monica

Perfect for Casual Distance Paddling & Recreational Tours

Marina del Rey offers an ideal paddling experience for both casual paddlers and those seeking a moderate workout in protected waters. The channel provides a perfect 4-mile round trip (2 miles each way) in calm, sheltered conditions that accommodate various paddling styles.

What makes this location special: Protected, slow-moving waters when winds are down Easy beach launch access Central location accessible from throughout Los Angeles Wildlife encounters (we spotted a playful seal that swam alongside us and breached!) Scenic views of Santa Monica and Malibu in the distance

The experience: Gliding through Marina del Rey's waters offers a perfect escape from Los Angeles' urban intensity. The rhythmic motion of paddling creates a meditative quality that unwinds tension, while encounters with wildlife like the seal that emerged beside us create memorable connections with nature. Within minutes of launching, the city sounds fade away, replaced by water lapping against your board and the calls of seabirds.

We paddled on a perfect Saturday around 11am when temperatures hit 75°, creating ideal conditions for our casual pace. The marina's protected waters allowed us to maintain conversation the entire time while taking in the surroundings, including fascinating bird activity near the brick wall.

Paddling styles suited for Marina del Rey: This location is perfect for casual distance paddling when you want to enjoy being on the water, soaking up the sun while casually exploring. The protected channel is excellent for those just wanting a leisurely experience with minimal challenge.

The same route works perfectly for fitness paddlers looking for a core workout - you can increase your pace for a more intense training session on the flat, predictable water.

For advanced paddlers seeking more challenge, extending your paddle beyond the marina to Venice Pier adds both distance and the excitement of textured, moving ocean...

Peaceful location and nice seeing people kayak or do paddle board yoga. Good for that purpose. Safe for kids to play in the sand since it is away from waves/swells by being protected by the marina and they do a good job keeping drug addicts away from this beach. HOWEVER, I am enough of a germophobe that I'd not want that water near a kid's face, considering how many people live aboard their boats in the marina. Obviously black water is collected, but grey water (from doing dishes, showers, brushing teeth) and gross soapy water from rinsing off the black film of dust on the boats and other boat upkeep all collects in the bay, leaving slightly murky water with an oil film. I'd encourage my friends to just keep a careful watch on their kids and take them to a real beach. Nothing wrong with kids being kids and eating dirt. I just prefer my germs au naturel instead of with manmade grime in the process. It's a nice beach to walk by with nice dinner options of the restaurant at the hotel overlooking the beach, as well as Cheesecake Factory nearby. There is a sidewalk all around the perimeter, and occasionally people ride bikes or skateboard on by. There are bathrooms and...

Marina Beach aka Mother's Beach is not really a beach but more of a water access with sand connecting it to the Marina. In normal times there are picnic benches and coal bbq access (closed due to Covid19) and there is a decent stretch of sand with water access. This is a great spot for families because the water is calm and boats don't come close to the swimming area. There are bathrooms and parking. There is a lot of recreational activities that you can access like paddleboarding and kayaking. And if you want to go to another point in the Marina slips, seasonally you can access the Waterbus that has a stops here, Fisherman Village, Burton Chase park and a few other stops for just $1. Keep in mind due to virus restrictions seats are limited and so are the hours for the boat operation. Marina beach is not a typical beach but it's perfect for the basics especially if you're located close by. On Sundays there is even a farmers market on the end of the beach by Panay Way...