Living in a city near the ocean, most people expect the students of UCLA to be at the beach or in the water constantly. As someone who has been yearning for some more aquatic life amongst the weeks of studying, I was inspired to see how accessible water activities are to UCLA students. The closest and easiest location for students happened to be Marina del Rey, with free equipment rentals offered by the Marina Aquatic Center, also known as the MAC.
In preparation for my journey to Marina del Rey, I knew I had to speak to an expert on the area. Aside from being a popular recreational area, many UCLA sports teams use the harbor for practices. The UCLA men’s rowing team comes out to Marina del Rey anywhere between four to six times a week, usually before the sun rises.
“The UCLA boathouse is a great place, the free kayaking, you know, but also the sailing team comes out of there, both men’s and women’s rowing teams come out of there,” said Ian Williams, a varsity rower on the UCLA men’s club team. Williams is a second-year biochemistry student and is in his second year on the rowing team. He also added, “It’s incredibly beautiful, there are amazing sunrises and sunsets.”
We finally made it out on the water on a gloomy Sunday morning when the water was calm and the entire harbor was starting to wake up. When getting to the actual center, be sure to follow the directions on maps all the way because at one point it seemed as though we were driving onto a bike path, but in actuality, the parking for the MAC is just more hidden than you’d expect.
At the center, we were greeted with a very welcoming staff and helpful workers. “The people here are all awesome and everyone is always willing to help out,” said Stacy Keown, a full-time MAC worker. When asked about her experience with the marina, Keown further added, “I mean, that’s my office!” in reference to the beautiful views all around the harbor.
With no exaggeration from her, Marina del Rey did not disappoint. Even though the late October day was a bit cloudier than expected, the water and sky blended in a dramatic, almost romantic way. The tiniest slivers of sun peaking out from behind the palm trees exaggerated the silhouettes of bikers tracing the outskirts of the water’s edge.
Being out on the water was extremely calming and peaceful because of the area’s serene morning atmosphere. One thing that surprised me was the proximity to wildlife while actually in the water. All around the kayak, there were birds and sea lions following us throughout our trip. Most of the sea lions stayed closer to the docks, but occasionally we would see them splashing around us and diving underwater. Just floating across the water really helped take the stress out of the week.
“This is a good place to come and calm down, to take a break, especially during finals or midterms,” said MAC worker Maria Larios. Larios has worked at the MAC for over 12 years and previously was a lifeguard for UCLA Recreation. She explained that throughout her experience, the marina has been a great place for UCLA students and sports teams to visit for socials. The MAC offers free 90-minute paddle boarding and kayaking rentals for UCLA students and discounted rates on sailing and rowing classes, as well as rentals. Additionally, students can bring non-UCLA guests kayaking for a $5 fee.
No matter who you go with, Marina del Rey is a great area to get away from campus for the day or a weekend. The rentals are very easy to acquire and fun to go out on. One recommendation would be to call in advance just to double-check on weather conditions and availability, as the rentals are on a first-come, first-served basis rather than an appointment basis. Generally, there aren’t many issues with getting a kayak or board, but if you are planning to go in the afternoon, be aware that there will likely be more boats out, which might make maneuvering around the water somewhat more challenging. Either way, this is an excellent way to reconnect with nature and take advantage of the natural beauty of the Los Angeles area within a reasonable distance of the UCLA campus. So whether you want to practice some rowing or hang out with the sea lions, Marina del Rey could be your next trip!
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Featured Image Photographed by Jaclyn Wang/BruinLife
