By Roberto Luna Jr.
Daily Press Intern
It’s a short trip to Marina del Rey, but the reward is big fun for the summer season. Marina del Rey visitors will be able to take a tour on a boat, buy dinner from a diverse array of food trucks and attend various attractions this summer.
Travel by water
The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors and Hornblower Cruises and Events are continuing two of their popular summer attractions — the WaterBus and the Harbor Tours.
For $1, visitors will be able to board the WaterBus at one of eight stops in the Marina del Rey harbor, such as Fisherman's Village, Burton Chace Park and Waterfront Walk. The WaterBus will run Thursdays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Sept. 5, according to the program's website.
Lucie Kim, marketing analyst with the Department of Beaches and Harbors, said the department has been offering the program since 2002 to provide visitors an alternate form of transportation within Marina Del Rey, to alleviate traffic during summer concerts and to provide an accessible, low-cost recreational activity.
Hornblower Cruises and Events began its Harbor Tours last year to commemorate Marina del Rey's 50th anniversary. For $12, visitors can go on a 45-minute cruise that will go over some of the area's historic sites and marine environment, said Kevin Lorton, Hornblower vice president and general manager for Los Angeles and Orange counties.
“We think these tours are a great way to see the beauty of Marina del Rey and see some of the marine wildlife that frequents the marina while learning about the history of the Marina,” Lorton said.
The tours depart from Fisherman's Village and will be offered every Saturday and Sunday until sometime in mid-September, depending on demand, Lorton said.
Beach Eats
The Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association will also be continuing its Beach Eats summer food truck program. About five food trucks will line up in the parking lot at 4101 Admiralty Way, near Via Marina, every Thursday from 5-9 p.m., according to the association's website.
Beach Eats will offer sea, Asian, Latin and other various types of food and run until July 28.
Free concerts, movies
The Department of Beaches and Harbors is also hosting a free summer concert series at Burton Chace Park on alternating Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. Opera and symphonic performances will take place on Thursdays, while pop performances will take place on Saturdays.
The department will also host free movie screenings at Burton Chace Park on select Saturday nights. It will show "Pan" on July 9, "Earth to Echo" on July 23, "The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water" on Aug. 6 and "My Fair Lady" on Aug. 20. All movies will begin at 8 p.m.
The Marina del Rey Historical Society will be displaying archives and selling souvenirs at the annual Old Fashioned Day at Burton Chace Park on July 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., said Willie Hjorth, president of the society. He added they will be showing a historic video of Marina Del Rey at the event.
Visit http://www.chacepark.com/Events.htm for more information on Burton Chace Park events.
Smooth sailing
Some Marina del Rey yacht clubs and organizations will also be organizing events for the public during the summer.
The California Yacht Club and U.S. Sailing will host a sailing competition for about 300 children from July 14-18, according to a press release. There will be an opening ceremony on July 14 at 6 p.m. and a closing ceremony after the final race on July 18.
The Classic Yacht Association and the Department of Beaches and Harbors are organizing Old Fashioned Day, which will also feature restored yachts from the 1920s to 1950s and vintage cars.
