Playa del Rey
Centuries ago, Playa del Rey was the mouth of the Los Angeles River; as nature would have it, the river shifted and started emptying into the Los Alamitos Bay in Long Beach. In effect, what was once the mouth was now a lagoon measuring more than two miles long and one fifth of a mile wide. The lagoon became known as the Del Rey Lagoon and took up space in the southwest section of the fifteen square miles of Rancho La Ballona.
Playa del Rey is situated roughly two miles south of Kinney's Venice of America Resort. The beach itself extends north to the inlet of Marina del Rey. It contains a very wide expanse of sand making it an excellent atmosphere for kite flying, biking, and volleyball. Some beach lovers come to surf and swim; however, it is important for visitors and residents to not swim in the water right after heavy rain. Pollution flows to the bay through the Los Angeles River and high levels of bacteria prevail; beach lovers should wait at least three days after rainfall to visit the beach.
A natural phenomenon also located between Playa del Rey and Marina del Rey is The Ballona Wetlands. The wetlands are one of the last remaining saltwater wetlands in all of southern California. The area encompasses 16.3 acres of land which habitat a variety of mudflat and marine animals. Native Americans have considered the wetlands to be sacred ground for thousands of years. If you'd like to visit the area the Audobon in Southern California and Friends of Ballona Wetlands give tours of The Ballona Wetlands.
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