Ballona Wetlands

Venice, Marina Del Rey & Playa del Rey


These last remaining wetlands in LA County are home to at least 200 migrating and resident bird species, including the great blue heron. Their habitat, however, has shrunk significantly since Playa Vista, a much-debated custom-planned luxury community for about 11,000 residents, took root across Lincoln. Still, the developers get points for restoring and expanding the healthiest intact marsh, which has seen increasing bird activity.

Wetlands are the unsung heroes of the natural world. They clean silty rivers before the water trickles into the sea, provide shelter and hatcheries for birds and fish, and are extremely difficult to restore and protect in an increasingly urbanized world.

The Ballona Wetlands are west of Lincoln Blvd, around the corner of Jefferson Blvd. Park on the south (eastbound) side of Jefferson Blvd.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Venice, Marina Del Rey & Playa del Rey attractions

1. Fisherman’s Village

0.6 MILES

Most boats, including party fishing boats and winter whale-watching boats, leave from this kitschy strip of candy-colored cottages filled with tacky gift…

2. Dockweiler State Beach

1.34 MILES

With jumbo jets soaring overhead, sailboats bobbing beyond the rolling surf, bonfires raging in the pit and a waxing moon rising high, summer nights on…

3. South Venice Beach

1.38 MILES

South of Washington Blvd, the throng dissipates and the golden sands unfurl in a more pristine manner. Waves roll in consistently and are ideal for…

4. Venice Canals

1.81 MILES

Even many Angelenos have no idea that just a couple of blocks from the Boardwalk madness is an idyllic neighborhood that preserves 3 miles of Abbot Kinney…

6. LA Louver

1.98 MILES

The best art gallery in Venice, and arguably the best in LA, LA Louver was established by Peter Gouls in 1975, and since 1994 has been housed in a…

7. C.A.V.E.

1.98 MILES

One of our favorite Venice galleries, it specializes in single-artist exhibitions. When we passed it hosted the works of Ralph Ziman, a South African–born…

8. Jim Morrison Mural

2.09 MILES

Epic 30ft-high portrait of one-time Venice resident Jim Morrison of the rock band The Doors, by Rip Cronk.