Marina del Rey has a hidden secret to see wildlife up close and personal without having to road trip outside of the city. If you go to Fisherman’s Wharf and then walk along the docks, you are guaranteed to encounter sea lions. Head specifically to Dock 52 to look for them. You may hear them before you see them… they have really loud barks, grunts and growls. The seals swim and play and do tricks in the water and usually travel in groups. They are huge in size, and while they may be cute and playful, they are dangerous!!

The sea lions weigh anywhere from 100-300 kg, and you can watch them fly out of the water and land on the docks as if they were a fraction of their weight.  Do not approach the seals, feed them or get too close, because surprisingly they move FAST even on land!

Local fisherman and crew are usually hanging out around the docks. They are friendly and if you strike up a conversation, they can tell you all about the seals, and their names for them!