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Beach Bonfire Pits: Dockweiler Beach12001 Vista Del Mar
Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
Type: Outdoors
Category: Recreation, Group
Company: Everyone, especially s'mores
Cost: Free
Quickie: This is the only beach in LA that a) will let you have fire on the beach and b) has built-in fire pits for public use. Take advantage!
OTC Tip: Get there early to secure a pit or bring your own (a portable bbq will suffice!)
Review:
Short of camping on the beach (which, let's be honest, very few of us want to do) the beach bonfire is the ideal option. Sadly, despite the acres of beach in the LA area, the only stretch sanctioned for such reverie is Dockweiler beach. No matter - here's how to get the most out of your night:
The Do's:
1. Parking: there is a lot that costs $6-$8. Or, you can park along the street and skid down a sandy/dusty bank to the beach.
2. Get there around 4 or 5pm to claim a pit or else you will be lurking around the whole evening waiting for people to relinquish their fire. Good luck with that. If you don't want to go early, bring a portable bbq and you can make your own fire.
3. Beach patrol is known for a) checking beverages for alcohol (prohibited) and b) giving tickets for such infractions - so c) keep it "G" (see photo).
The Dont's:
1. Forget sweatshirts and blankets. No matter what time of year, it gets cold at night!
2. Stay after 10 pm - the beach is "closed" and anyone who loiters will receive a parking ticket.
3. Litter. This particular beach is dirty enough.The beach bonfire is a great gathering ground for birthday parties, weekends on the beach, and any other day you might want to celebrate in the sand to and through the evening. Cheers!
14 comments:
If you are planning a bonfire on a Friday, how early should you get there to reserve a firepit? Any spot to look for in particular? Thanks in advance.
I'd say get there in the late afternoon - it's summer, so competition is still probably relatively stiff for a pit even during the work week. You will be able to spot the fire pits pretty easily - and each is just as great as the next. Enjoy!
I love the can disguise! What an excellent idea.
Haha, totally BW-style, right Chris?
Thanks for enlightening me on the fire pit do's for a weekday, but what about the weekend. I'm planning on using a fire pit in a particular spot for Sat. evening. Do you suggest that I camp out (in shifts with a couple of friends) beginning at 6am until the time I expect guests to arrive?
Oh, I can't speak from experience but I don't think you need to start camping out at 6 am...maybe 9 or 10 am? Have fun!!!
So glad I found this info! It's my first time trying to have a bonfire party, any tips for starting the fire? Is it ok to bring a small table? Are the bathrooms totally gross? LOL, just want to be prepared;)
Glad it's helpful! Tips for starting the fire..not really, maybe bring one of those "logs" where you just add a match...haha. Bring a table, sure, but note that you will have to carry/drag everything from the parking lot to the sand so pack accordingly. The bathrooms are typical beach bathrooms....
If your going to secure a bonfire pit on a Saturday night in October, when's the best time to get there? Would getting there at 2-4pm be too late?
Hmmmmm I would go closer to 2 than 4..just to be safe! Especially since we've had nice summer weather, I would say that "summer rules" still apply...
Hey! I'm looking at Dockweiler for my birthday party. What would you say for a January Saturday? Is 10AM totally too early? Could I arrive a bit later and still secure a fire pit? Luckily no one will get sunburnt this time of year even if we do sit there all day :)
Well, for a normal "Sat in Jan" I would say you wouldnt have to worry...but since it's like summer and 80 degrees out, I would say that the earlier the better -- 10 should be fine, no matter how warm and lovely it gets. Have fun and happy birthday! you can also "BYO" - like a small portable bbq - in which case you wouldnt have to worry about securing a pit.
If I want to have a party on May 26 (a saturday) how early should I get to the beach to reserve a firepit? Am I allowed to have a big party (say about 99 people)?
I'd say get there in the AM - and it's an open beach so you can "host" as many people as you want. Have fun!
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