LA Waterfront invited me to visit LA Fleet Week at the Port of Los Angeles during Labor Weekend. It was my first time attending so I didn’t know what to expect at LA Fleet Week.

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If you are attending LA Fleet Week, you will want to check out my guide to the Instagrammable spots at LA Waterfront.

What to Expect at LA Fleet Week

“It is an annual, multi-day celebration of our nation’s Sea Services over the Labor Day Weekend.  Free to the public, the multi-day event attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the LA Waterfront in San Pedro.  Visitors enjoy public ship tours, military displays and equipment demonstrations, a kids’ STEM Expo, aircraft flyovers, live entertainment, the 10th Annual Conquer the Bridge Labor Day morning 5.3-mile walk/run over the iconic Vincent Thomas Bridge, the Galley Wars culinary competition between military branches, and all-around fun for the entire family.”

I attended the event with my sister. She loved the experience and couldn’t stop saying “how cool is this?” We parked at the Maritime Museum. As we walked over to the event, we enjoyed the beautiful view of the port.

Friendly volunteers (veterans) greeted us at the entrance of the event. They pointed us toward the festivities. From this point on, we felt like we were on a military base. As we walked closer to the USS Iowa battleship it felt super unreal. On the one hand, it felt like I was on a movie set. On the other hand, it felt like the board game, Battleship, that I played as a kid had come to real life.

Military Displays

We first visited the military displays. At each station, polite military servicemen/servicewomen demonstrated each equipment. Visitors could climb the tank if they wished. This was a very adventurous experience.

USS Iowa

We visited the USS Iowa battleship — “The USS Iowa is the first of the largest, most powerful battleship class ever in the United States Navy.” The servicemen quarters, the lunchroom and the Captain’s quarters are still preserved. This battleship was in service until the 1990s. It was a very humbling-yet-adventurous experience being on the battleship. It’s a reminder of the sacrifices the military servicemen make to keep our country safe.

I highly suggest wearing light sneakers to climb the steep stairs on the battleship. Also, it’s best to wear comfortable clothes if you plan on jumping the tank.

The Experience

I highly recommend LA Fleetweek to everyone. It’s a must-see for all. Whether you are looking for history, adventure, or an Insta-worthy shot.

LA Fleet Week is now our new Labor Day tradition.  Have you guys attended Fleet Week? Will I see you next year at LA Fleet Week?

With gratitude,

Liz

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