Newport Beach is a city famous for its lavish lifestyle and beautiful surroundings. Television enthusiasts will recognize the resemblance to the show The O.C., and not just by virtue of its location in Orange County, California. The American city has its share of "beautiful people" often with wealth to spare. Yet it's very possible to enjoy life in Newport Beach amongst the millionaires on a relatively low budget.
Understand
Climate
Get in
By plane
- John Wayne Airport (IATA: SNA) is located on the border of Newport Beach, Irvine, and Santa Ana.
- If you are arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX) or Long Beach (IATA: LGB), take the I-405 freeway south to the 73 freeway south.
By rail
Metrolink and Amtrak serve Santa Ana, Tustin (Metrolink only), and Irvine. A taxi would probably be the most convenient option. Local OCTA bus routes service Amtrak/Metrolink stations at certain times. Consult the OCTA website for more information.
By car
Take CA Highway 1 or the I-405 freeway to the 55 or 73 freeway south. The former will take you to West Newport and the latter to the east side of the Newport Bay.
Get around
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) serves the Newport Beach area. The OCTA Newport Transportation Center is just east of Fashion Island in Newport Beach; here OCTA Routes 1, 55, 57, 75, 76 and 79 converge for a transfer point. Routes 1, 47 and 71 serve the beaches (over a mile away from here) and the Balboa Peninsula; Route 76 serve the John Wayne Airport SNA (about 6 miles from here).
See
True to its name, any visit to Newport Beach is incomplete without a trip to the beach. The city is nestled on the Pacific Ocean and is a favorite among surfers. The Wedge, at the end of the Balboa Peninsula, is famed for its challenging surf, but Newport's miles of wide beaches offer plenty of room for everyone, except on the busiest summer weekends. There is a concrete boardwalk running along the beach from the east of the Balboa pier to west of the Newport pier.
- Muth Wetlands Interpretive Center. Located on Irvine Avenue, and facing out onto coastal wetlands, this is an excellent introduction to the flora and fauna of Pacific Coast wetlands. There is an excellent film presentation, and many exhibits of interest to young and old.
- Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, 600 E. Bay Ave (in the Balboa Fun Zone), 33.60304°, -117.90040°, +1 949 673-3377, nhnm@nhnm.org. W-M 10AM-6PM. This museum gives an introduction to the extensive maritime history of this area. Adults $5, children under 12 free
- Balboa Island, 33.60648°, -117.89208°. It is a quaint throwback to simpler times, with a strip of stores and restaurants (Marine Avenue) and a pedestrian walkway which incicles the island. It's accessible from the Balboa peninsula via a short car/passenger ferry, or you can drive there over a bridge from near the Pacific Coast Highway.
Do
- Balboa Fun Zone, 600 E. Bay Ave, 33.60304°, -117.90040°, Bfunzone@sbcglobal.net. Su-Th 11AM-6PM; F Sa 11AM-10PM. Located near the Balboa Pavilion, the Fun Zone has a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, rock wall, arcade, and bungee jump. $1.50 per ticket or 20 tickets for $25 (number of tickets required vary with attraction
- Newport Landing Whale Watching, 309 Palm St. Suite A., +1 949-675-0550. ! During the summer months, view Blue Whales (more than 90 feet in length), Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and several types of dolphin and other marine life. During the winter months you can view Grey Whales, the occasional Orca, and many dolphins and sea lions. The trip has a 96% viewing success rate of marine life on each cruise. The company's primary whale watching ship is 65 feet in length with a large upstairs sun-deck, wrap around outside seating, snack bar with food and beverage and indoor seating with large windows. 2½ hours.
- Gourmet Detective, 3100 Irvine Ave, +1 949 423-5311. Murder mystery dinner show. Shows every Friday and Saturday night.
Events
- Newport Beach Film Festival, +1 949 253-2880, info@newportbeachfilmfest.com. The 10-day festival features over 300 short and feature length films. April Starting at $10 2017-07-15
- Balboa Island Art Walk. Along South Bayfront Drive on Balboa Island. Over 100 artists showing and selling their work, ranging from paintings to sculptures to jewelry. Free. May
- Newport Beach Summer Jazz Series, +1 949 729-6400. Summer-long Jazz music festival on two stages. Held at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. May–October. $40-175
- Newport Dunes 4<sup>th</sup> of July Celebration, 1131 Back Bay Dr (at Newport Dunes Resort), 33.63393°, -117.88491°. A day-long celebration with carnival games, crafts, face painting, music by a DJ, hula-hoop and limbo contests, volleyball and horseshoe tournaments and drawings by a caricaturist. A fireworks show occurs over the lagoon after dark. $25. Fireworks show can be seen for free from outside the Resort. July 4; 11AM-9PM with fireworks show at 9PM.
- Newport In-Water Boat Show, +1 949 757-5959. Exhibit of the latest and greatest in yachts. The event takes place at the Lido Marina Village. Adults $10; 12 and under free.
- Taste of Newport, info05@tasteofnewport.com. Newport Center Drive at Fashion Island. 729-4400. Annual food, wine and music festival featuring selections from Newport Beach restaurants. Presale - $17; at the gate - $20; under 8 - free. September.
- Christmas Boat Parade, +1 949 729-4400. Annual water parade of boats decorated with Christmas lights. The boats take a nightly tour of Newport Harbour on five consecutive evenings. Free viewing from most locations. Some restaurants and organizations have premium seating for a fee. See the website for more information and map of parade route. December.
- Sandcastle Contest, +1 949 729-4400. Sand sculptures from novice to expert. The contest is held at Corona del Mar State Beach. Free admission for spectators. Fee for entrants. October.
Buy
- Fashion Island, 33.61477°, -117.87291°. The premiere shopping center in Newport Beach, this is a beautiful outdoor mall with great landscaping, and fountains of every description. Stores include Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Anthropologie, Barnes and Noble, Nike for Women. Restaurants include Cafe R & D (crowded, but good), the Neiman Marcus Restaurant (with a beautiful view towards the ocean), and ThaiFoon.
- Westcliff Plaza. This is the real Newport, as few tourists make it over here. Located near the corner of Westcliff and Irvine Avenue, this is a small, luxury mall, with ultra upscale clothes, furnishings, and services. Restaurants include Haute Cakes (breakfast and lunch only), Pizza Bakery, and Capri Blu. You will also see the colorful spectrum of local teen lifestyles.
- Crystal Cove, 33.57606°, -117.84116°. This is on Pacific Coast highway in the southern reaches of Newport, called Newport Coast. Stop here on your way to Laguna Beach and find both chain and private retailers. This mall is breathtaking as it overlooks the ocean. Stop for a bite to eat.
Eat
- Gelato Paradiso, Two locations: 952 Avocado Ave. or Fashion Island Atrium Ct. Many flavors of very good quality Italian-style gelato and sorbetto. Try the bacio (chocolate and hazelnut).
- Gina's Pizza, 4533 Campus Dr, 33.66629°, -117.85452°, +1 949 725-1144. Located in UC Irvine, just north of Newport Beach. Its delicious pizza, pasta, and salad is considered some of the best in Orange County. Popular with local UCI and UHS students. price: moderate
- Ho Sum Bistro, 3112 Newport Blvd, 33.615714°, -117.930210°, +1 949 675-0896. The Combo Salad will fill you up and is very well priced for how much you get ($4-6). A nice option if you are stuck on the peninsula.
- Memphis Cafe, 2920 Bristol St., Costa Mesa (take Macarthur Blvd North to 73 fwy north; exit Birch; continue north on Bristol (don't get back on the fwy); about 1-2 miles; restaurant is on the right), +1 714 432-7685. Tasty and fairly authentic gourmet southern fare in a casual roadhouse-style diner with fantastic ambience. Service is excellent, but informal. For lunch, try the 1/2 pulled pork sandwich and bowl of gumbo. Parking is sometimes a problem between non and 1PM on weekdays. lunch $10, dinner $20
- Sugar 'N Spice, 310 Marine Ave, 33.60725°, -117.88969°, +1 949-673-8907. For an inexpensive and tasty treat, order a frozen, chocolate covered banana.
- Sage, Two locations: 2531 Eastbluff (Eastbluff Shopping Center) or 7862 E Coast Hwy (Crystal Cove Promenade). lunch, dinner. Creative gourmet fare. Excellent service. Quiet surroundings. lunch $15-25, dinner $30-40
- Wild Fish, Macarthur and Bison. Perfectly prepared fish and shellfish. A bit noisy. Open for dinner only. $30-40
- Wilma's Patio, 203 Marine Ave (Balboa Island), 33.60583°, -117.88989°. Family restaurant popular among locals for breakfast on Balboa Island (not the peninsula!), although they also serve lunch and dinner. The wait can be as long as an hour on summer weekend mornings. breakfast $10
- Sol Grill, 110 McFadden Pl (21st Street towards Pier), 33.60816°, -117.92830°, +1 949 723-4105. Tu-Su 5-10PM, closed Mondays. Good pasta and seafood restaurant with live music. As the restaurant is small, reservations are essentiell for weekends.
- Rusty Pelican, 2735 West Coast Highway, 33.62372°, -117.94074°, +1 949 642-3431. Very good seafood restaurant with view of marina.
Drink
- Sharkeez Baja Cantina. Fun, has music, but closes at 1AM.
- Cabo Cantina. Good Happy Hour (10PM to midnight) nightly with 2-for-1 drinks.
- Balboa Saloon. Younger crowd, but never really seems busy.
- A Restaurant, 3334 West Coast Hwy, 33.62372°, -117.94074°, +1 949 650-6505. Best happy hour in Newport. Rat pack vibe.
- Mutt Lynch's, 2300 W Oceanfront, 33.60972°, -117.92999°, +1 949 675-1556. A true locals haunt. "A little slice of a California beach community."
- Classic Q, 4251 Macarthur Blvd (near John Wayne Airport), 33.665106°, -117.864339°. Sports bar with pool tables. Reasonable food. 2015-08-20
Sleep
- The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, 1221 Coast Highway (on Mariners Mile), 33.56540°, -117.82788°, +1 949 645-5000, reservations@balboabayclub.com. Special features on site: barber/beauty shop, bar/lounge, restaurant, shops, hot tub, sauna, fitness center on site, bayfront property, full service spa. $245-475, suites $800-3000
- Balboa Inn, 105 Main St, 33.60200°, -117.89945°, +1 949 675-3412, info@balboainn.com. On the peninsula. $139-269, suites $299-599
- Bay Shores Inn, 1800 W Balboa Blvd, 33.60784°, -117.92509°, +1 949 675-3463. Near the Newport Pier on the peninsula. $199-269, suites $219-499
- Best Western Newport Beach Inn, 6208 W Coast Highway, 33.62372°, -117.94074°, +1 949 642-8252. Across Coast Highway from the beach. $119-259
- Holiday Inn Express, 2300 West Coast Hwy, 33.61921°, -117.92061°. Reasonable sized rooms, small refrigerator and microwave, but interior a little musty.and in need of renovation. Basic breakfast. Free parking a plus for the area. 2015-09-01
- The Island Hotel Newport Beach, 690 Newport Center Dr, 33.61932°, -117.87555°, +1 949 759-0808. Across from the Fashion Island shopping center and within walking distance of the Orange County Museum of Art. $259-495, suites $475-495
- Little Inn By The Bay on the Balboa Peninsula, 2627 Newport Blvd, 33.62315°, -117.92851°, +1 949 673-8800. Located on Balboa Peninsula by Newport Beach Pier offers free Wi-Fi and parking is Big Plus coming to Newport Beach. Walking distance to the Beach, Board Walk, Lido Village and Famous restaurants like Carb Cooker & Woody's Wharf and Famous BAR like Mutts and Malarky’s Irish Pub. $79-299
- Newport Beach Marriott Bayview, 500 Bayview Circle, 33.65402°, -117.86807°, +1 949 854-4500. Bedroom suites each with a step out balcony, living room, and marble bathroom. French doors separate the bedroom from the living room with fold out sofa and second television.
- Newport Channel Inn, 6030 W. Coast Highway (on Pacific Coast Highway in the north-east part of Newport Beach near the border with Huntington Beach), 33.62372°, -117.94074°, +1 949 642-3030, innkeeper@newportchannelinn.com. $59-199
- Radisson Hotel, 4545 MacArthur Blvd, 33.65844°, -117.86274°, +1 949 833-0570, genr@radissonnewportbeach.com. 1/2 mile from the John Wayne Airport, near the business districts of Irvine, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach. $99-189, suites $350
Connect
The area code for all of Newport Beach is 949.
Go next
- Catalina Island - For most of the year, there is daily boat service to Catalina on the Catalina Flyer, located on the Balboa Peninsula. Trip takes about an hour, and can frequently be rough. Remember to bring the Dramamine!
- While in Orange County, be sure to visit Disneyland in Anaheim or Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park.
- Don't have a car? Don't have a cow. You can reach Los Angeles or San Diego by train from Irvine or Santa Ana.