You’ve got to check out Newport Beach, a coastal California destination to travel to, known for their sophisticated charm and vibrant boardwalk vibes. Visiting Newport Beach was so fun, relaxing and not like any other So Cal coastal community. From the exciting fun zone to the quaint streets of Balboa Island, there’s something to do for everyone. We loved riding over the ferry to check out the sights and spending time at our hotel going down the waterslide.
What to do in Newport Beach
There’s 10 miles of coastline in Newport Beach so a visit to the beach is a must! We went to Newport Pier at Balboa Peninsula. I recommend this spot because they have a large parking lot right by the beach. You can also park here and walk over to the fun zone where they have a Ferris wheel, arcade games, small shops and eateries. We took the ferry from the fun zone over to Balboa Island too. It was only $3 for the 4 of us to take this fun boat ride over to the island. We loved the short ride over then spent the morning walking around Balboa Island. It is a bit of a walk to get over to all the shops but we enjoyed it. I loved looking at all the cute cottages on the water. We drove over to Balboa Island the next day from our hotel then drove onto the ferry to go to the peninsula. It was an adventure for all of us and a must for any family who hasn’t driven their car onto a boat!
The beaches in Newport are wide with lots of sand. There’s a great park for the kiddos to play on the beach too. I really enjoyed this spot because there were so many places to walk to once we arrived. You will have to pay for parking in most areas of Newport so it’s nice to just park in one place.
Where to Stay
We stayed at The Hyatt Regency and it was perfect for our family of four. Their rooms are spacious, the grounds are beautiful and the pool is very family friendly. There’s a splash pad, a mini golf course and an awesome waterslide. They have lounge chairs with umbrellas all around the pool, plus pool service for food and drinks. The Hyatt also has a golf course that is free for guests. It’s located right behind the bay with beautiful views and only about a mile from the beach.
The Food in Newport Beach
We enjoyed a few tasty meals while we were in Newport Beach. Our favorites included: Tavern House Kitchen + Bar for clams overlooking the water, Balboa Lily’s for breakfast on the peninsula and Crew Coffee & Creamery for ice cream before heading back to the hotel! We enjoyed some really tasty bites. We also ordered room service one night from our hotel and picked up Subway for lunch at the beach.
I’m a sucker for any beach city that has beautiful views. It’s even better with a cup of coffee first thing in the morning!
Sometimes, the best thing about being on vacation is wandering around looking at the sights. I love walking around different neighborhoods to get a feel for the town. It’s an easy way to immerse into the flow of the area. We loved this beautiful little town and since it’s only an hour and a half from San Diego, we will be cruisin back up there soon!
Have you been to Newport Beach? What’s your favorite thing to do there? xo, Bri
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