With a harbor lined with yachts and a history rich with movie stars, Newport Beach exudes a refined air. But this Orange County town is also brimming with fun: a gorgeous coastline, epic waves, and plenty of easy-access ways to play. Here’s how to create a fun-loving beachy getaway in Newport Beach:
Go all-in on beach time
Want to really unplug for your beach day? Head to Crystal Cove State Park, set along 3.5 miles of coastline between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. The immersive-feeling state park hugs both sides of Highway 1: beach, gentle waves, and tide-pooling on one side and chaparral-clad coastal hills on the other. Choose from four different beaches or explore the 18 miles of hike- and bike-friendly trails that run through coastal scrub brush and woodlands. You can stay overnight, too, either in the campground or one of the charming 1940s cottages in the Crystal Cove Historic District (ideally, book a cottage up to six months ahead).
Catch a wave—or just watch the experts
Newport Beach is a great place to take surfing lessons, but it’s most famous for its bodysurfing (without a board). The epicenter is the Wedge, where 20-foot waves crash into a man-made jetty at Newport Harbor. For first timers, the Wedge is a place to watch the experts, not to try it yourself. Newbies (aka Barneys) will have more fun at Little Corona, south of the harbor entrance, or Blackie’s, north of the Newport Pier.
Captain your own boat for the day
This Orange County town loves its boats—during the holiday season, everything from yachts to tugboats get illuminated for the annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. Any time of year, you can get out on the water yourself with little experience required. Rent an electric Duffy boat (which have been compared to golf carts on the water) from operators such as Duffy Electric Boat Company or Vision Marine electric boats. The boats tend to seat up to 10, have a canopy for shade, and offer enough room for enjoying lunch out on the water. Families will also love Newport Dunes Waterpark, where the rental options include Duffy boats, paddle boats, and stand-up paddleboards. Kids can also play on the giantinflatables floating on the Back Bay.
Check out the dolphins and migrating whales
Thanks to the nutrient-rich waters of the offshore Newport Canyon, dolphins, whales, and sea lions love stopping in these parts to eat. Catch some on a two-hour cruise with Newport Landing Whale Watching or Davey’s Locker, which also offers deep-sea-fishing excursions and boasts a 95 percent success rate of seeing some kind of whale or dolphin.
Engage in some retail therapy
Orange County is a shopper’s dream. Browse the boutiques in the Corona del Mar neighborhood or shop with an ocean view from Newport Coast. For a classic SoCal luxury mall, head to the open-air Fashion Island, a short drive from the beach, or go a little farther to the super-luxe South Coast Plaza in nearby Costa Mesa. For beachy looks, pop into The Frog House, Newport’s old-school surf shop.
Enjoy carnival fun on Balboa Peninsula
Jutting off the coast of Newport Beach, the three-mile-long Balboa Peninsula has the Pacific Ocean on one side and the harbor on the other. In between, you’ll find the Balboa Fun Zone, an old-fashioned amusement park with a small Ferris wheel, arcade games, and bike rentals. This is also the nerve center for local treats—namely the chocolate-dipped ice cream bars known as Balboa Bars and the frozen chocolate bananas that have been staples here since the 1940s (and found more recent fame on the TV series Arrested Development).