Newport Beach - Overview
Newport Beach is a medium-sized coastal city in Orange County, California, known for its fantastic surf and beaches, its active boating harbor, and its family-friendly attractions and events. It is one of the most affluent communities in the U.S., and the plentitude of yachts in the harbor will attest to that. But Newport Beach residents aren’t snooty, and the numerous events and festivals held in town throughout the year are generally open to all. Visitors flock to Newport Beach for its surfing, boating, its amusement park, festivals, shopping, and more.
Sand, Harbor, Peninsula, Island
Geographically Newport Beach consists of 3 mile long Balboa Peninsula, Newport Harbor, and Balboa Island. A broad sandy beach stretches the length of Balboa Peninsula along with a concrete boardwalk that intersects two large piers. The Balboa Fun Zone amusement park and the Balboa Paviliion are located here and constitute some of Newport’s most famous landmarks. Newport Harbor, on the inland side of Balboa Peninsula, is an international boating destination and offers charters for whale watching, sailing, fishing, kayaking and more. The harbor in Newport Beach distinguishes the city from other nearby beach towns since it offers annual boating events, such as the Christmas Boat Parade. Take the ferry or drive across Newport Bay to Balboa Island for restaurants, pubs, and shops. Festivals and events are held there throughout the year.
Beaches in Newport Beach
The Balboa Peninsula’s long, broad beach is popular for surfing, body boarding, body surfing, sunbathing, and many other beach activities. It’s Newport’s main beach and is home to both the Newport Pier and Balboa Pier. The Wedge is the most well-known spot for surfing, body boarding and body surfing, and is found at the tip of the peninsula. Corona del Mar and Crystal Cove State Park are other highly popular beaches in Newport Beach.
Lodging and How to get there
The Newport Beach area has a mix of hotels, vacation rentals, resorts and RV camping. To get to Newport Beach, take the 405 Freeway or 55 Freeway (Costa Mesa Freeway) in Orange County. The 55 turns into Newport Blvd at its south end, leading straight into Newport Beach. Otherwise, Newport Beach is accessible on the Pacific Coast Highway – 5 miles south of Huntington Beach and 11 miles north of Laguna Beach. To learn more about Newport Beach hotels, attractions and activities, explore the navigation to the left.
