Day Trip to Newport Beach - 5 Things To Do
We were in Los Angeles for an extended weekend to celebrate the birthday of your truely during July 2019. It was our first time in the city as a family and we were looking to spend time on some kid-friendly activities. This took a lot of options including the museums out of the way. At that point, we realized we needed at least one day trip out of the city. Our search ended with a day trip to New Port Beach because of a unique offering - a whale-watching cruise. While it may not necessarily be unique to many but we hadn't had on one until then. Here is an overview of things to do in the Newport Beach area.
In case you haven't read yet, here are our articles from the Los Angeles Trip:
1. Hollywood’s Tinsel Town – Things to do in Los Angeles, California
2. Los Angeles, California – A Five Day Itinerary
Newport Beach - An Overview
Newport Beach is a small community in the southern suburbs of Los Angeles and is about an hour's drive away. With a 10-mile of pristine coastline, Newport Beach is a great destination if you are looking to get away from monotonous urban life. The town offers a varied set of flavors and has the capability to engaged visitors with different tastes. Newport Harbor was a major maritime center and supported a lot of trade activities in the past. Today the town is primarily a recreation center and is flocked by tourists and locals.
While Newport Beach has enough to keep you involved for quite long, we recommend spending a day if you are in the region for a limited time. We have listed the top 5 activities to undertake during your visit to the town. Also, if you happen to be there during the holidays or the 4th of July weekend, prepare yourselves for the rush. There is ample parking in the public parking lots which occasionally gets full during the busy season. Without further ado, here is the list you are here for.
1. Swim, Surf or Relax by the Beach
There are days when all you need is some peace to unwind and be yourself. What better for the purpose to spend some time ashore on a tranquil beach. Let the kids build sand houses while you take a book or put on your headphones. Newport Beach takes pride in its long pristine beaches along the Pacific Ocean. The sandy beaches are a perfect place to unwind over snacks and drinks. The beaches here are ideal for surfing and swimming and would provide a nice exercise. If you bring snacks with you, there are picnic spots for you to relish them. The sand is clean and inviting on a sunny day.
2. Stroll along the Pier
A narrow alley that takes you into the deep seas and provides a scenic view of the water. The pier at Newport Beach is a nice walk into the ocean. It is a site of hustled activities and hawkers. The views at the end of the pier are panoramic and enchanting. The slow-moving waves provide a nice view and can be a source of inspiration for artists and bloggers.
Also, the pier is designed such that while there are great views of the ocean, there is a nice view of the sandy beach. We strolled along the pear admiring the scenic views and activities on the beach while relishing on our coffee. You could spend quite some time on the benches along the pier if you are not the one who would spend time on the sand.
3. Experience adrenaline rush with some sports
Some of us are beach bums for a reason - we love the slowness of the waves and sitting aside with no activities. However, there are others who prefer a more active means to unwind. This town would not disappoint them either.
Newport Beach offers various water-sports avenues for enthusiasts. Rental agencies offer equipment to venture in the seas and enjoy the water from well within. For those who prefer to have their fun on the ground, Newport Beach offers avenues for golf, cycling, and other sports. Spend an active weekend in the lap of nature and let the kids have their fun too.
4. Let the kids out in Peninsula Park
Newport Beach offers something for everyone's taste. Kids form an important constituent of the visitors and their needs need to be catered to. Peninsula Park is a nicely curated garden along the beach. It is the first view you get as you exit the parking lots. It is a great place to let your kids have a great time. The lawns are nicely crafted and act as nice playgrounds. There are a number of restaurants and cafes around the park where you could replenish yourselves. A nice meal or coffee could do wonders to your day when enjoyed with such scenic views.
5. Go whale watching in deep seas
New Port beach offers a number of harbor cruises that take visitors to the whale watching tours. Most tours are about 90 minutes long. During the tour, the boat takes you to various probable locations where whales may appear. Generally, there is are more than one boats from the same operator who coordinate on the best location for whale watching. However, keep in mind that blue whales are not very highly probable. Most tours return with only a view of whales, which itself is pretty exciting. Depending on time, you may not include this for your first time in Los Angeles as it is a half-day activity in itself, but definitely worth the time.
If you have time to spend in the area, a visit to Balboa Island should be on your itinerary as well. This is a harbor-side community on an island off the mainland within Newport Beach jurisdiction. Paved Broadwalk and rich history and culture would mesmerize you easily in this island town.
For more information related to Newport Beach, refer to the official portal of Visit Newport Beach
So what are your top activities when you visit the beach area? Are you a beach bum or the one who heads to the seas? Do you choose your beaches in a particular way if you travel with kids? We would love to hear all your views and would love to engage!
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