If you’re just for the weekend or lucky enough to stay for longer, there are a plethora of land based activities in Newport Beach. You just have to pick your pleasure!
Beaches
Newport Beach has one of the longest, widest, and whitest beaches in Southern California. There is always room for your beach chair and umbrella! Obviously, a visit to Newport isn’t complete without a visit to the beach, so grab your sunscreen and towel and hit any portion of the beautiful coastline. The beaches in Newport Beach proper stretch from the Wedge at the southeast end of Balboa Blvd to Olive Street on Seashore Drive which borders Huntington Beach and the Santa Ana river. Typically the spots closest to the Balboa and Newport Piers are the most crowded. The further away you are from the piers the more space you will have.
Tip: Public Restrooms are scarce in Newport Beach. So if you are not staying in a place within walking distance of the beach, you may want to park your beach towel near one of the public restrooms. They are located at Balboa Pier, Newport Pier, Fun Zone and the following locations:
- Seashore and Orange – one block from the beach
- Seashore and 58th Street – one block from the beach
- 46th/River and Balboa – this restroom is on the bay side, not the main beach side
- 37th and Balboa – two blocks from the beach
- 17th and Balboa – two blocks from the beach
- 15th and the beach – actually on the beach
Active Pursuits on the Boardwalk
If you tire of sunbathing you might want to consider renting beach cruisers and riding along the boardwalk or going on a Segway tour. If you’ve never tried one, a surrey rental is a great option for the family or you might enjoy renting a tandem bike.
Shopping
If you love shopping, then Newport Beach will keep you busy! Your best option is to hit Fashion Island. With views of the ocean, great restaurants, boutique shops, your favorite departments stores, as well as, your favorite chain stores, you will find something for everyone. Fashion Island is an open air venue, so you can enjoy the wonderful Newport Beach weather as you shop. With fountains, a koi pond, and al fresco dining, this is a must stop spot for anyone who loves shopping.
While not actually in Newport Beach, South Coast Plaza is another shopping hot spot. South Coast Plaza has 250 shops and 30 restaurants. This is a great spot to give yourself a break from the sun for the day and enjoy some world class shopping!
There, of course, are fun shops near the Newport Pier, Balboa Pier, and Balboa Island where you can find everything from sand castle building tools to tourist mementos to elegant clothing. Keep your eyes open and I’m sure you will find what you are looking for.
Golf
The mild weather in Newport Beach makes golfing possible nearly every day of the year.
Newport Beach Golf Course – Public
Hyatt Newport Beach Back Bay Golf Course – Public
Pelican Hill Golf Course – Public – Rated #1 Golf Course in the World by Conde Naste Traveler Magazine
Big Canyon Country Club – Private
Newport Beach Country Club – Private
Hiking/Walking
There are plenty of urban trails around Newport Beach. One of the most popular is the 10.5-mile Back Bay Loop Trail. In addition to Back Bay there is hiking in Crystal Cove that has 17 miles of trails through 2,400 acres of backcountry and wilderness areas in Crystal Cove State Park.
There is also walking/hiking at the following areas:
Mountains to the Sea Trail Head
Shellmaker Rd, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Castaways Park
700 Dover Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Buck Gully Reserve
San Joaquin Hills Rd, Newport Coast, CA 92657