Looking to visit Newport beach in California? and worried about things to do in Newport Beach.
Well, I’ve got an awesome itinerary for you!
Today, I’ll list out all of the awesome places that you can visit while you’re there so that you can get the best out of your vacation. And we’ve got a list of places that no one else has got.
Let’s go on this adventure together, shall we?
List of Things to Do In Newport Beach, California!
1. Balboa Peninsula
Let’s know more about Balboa Peninsula!
I feel that Balboa Peninsula, a neighborhood which gets its name from a Spanish explorer, Vasco Nunez de Balboa is one of the best places to visit.
This neighborhood has a lot of events and attractions. The three-mile stretch of land is bordered on one side by the harbor and on the other side by sandy beaches and the Pacific Ocean.
The Balboa Pavilion dates from 1906: it’s the peninsula’s most well-known landmark, the oldest standing building, and a marine recreational facility.
Other attractions include the Balboa Fun Zone, the Balboa Pier and Newport Pier, and the Dory Fishing Fleet. The Balboa Peninsula is of the top Newport Beach CA attractions. There are many bars and restaurants with great nightlife.
Best things to do in Newport Beach with kids include the charming Balboa Village, the Balboa Fun Zone and the Environmental Nature Center.
2. Corona Del Mar State Beach
Corona del Mar State Beach is a state park and beach that is operated by the city of Newport Beach. Spanish for the Crown of the Sea, Corona del Mar was established as a state park in 1947 and is sometimes referred to as Big Corona Beach.
Covering 30 acres, it is a half-mile long protected sandy beach and is popular with families and swimmers. There are cliffs above the beach and a rock jetty that is the entrance to Newport Harbor. Other activities include scuba diving, sunbathing, surfing, and beach volleyball.
Corona Del Mar State Beach is one of the best things to do in Newport Beach, California. Scenes from several movies and television shows were filmed on this beach.
3. Newport Pier
The Newport Pier is a 1,032 feet (314.6 meters) long municipal pier located on McFadden Place at the center of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach.
Completed in 1888, it was originally called McFadden Wharf named after local landowners, James and Robert McFadden. It was used for shipping but when it was sold in 1902, the new owner began to change the area for recreational and residential purposes.
The old pier was destroyed by a hurricane in 1939 and the new and current pier was built in 1940 on the same site. If you are wondering what to do in Newport Beach with kids, this is a great place to visit.
Today, it is a popular place for dining, fishing, and walking. Founded in 1891, the Dory Fishing Fleet is located at the base of the pier.
4. Orange County Museum of Art
The Orange County Museum of Art focuses on the art of California from the early 20th century to the present and is one of the top Newport Beach attractions. The collection contains more than 3,000 objects including paintings, photography, and sculptures.
The museum also features new art media including digital, installation, and video art. The Orange County Museum of Art is one of the best things to do in Newport Beach, California for art lovers.
Exhibitions of contemporary art are regularly mounted at the museum and it hosts many events including lectures and activities for children.
The museum is well-known for its educational outreach programs including a film series called Cinema Orange, Free Second Sundays, School Tours for children, Studio Sundays, Third Thursdays lectures, and more.
5. Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
Known by locals as “The Back Bay,” Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve is a large coastal wetland or estuary. Consisting of approximately 1,000 acres, it is one of the largest coastal wetland areas in southern California.
The preserve is a popular place for bird watching because it is an important stopover for some 35,000 birds that are traveling on the Pacific Flyway, the major north-south migration path that extends from Alaska to Patagonia.
In addition to bird watching, other popular activities include biking, hiking, and horseback riding. The park also features the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center which is a great place to visit with kids.
6. Newport Beach
Newport Beach is a five-mile-long municipal beach located on Balboa Boulevard at Oceanfront & 21st Street and is owned by the city of Newport Beach. It lies on both sides of the Newport Beach Pier and it extends from the Balboa Pier Beach on the south as far north as West Newport Park.
The beach consists of fine soft sand which makes it a popular place for sunbathers. Water activities include boating, fishing, surfing, and swimming; non-water activities include biking, skating, volleyball, and walking. There is a paved trail called the Newport-Balboa Bike Trail that runs behind the beach for several miles.
7. Balboa Island
Balboa Island is a manmade island that is located between the Balboa Peninsula and the mainland of Newport Beach. The island started as a mudflat surrounded by swamps.
Dredging of the bay began in the early 1900s and the sand and silt that was brought up from the floor of the bay were deposited at a place that would eventually become Balboa Island.
If you are wondering what to see in Newport Beach, Balboa Island is a great place to visit. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge on the northeast and the Balboa Island Ferry runs between the island and the Balboa Peninsula which lies to the south.
Although the island is mostly residential, visitors enjoy walking along Marine Avenue and Agate Avenue, the main commercial streets.
8. Balboa Village
The Balboa Village is a historic amusement area on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. The village is made up of a bayside boardwalk called Bayfront Boardwalk and a second boardwalk called the Ocean Boardwalk on the other side of the peninsula.
The boardwalks are popular places to stroll and to take in the sights: they are lined with activities, restaurants, and shops. Nearby are the yachts of Newport Harbor and the Balboa Pier.
Shops include art galleries, boutiques, and specialty shops, while restaurants range from Italian to Japanese. There are ocean activities as well as amusement park rides.
9. Environmental Nature Center
The Environmental Nature Center is a group of 15 California native plant environments. Founded in 1972, the 3.5-acre center features walking trails, wildlife habitats, and plant ecosystems such as desert, freshwater marsh, oak woodland, redwood forest, and many more.
Nicknamed “The ENC,” the center is known for its strong focus on education. Some of the features and programs of the center include a butterfly habitat, summer nature camps, school programs, and a Nature Museum that gives children the opportunity to explore and touch things that come from nature. The center can be rented for meetings, parties, and weddings.
10. Balboa Fun Zone
The Balboa Fun Zone is a family destination located on East Bay Avenue on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. Built-in 1936 by Al Anderson, the attraction began with a small beach and a Ferris Wheel. The area was rebuilt in 1986 but went into decline until a new owner began reviving the Fun Zone in 1994.
Today the area includes Balboa Village with its beach, boardwalks, hotel, restaurants, and shops. Amusement rides include an 18-foot tall bungee ride called Ocean Motion, the Ferris Wheel, Fish Pipe, Burt the Bull Shark, and many others. Other attractions include the historic 1905 Balboa Pavilion, arcades, harbor cruises, and more.
In the end
Close your eyes and breathe!
Imagine this!
You are at Newport Beach.
Every time I stand before a beautiful beach, its waves seem to whisper to me: If you choose the simple things and find joy in nature’s simple treasures, life and living need not be so hard.
To go out with the setting sun on an empty beach is to truly embrace your solitude.
Remember, Life is better at the beach.
