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I live in San Diego and have for over 15 years now… but I was born and raised in Newport Beach. I’ve known for a long time how lucky I was to get to see this beautiful place each and every day when I was younger, but it took me moving away to really appreciate it. If you haven’t been to Newport Beach, I have 5 reasons you will love visiting Newport Beach!
1. Most people immediately think of the beach, but I think of the the food first.
It’s some of the best around! My personal favorite is Italian food, because there are so many amazing restaurants for pasta… but Mexican food is abundant too. I joke (in a serious way) that the reason I go back home so often is to have some good food. Those that really know me know that it’s true! See more of the amazing dining options in Newport Beach.
2. You will love Balboa Island.
It’s right off Pacific Coast Highway and a little bridge takes you onto the island. Growing up I would go for a walk on the island every night with my dog Buddy. We loved to watch the boats go by and while sitting on a bench. There are short public piers to walk on and your visit isn’t complete until you have a chocolate covered frozen banana. I always get mine with rainbow sprinkles (don’t judge) but you can get them with nuts or other toppings too! Dad’s makes some of the best frozen bananas, but they also have other treats… and it’s also where my uncles worked their first jobs!
3. You will fall in love with the beaches in Newport.
Oh my! The beaches are amazing in Newport Beach. They are perfect for playing in the sand, laying out and soaking up some rays with your family. If you have a surfer in your family… or just want to watch it head to the wedge. It’s at the end of the peninsula and is known for it’s world class swells.
(photo credit Visit Newport Beach)
4. Newport Beach has some of the best shopping around.
Fashion Island has everything from amazing restaurants to a movie theater. But I think most people will agree that they shopping is what they are famous for. I’ve been going to Fashion Island since I can remember and now we go there to take my kids shopping for back to school clothes and to do our holiday shopping.
5. Don’t forget to have fun on a boat.
Whale watching, fishing and luxurious yacht rides await you. The girls love to go Whale Watching (as do I) and a sunset dinner cruise is what dreams are made of! You pretty much can’t go wrong with any form of sailing in Newport Beach.
When you plan a getaway, don’t you want to make it a place where all of your senses are invited to come along?
Where eyes can take in towering seaside cliffs overlooking pristine beaches. Ears can perk up to the sounds of a classic Southern California boardwalk. The nose is tempted by sweets from an old-time candy store. And taste buds satisfied with fresh seafood at an oceanfront eatery. In Newport Beach, even your sense of touch can be indulged, with a rejuvenating spa treatment at a luxury resort. This is enrichment at a deeper level. In a place where casual meets refined. Natural meets handcrafted. And each of your five senses meets lots of great reasons to come out and play. There’s a sense of something different. In Newport Beach. Enriching in every sense. We invite you to plan your unforgettable stay at VisitNewportBeach.com.
This looks like such a fun place to visit with my family. We love to eat, drink, shop and explore. Will definitely be putting this on our radar for a winter getaway from Chicago.
That sounds like a lovely place to visit. I will try to get there to check it out when I am in California in April.
We love Newport Beach. We went there years few years ago and fell in love with it. You all look like you had a great time.
I would definitely like it for the beaches and the shopping. My boyfriend loves boating so we’d have to get out on the water at least once.
I would love to visit Newport Beach! Maybe my hubby and I can take a trip there sometime.
I have always wanted to live on the beach. I would love to be able to walk out and have my toes in the sand. Newport beach looks beautiful. I would love to visit there.
TO live out there must be a dream! hank you for sharing this- I will be adding to my bucket list now!
Going out on the boat sounds like a lot of fun. That isn’t something we can do all year where I live do to the cold.
I also always look for the food first, lol. It’s really fun to go to a different city or country and try out what the locals love eating, it’s the best!
I”d love to visit Newport Beach. The beach itself looks beautiful, and the atmosphere seems really great.
I love Newport Beach! I spent a lot of time there as a kid.
I want to go back to California so much! maybe one of these days I can convince my hubby we need to take a trip out there and visit Newport Beach. The food sounds amazing!
I have to agree that food is one of our first thoughts when we travel any were! This is a great list of things to visit in Newport!
I have always wanted to visit Newport Beach. It looks like such an amazing place to visit.
What a fun place to visit with my family. I really love the view and it looks relaxing
I’d love to visit. I have heard it is a great trip. And the shopping? Oh yes, count me in please.
I haven’t been to Newport Beach, but you really convinced me to plan a trip there. I love the beach too, and I haven’t been near one in ages! 🙁 Work has gotten me so preoccupied that I missed having real vacations.
I’ve got to add Newport to my list of places to visit. There are so many places to explore there.
Wow, I have to definitely visit. So many great things to do!
Looks and sounds pretty awesome. I have always heard great things about Newport and would love to visit one day!
I’d love to take a boat ride! I will admit though, new food dishes are always the best part of vacationing to me. Considering I live in FL, visiting Newport Beach would be a vacation.
That looks like a great place to visit! I would love to go there some day.
I’m an Easterner living in So Calif now and I have to say that Newport Beach is one of my fave day trips. There’s nothing like biking along the beach on a warm November day and then stopping at a restaurant for some good food to relax afterward.
I would love to live in San Diego! I think Balboa sounds like a great place to visit.
I would be all over the shopping there! Then I’d be checking out some restaurants… sounds perfect.
Such a relaxing and peaceful place to visit with the whole family. This is really worth to visit.
I would love to go one day! Looks like a beautiful spot to take the family.
I could totally use some sunshine right about now, with these cold winter temperatures coming. The beach sounds like a great getaway.
Ugh living in NY and having the weather colder lately, this is making me SO jealous! I’ve always wanted to live in Cali and I hope one day this gets to be my view every morning : ) SoCal is GORGEOUS!
xo Adriana
This is definitely on my list of places to visit. I’m going to have to make it happen in 2016
Hi! It looks really beautiful. I love Italian food, too, so, I’d love to visit it some day. Best regards from Barcelona, Spain,
Marta