We made it back to the Pacific Coast, this time Newport Beach! The area is beautiful with many amazing homes to admire, and the people were so friendly. We chose this location as a jumping off point for Disneyland, Legoland, and the Channel Islands. We were there during the pandemic so Disney and Legoland hadn’t reopened yet. Fortunately, Newport Beach has a ton to offer! Our boys enjoyed some downtime on the Corona Del Mar beach, the chilly Pacific didn’t seem to bother them!
Duffy Boat
We’d never heard of a Duffy boat before but apparently it’s the thing to do in Newport Harbor. You rent your own and cruise around the harbor at your own pace viewing the beautiful homes and boats from the water. We rented through Newport Fun Tours, but there are many companies along the harbor. They give you a map with a route to take and away you go! You can pack a cooler of snacks and drinks to enjoy on your ride!
Crystal Cove State Park
We had our bikes on this trip, so we took them down to the state park to explore. The park has a beautiful more natural coastline, great for snorkeling and exploring tide pools. We only admired it from the trails, but it would be fun to come back and explore it more. If you find yourself hungry while in this area, don’t miss the Shake Shack! They serve yummy burgers and shakes that you can enjoy on their deck overlooking the ocean.
Balboa Island / Peninsula
You don’t want to miss Balboa Island and the peninsula on a trip to Newport Beach! The island is full of adorable shops and fun snacks like Dad’s Donuts. The island was definitely more for the parents (kids only have so much patience for shops). The kids preferred the Balboa Fun Zone on the peninsula. The ferris wheel has been there since 1936, with great views over the harbor. There’s also a small arcade and lots of snack and treat options.
Best time to visit:
This is one of those locations in California that basically has the same weather year round, so visit anytime!!
Where we stayed:
We loved our stay on Marguerite Ave, Unit C. We could walk to the beach at the end of the street and the surrounding area was so pretty! We found this property on Airbnb, but you can also book directly through their website. Jennifer was a very responsive host and the interior was so nice!
Other things to do:
You will be about 30min to Disneyland and one hour to Legoland!
Drive 25min up the coast to Huntington Beach to watch the surfers! Park and walk out on the pier.
Drive 2 hours north to Ventura Harbor to take an Island Packers ferry to the Channel Islands (you’ll need to book your tickets for this in advance)
