It’s hard to believe that this jewel in Orange County’s crown was once an unusable, shabby stretch of coastline. This all changed when a railway started bringing visitors to the beach here in 1905.
This attractive location is a magnet for water-sports enthusiasts who come to surf and body board the excellent waves. For seasoned surfers, monstrous waves await at “The Wedge” at the eastern end of Balboa Peninsula. Inexperienced swimmers and surfers should exercise caution before heading into the surf near The Wedge as the waves can be unpredictable! Newport Harbour might be a better choice with its calmer waters. It’s dotted with sailing boats and kayaks and you can even hire a gondola and take a romantic guided harbour cruise. The waterway also boasts one of the largest recreational boat harbours on the US West Coast, covering around 54-square-kilometres. Around 9,000 boats are moored-up here all year round.
The five-kilometre stretch of boardwalk is an iconic landmark, where you’ll spy some seriously luxurious residences, some even belonging to celebrities. During the high season, the boardwalk is packed with hoards of skateboarders, rollerbladers and cyclists. If you’re planning a leisurely stroll, you’ll need to keep your wits about you!
Most of the activities are concentrated around the waterfront. In contrast, venture eight kilometres inland to Fashion Island to see where the wealthy locals love to shop. This huge 130,000 square-metre shopping haven has around 200 shops, including the renowned Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s department stores. The perfectly manicured, landscaped area also boasts a large koi pond, 40 restaurants and a cinema complex.
The Balboa Fun Zone located on the Balboa Peninsula is one of Southern California’s oldest seaside amusement parks. It’s the place to come for some good old-fashioned fairground fun. Clamber on board an old-fashioned Ferris wheel for a birds-eye view over Newport Beach, have some crashing good fun on the bumper cars or take a spin on a traditional merry-go-round.
Newport Beach is located 16 kilometres south of downtown Santa Ana.
