A Perfect Visit to Newport Beach, Curated by a Local

Beach it: The number one thing to do here is head to our numerous and gorgeous beaches. For the best surf on long stretches of white sand, head to 56th Street or the river jetties. Blackies (at 22nd) also is a great place to learn to surf and is flanked by tons of great restaurants and bars. For a quiet, picturesque beach, Little Corona in Corona del Mar is idyllic!

Rent a Duffy boat and cruise the bay: Grab a bottle of wine and charcuterie and put on your captain's hat. Many restaurants on the bay, such as Billy’s or Sol Cucina, have docks you can park your duffy at if you want to stop in for dinner or a drink. Plan during sunset for a truly magnificent experience.

Rent bikes and bike from Newport to Huntington Beach: It’s an easy path along the coast and fun to grab lunch at one of the numerous fun restaurants in Huntington, such as Bear Flag, Ola or Simmyz.

Take a walk, bike or rollerblade around the Back Bay Nature Preserve: It is one of the largest marshlands in Southern California and provides tons of opportunities to spy on wildlife. The Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve facility is state of the art and open to visitors and a great place to start your adventure.

Shop: Newport Beach has some of the best shopping anywhere. If you want to go big, head to Fashion Island (an outdoor and gorgeous shopping mall) or South Coast Plaza. Personally, I love The Camp in Costa Mesa, a green, eco-friendly retail campus with great little restaurants as well! Lido Marina Village is also amazing, with upscale shops and top restaurants on the water.

Take a drive down the coast to Laguna Beach: An art haven, Laguna Beach is a picturesque town just south of Newport Beach, about 15 minutes. It is filled with art galleries, small shops and great eateries…all along one of the most beautiful coastlines. If the timing works, head to the Pageant of the Masters or the Sawdust Festival, art events worth the time.

If you have kids or just really enjoy amusement parks, you need to plan a day at the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland. It is a short 25 minutes from Newport Beach in Anaheim. It truly is a happy place, and especially when you can return to the beach with a margarita in hand.

Visit Marina Park: Pick up a picnic and rent paddleboards for an afternoon. There’s calm waters, sandy beaches, play structures for kids and a restaurant onsite. And if you get tired there, Ocean Beach is just across the street.

Balboa Island: Walk down Marine Avenue, filled with boutique shops and yummy food options. Then park it on one of the sandy spots overlooking the beautiful bay with its many boats passing by. Finish the day with a ferry boat ride across the bay to the “Fun Zone” on the peninsula. Take a ride on the ferris wheel to absorb the beauty of Newport from the skyline.

Watch or participate in the Annual Boat Parade: It’s only four nights per year in mid-December, but it is truly amazing! Boats and yachts of all sizes deck themselves out with Christmas lights, music and characters and cruise the harbor. Walk around and enjoy lit-up, decorated Balboa Island for a true Newport Beach holiday experience!

Bear Flag Fish Company: Casual spot for after a day at the beach. It's the best poke around and also has great fish tacos.

A Restaurant and Market: For a really nice dinner out or a pre-dinner drink at a great bar, make a reservation at A Restaurant on PCH. For a more casual meal, try out A Market next door for lunch or to grab a picnic on the way to the beach.

Zinque Newport: Located in Lido Marina Village, Zinque offers really tasty French fusion in an aesthetically adorable space. Grab a table outside and watch the boats go by.

Arc: This is my go-to for date night or dinner with girlfriends. It’s tiny, so make a reservation and sit on the porch with the little twinkly lights above. The chopped salad, meatballs and a glass of wine hits the spot every time.

Wild Taco: There is no shortage of places in Newport to get tacos. It also happens to be my favorite. Wild Taco is down by the beach and is super cute and welcoming. It is extremely casual and has great food. Perfect place for a cold beer and taco after a day of sun.

Banderas: In Corona del Mar, you can not go wrong with a meal at Banderas. It’s super cozy inside and has the best comfort food ever! Grab a glass of wine by the fireplace pre-dinner.

Ho Sum Bistro: The atmosphere isn’t the most outstanding in this small divey California-Asian cuisine spot, but the food has been a go-to for me since I was in high school. The Ho Sum salad, postickers, dumplings and Cal-O-Mein are all yum!!! It makes a great take-out.