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Newport Beach. Famed getaway. Postcard-perfect paradise with cool, coastal, cosmopolitan flair. Just about the perfect community. Sophisticated. Laid back. Creative. The Hamptons-of-West-Coast hip. Shopping (and dropping)Confessions of a shopaholic: Newport Beach is a world-class haven for one-of-a-kind, must-have-it-now shopping experiences (some featuring spectacular waterfront views). Hit Fashion Island for Mediterranean-style, open air grandeur, Corona del Mar Plaza and Crystal Cove Promenade for chic neighborhood boutiques, and Balboa Island’s famous Marine Avenue for small, quaint, village-like retail. Or throw in the towel, and visit the Lab Anti-Mall for street-wise anti-shops and eateries. Beach-Blanket BeautifulFrom the tide pools at Little Corona to the legendary surf at The Wedge, Newport Beach touts 15 miles of breathtaking, perfect sand-castle-building beaches. Most are open 6 AM to 10 PM; dogs permitted 5:01 PM to 8:59 AM. For more information, call 949-644-3047. Balboa PeninsulaBack Bays of Balboa Peninsula- Small sand lots, some free fishing piers. Balboa IslandBalboa Island Beaches- Narrow sandlots overlooking the Newport bay and historic Balboa Pavilion. Corona del Mar (part of Newport Beach)Bayside Drive County Beach- At Ocean Boulevard and Fernleaf Avenue. Free street parking. Facilities: Rest rooms. Newport Coast (part of Newport Beach)Crystal Cove State Park- On north side of Laguna Beach, at the end of Crescent Bay Drive. Free street parking. Facilities: Lifeguards and rest rooms. |
Mixing Business with Pleasure—Newport CenterSprawling over 600 acres in the heart of Newport Beach, Newport Center is known for its elegant buildings, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and grand, open-air shopping destination, Fashion Island. Also home to Newport Beach are 24 premiere office buildings, housing national corporate headquarters, financial conglomerates and medical service centers. Newport Harbor, Yachts AhoyNewport Harbor is one of the finest small boat harbors in the world, boasting scenic wonder and more than 9,000 vessels (of all sizes) berthed in its tranquil waters. Charter a private yacht or pilot a Duffy, small fishing dory, motor or sail boat, or paddle board. The annual Ensenada Race, the largest off-shore sailboat race on the west coast, is held the first week of May. Parks, Fields, Gyms, Community CentersNo shortage, here. Newport Beach offers 47 parks (27 of them public), which include 10 community centers, 30 playgrounds, 19 athletic fields, 18 tennis courts, 7 full basketball courts and 8 half-basketball courts. The City’s Parks & Recreation Department also offer a wide variety of classes and outdoor activities. For more information, visit www.recreation.city.newport-beach.ca.us. The Natural Choice: Back BayLocated on Newport Beach’s Shellmaker Island, next to the Newport Dunes, this 13,000 square foot, state-of-the-art ecological reserve provides year-round educational programs emphasizing estuarine and marine ecology, as well as natural resource conservation and stewardship throughout the watershed. Sprawling across 800-some acres, Back Bay is situated adjacent to Upper Newport Bay, the largest remaining natural estuary in southern California. The coastal wetland is home to nearly 200 species of birds and other natural wonders. Tee TimeKnown as the “crown jewel” of Southern California golf, Newport Beach is a mecca of public and private golf courses, some with jaw-dropping ocean views. Several of the area’s 18-hole courses are nationally recognized, including: The Resort at Pelican Hill, Ocean South Course ((3 miles from the center of Newport Beach, designed by Tom Fazio), public course For a complete listing, visit the Golf Channel’s Golf Link’s web page on Newport Beach at GolfLink.com. |
