NEWPORT BEACH: A STUNNING WAY TO ENJOY CALIFORNIA
Newport Beach is one of the top beaches to visit in Southern California. Popular shopping centers, such as Fashion Island (15 minutes away) and South Coast Plaza (20 minutes away), are nearby. You could also find fancy restaurants and popular cafes in this area. Newport Beach stands out from other beaches because it reflects the Californian lifestyle. You will see people riding bikes on the trail and beautiful beach houses with direct access to the beach. You can rent out one of these beautiful houses to make your vacation more special and memorable.
BEACH TRAIL, PLAYGROUND, AND BASKETBALL COURT
Newport Beach has a gorgeous beach trail right next to the main beach and the beautiful beach houses. It is ideal for riding bicycles or walking with a stroller because it has flat ground with a well-maintained road. The length is just right for a morning workout, and you will spend about 30-45 minutes walking one way from end to end (depending on how fast you walk). A big basketball court and a small playground are next to the trail. You can always access the beach from the trail and enjoy the sand and water whenever you want.
POPULAR SHOPPING CENTERS
The closest shopping center is Lido Marina Village. It is a small, unique shopping center with boutique stores and restaurants such as Warby Parker, AESOP, Lido Village Books, Malibu Farm, and Nobu. In a short drivable distance, there is a big shopping center called Fashion Island. You can find popular fashion brands and franchise restaurants there, such as Nordstrom, Apple, Starbucks, Whole Foods Market, True Food Kitchen, and R+D. About a 16-minute drive from the beach, South Coast Plaza is a big shopping center for top fashion brands. If you need to shop for luxury brands such as CHANEL, Gucci, Cartier, or Louis Vuitton, this is a great place to be. There is also a farmers market near Newport Beach Pier every Sunday, and that area gets crowded. They have many interesting stores, and it will be fun for families to check out the farmer’s market.
FOOD AND DESSERT TO ENJOY
Near Lido Marina Village is a famous local bakery and popular coffee shop called Rye Goods and Blue Bottle Coffee. I recommend trying their latte with almond milk (they use premium almond milk called GoodMylk, which is so good) from this Blue Bottle Coffee Shop. They don’t have plenty of space to sit in, so it is best to take out and walk around the shopping center and enjoy your coffee. Nobu, a famous sushi restaurant, is also located in Lido Village (I recommend making online reservations). Fashion Island has a gelato store called Bacio di Latte that you must try. It is one of the top gelato stores in the U.S. There is Ding Tai Fung, a famous dim sum restaurant from Taiwan, in South Coast Plaza (I recommend making online reservations). One of the coffee shops you must try near Sout Coast Plaza is Philz Coffee. I recommend trying their Mint Mojito, a refreshing, unique iced coffee that other stores don’t have. There is also a donut shop nearby called Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee that you must try; they are well-known for donuts made with high-quality ingredients. I recommend trying out their Basil Egg Benedict, Choc-A-Lot, and Huckleberry donuts. The world-famous ice cream shop Salt & Straw is available in Newport Beach if you want creamy, delicious ice cream (this is also my favorite ice cream brand). Lastly, a well-recognized cupcake shop, Sprinkles Cupcakes (originated in Los Angeles), is located 15 mins from the beach. Their red velvet cupcake is the best one I ever had!
KID-FRIENDLINESS AND SAFETY
Compared to the other beaches in Orange County, I give about 3.5 out of 5 (my opinion as a local Orange County resident) regarding how kid-friendly and safe the area is. The beach and the trail are perfect for kids and families. The trail is well-maintained and suitable for strollers. But many people ride bicycles on the trail, so you must watch your children for safety. It is a big city with many cars and sometimes road traffic. There are many bars in certain areas, and some areas are not family-friendly at night.
PARKING
There are streets right next to the beach trail that you can park for free except for certain days of the week. The street signs will tell you which days you can park there. You can also park in the parking areas near the beach and pay by hour. There are always plenty of places to park for free during weekdays, yet it is hard to find free spaces during weekends.
In conclusion, Newport Beach is the most popular beach in Orange County because it is gorgeous and conveniently located near Irvine, with great stores and popular shopping centers nearby. It is a great place to rent out a beach house and have direct access to the stunning beach trail to enjoy nature directly from where you stay. If you are interested in fashion, shop from your favorite brands and try different foods afterward. You can choose from plenty of nearby places. How awesome does it sound?
