Robin’s guidebook on Newport Coast and surrounding area
Sightseeing
The most beautiful place in the world to have a picnic and take a stroll.
74 locals recommend
Heisler Park
375 Cliff DrThe most beautiful place in the world to have a picnic and take a stroll.
A great boardwalk to take a stroll. You will find more tourists than locals here, but it is a must see. Marriott's shuttle drops you off just North of the beach.
25 locals recommend
Main Beach
A great boardwalk to take a stroll. You will find more tourists than locals here, but it is a must see. Marriott's shuttle drops you off just North of the beach.
Great place to take the kids. Make sure to drive your car across the ferry to get there!
114 locals recommend
Balboa Fun Zone
600 E Bay AveGreat place to take the kids. Make sure to drive your car across the ferry to get there!
Lido Marina Village Great place for shopping & fine dining or taking a Duffy ride.
9 locals recommend
Lido Isle
Lido Marina Village Great place for shopping & fine dining or taking a Duffy ride.
A local tradition....Take a Duffy out at sunset for a cocktail and appetizers. Make sure you designate a 'sober driver' so you can enjoy the ride! Boats are as easy to drive as a golf cart and they have a top speed of 5pm.
43 locals recommend
Duffy Electric Boat Company Sales and Rentals Newport Beach
2001 West Coast HwyA local tradition....Take a Duffy out at sunset for a cocktail and appetizers. Make sure you designate a 'sober driver' so you can enjoy the ride! Boats are as easy to drive as a golf cart and they have a top speed of 5pm.
Only 20 min drive from Newport Coast Villas! You can enjoy a day at the parks knowing you are only minutes away from the comfort of your ocean view villa!
22 locals recommend
Disneyland Resort
Only 20 min drive from Newport Coast Villas! You can enjoy a day at the parks knowing you are only minutes away from the comfort of your ocean view villa!
Mission San Juan Capistrano
26801 Ortega HwyBeaches
A great place to bodysurf and catch the sunset. Park above on Ocean Blvd @ Orchid Ave and walk down the hill through Inspiration Point (quite a steep hill to walk back up, so if that is a challenge just park in the Paid parking area for CDM State Beach).
21 locals recommend
Corona Del Mar State Beach Park
A great place to bodysurf and catch the sunset. Park above on Ocean Blvd @ Orchid Ave and walk down the hill through Inspiration Point (quite a steep hill to walk back up, so if that is a challenge just park in the Paid parking area for CDM State Beach).
Diver's Cove, Laguna Beach, California, USA.
Yes, you can see diver's here!
Betty Davis's house still stands at the top of the steps that lead down to the beach.
10 locals recommend
Woods Cove-Beach
Betty Davis's house still stands at the top of the steps that lead down to the beach.
Brooks Street Beach
100 Brooks StreetBest place to watch the locals surf.
Because of the potential for 30-feet waves, you may see more bodyboarding or bodysurfing in action here than surfing. In fact, because The Wedge surfing has the potential for such large waves, you may find some of the most skilled bodysurfers in all of Newport Beach at the Wedge. But you have more than the rolling sets to worry about if you get into the water. The backwash is often so strong that it creates new waves that can crash into oncoming boarders and bodysurfers.
Make sure you bring your camera to this hot spot to catch a video of the impressive sets. If you want to see how the surf is before heading down to the end of the peninsula, check the Wedge cam (Surfline.com) to see if the big waves are rolling in. The best times of year to catch higher surf at The Wedge Newport Beach are during the summer and the fall seasons.
If you come between May 1 and Oct. 31, you will notice the raised Blackball flag, outlawing the use of any type of board at the Wedge between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Body surfing only, no bodyboards, surfboards, or skimboards).
106 locals recommend
The Wedge
E OceanfrontBecause of the potential for 30-feet waves, you may see more bodyboarding or bodysurfing in action here than surfing. In fact, because The Wedge surfing has the potential for such large waves, you may find some of the most skilled bodysurfers in all of Newport Beach at the Wedge. But you have more than the rolling sets to worry about if you get into the water. The backwash is often so strong that it creates new waves that can crash into oncoming boarders and bodysurfers.
Make sure you bring your camera to this hot spot to catch a video of the impressive sets. If you want to see how the surf is before heading down to the end of the peninsula, check the Wedge cam (Surfline.com) to see if the big waves are rolling in. The best times of year to catch higher surf at The Wedge Newport Beach are during the summer and the fall seasons.
If you come between May 1 and Oct. 31, you will notice the raised Blackball flag, outlawing the use of any type of board at the Wedge between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Body surfing only, no bodyboards, surfboards, or skimboards).
Crystal Cove State Beach
Crystal Cove TrailTidepools
Food scene
Great spot for a quick lunch. Try their famous "Date Shake".
32 locals recommend
Crystal Cove Shake Shack
7703 East Coast HwyGreat spot for a quick lunch. Try their famous "Date Shake".
Great spot for breakfast. Take the free Marriott shuttle from the property or walk! (Takes about 25 mins...1.5 miles "beach walk"- go through Crystal Cove State Park entrance and walk down to the beach.
80 locals recommend
Beachcomber Cafe
15 Crystal CoveGreat spot for breakfast. Take the free Marriott shuttle from the property or walk! (Takes about 25 mins...1.5 miles "beach walk"- go through Crystal Cove State Park entrance and walk down to the beach.
Harvest Restaurant
31106 Coast HwyGreat farm to table restaurant.
Live Music
A great Dive Bar to listen to live music and hang with the locals of Laguna Beach.
15 locals recommend
Sandpiper
1183 S Coast HwyA great Dive Bar to listen to live music and hang with the locals of Laguna Beach.
Local Culture
Sawdust Art Festival
935 Laguna Canyon RdOriginal Laguna Beach Summer Art Festival
Amazing show for fine art and home of the world famous Pageant of the Masters. They also have outdoor concerts (live music) during the summer.
113 locals recommend
Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters
650 Laguna Canyon RdAmazing show for fine art and home of the world famous Pageant of the Masters. They also have outdoor concerts (live music) during the summer.
Check out current exhibit: June 27 – September 19, 2021
Matthew Rolston, Art People: The Pageant Portraits
Art People: The Pageant Portraits is an exhibition of Rolston’s larger-than-life, strangely haunting photographs of participants in Laguna Beach’s Pageant of the Masters, known for its elaborate tableau vivant presentations. The exhibition connects two of the most beloved cultural institutions of Laguna Beach, a city founded as an arts colony in the early 20th century, while celebrating the broader history of art and photography that defines the cultural heritage of California.
43 locals recommend
Laguna Art Museum
307 Cliff DrCheck out current exhibit: June 27 – September 19, 2021
Matthew Rolston, Art People: The Pageant Portraits
Art People: The Pageant Portraits is an exhibition of Rolston’s larger-than-life, strangely haunting photographs of participants in Laguna Beach’s Pageant of the Masters, known for its elaborate tableau vivant presentations. The exhibition connects two of the most beloved cultural institutions of Laguna Beach, a city founded as an arts colony in the early 20th century, while celebrating the broader history of art and photography that defines the cultural heritage of California.
Grocery Shopping
Great for stocking your villa with groceries: Trader Joes, The Butchery (great place for BBQ meats and fresh bread and cheese), Bear Flag Fish Co. (This is a restaurant BUT also Fish market with Fresh catch daily. Try the fresh made poke with tortilla chips to take back to the pool for lunch).
9 locals recommend
Crystal Cove Shopping Center
7845 - 8085 East Coast HwyGreat for stocking your villa with groceries: Trader Joes, The Butchery (great place for BBQ meats and fresh bread and cheese), Bear Flag Fish Co. (This is a restaurant BUT also Fish market with Fresh catch daily. Try the fresh made poke with tortilla chips to take back to the pool for lunch).
Cities/towns nearby
A mediterranean village in Southern California. It started as an artist colony and is home to Sawdust Festival and Festival of the Arts. There is a shuttle from Newport Coast Villas that will take you to downtown (Main Beach) where you can enjoy a drink or bite to eat at the historic Las Brisas Restaurant that has a picturesque view of the town. The shuttle also drops you off just outside the Laguna Beach Art Museum and Heisler Park.
845 locals recommend
Laguna Beach
A mediterranean village in Southern California. It started as an artist colony and is home to Sawdust Festival and Festival of the Arts. There is a shuttle from Newport Coast Villas that will take you to downtown (Main Beach) where you can enjoy a drink or bite to eat at the historic Las Brisas Restaurant that has a picturesque view of the town. The shuttle also drops you off just outside the Laguna Beach Art Museum and Heisler Park.