Newport Beach

The Balboa Peninsula is a neighborhood in Newport Beach named after the famous Spanish explorer, Vasco Nunez de Balboa. Sometimes referred to as “the Peninsula” or as “Balboa,” it is a residential neighborhood with many attractions and events. The three mile stretch of land is bordered on one side by the harbor and on the other side by sandy beaches and the Pacific Ocean.

The Balboa Pavilion dates from 1906: it’s the peninsula’s most well-known landmark, the oldest standing building, and a marine recreational facility.

Other attractions include the Balboa Fun Zone, the Balboa Pier and Newport Pier, and the Dory Fishing Fleet. The Balboa Peninsula is of the top Newport Beach CA attractions. There are many bars and restaurants with great nightlife.

Corona Del Mar State Beach is a state park and beach that is operated by the city of Newport Beach.

Spanish for the Crown of the Sea, Corona del Mar was established as a state park in 1947 and is sometimes referred to as Big Corona Beach.

Covering 30 acres, it is a half-mile long protected sandy beach and is popular with families and swimmers. There are cliffs above the beach and a rock jetty that is the entrance to Newport Harbor.

Other activities include scuba diving, sunbathing, surfing, and beach volleyball. Corona Del Mar State Beach is one of the best things to do in Newport Beach, California. Scenes from several movies and television shows were filmed on this beach.

The Newport Pier is a 1,032 feet (314.6 meter) long municipal pier located on McFadden Place at the center of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. Completed in 1888, it was originally called McFadden Wharf named after local landowners, James and Robert McFadden.

It was used for shipping but when it was sold in 1902, the new owner began to change the area for recreational and residential purposes. The old pier was destroyed by a hurricane in 1939 and the new and current pier was built in 1940 on the same site.

If you are wondering what to do in Newport Beach with kids, this is a great place to visit. Today, it is a popular place for dining, fishing, and walking. Founded in 1891, the Dory Fishing Fleet is located at the base of the pier.

Breathe in the fresh coastal air as you admire some amazing and unique artwork in this “museum without walls”. Civic Center Park, designed by esteemed landscape architectural firm Peter Walker and Partners, stands on almost 500,000 square feet of land.

With a lot of things to see and do within the park, the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park scores high on the list. Arranged by the Newport Beach City Council, every piece of art is carefully selected based on its artistic merit, practicality, durability, and site responsiveness.

They are then loaned and displayed for the public to freely view for two years. The current exhibition was launched earlier in 2021 and will be on loan until the summer of 2023.

Each artwork speaks differently in style and expression, from colorful dreamy displays to strong and abstract figures, and creative thought-provoking installations. If you’re visiting with kids on your day trip, be sure to check out the Migration of My Dreams by Marisabel Bazan which brings colorful giant butterflies to life.

100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660, Phone: 949-644-3309

Known by locals as “The Back Bay,” Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve is a large coastal wetland or estuary. Consisting of approximately 1,000 acres, it is one of the largest coastal wetland areas in southern California.

The preserve is a popular place for bird watching because it is an important stopover for some 35,000 birds that are traveling on the Pacific Flyway, the major north-south migration path that extends from Alaska to Patagonia. In addition to bird watching, other popular activities include biking, hiking, and horseback riding. The park also features the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center which is a great place to visit with kids.

2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, California, Phone: 949-923-2290

Newport Beach is a five mile long municipal beach located on Balboa Boulevard at Oceanfront & 21st Street and is owned by the city of Newport Beach.

It lies on both sides of the Newport Beach Pier and it extends from the Balboa Pier Beach on the south as far north as West Newport Park.

The beach consists of fine soft sand which makes it a popular place for sunbathers.

Water activities include boating, fishing, surfing, and swimming; non-water activities include biking, skating, volleyball, and walking. There is a paved trail called the Newport-Balboa Bike Trail that runs behind the beach for several miles.

Balboa Island is a manmade island that is located between the Balboa Peninsula and the mainland of Newport Beach. The island started as a mudflat surrounded by swamps. Dredging of the bay began in the early 1900s and the sand and silt that was brought up from the floor of the bay was deposited at a place that would eventually become Balboa Island.

If you are wondering what to see in Newport Beach, Balboa Island is a great place to visit.

The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge on the northeast and the Balboa Island Ferry runs between the island and the Balboa Peninsula which lies to the south.

Although the island is mostly residential, visitors enjoy walking along Marine Avenue and Agate Avenue, the main commercial streets.

The Balboa Village is a historic amusement area on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. The village is made up of a bayside boardwalk called Bayfront Boardwalk and a second boardwalk called the Ocean Boardwalk on the other side of the peninsula.

The boardwalks are popular places to stroll and to take in the sights: they are lined with activities, restaurants, and shops. Nearby are the yachts of Newport Harbor and the Balboa Pier.

Shops include art galleries, boutiques, and specialty shops, while restaurants range from Italian to Japanese. There are ocean activities as well as amusement park rides.

600 East Bay Avenue, Newport Beach, California, Phone: 949-675-8915

The Environmental Nature Center is a group of 15 California native plant environments. Founded in 1972, the 3.5 acre center features walking trails, wildlife habitats, and plant ecosystems such as desert, fresh water march, oak woodland, redwood forest, and many more.

Nicknamed “The ENC,” the center is known for its strong focus on eduction. Some of the features and programs of the center include a butterfly habitat, summer nature camps, school programs, and a Nature Museum that gives children the opportunity to explore and touch things that come from nature. The center can be rented for meetings, parties, and weddings.

1601 East 16th Street, Newport Beach, California, Phone: 949-645-8489

The Balboa Fun Zone is a family destination located on East Bay Avenue on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. Built in 1936 by Al Anderson, the attraction began with a small beach and a Ferris Wheel. The area was rebuilt in 1986 but went into decline until a new owner began reviving the Fun Zone in 1994.

Today the area includes Balboa Village with its beach, boardwalks, hotel, restaurants and shops. Amusement rides include an 18 foot tall bungee ride called Ocean Motion, the Ferris Wheel, Fish Pipe, Burt the Bull Shark, and many others. Other attractions include the historic 1905 Balboa Pavilion, arcades, harbor cruises, and more.

600 East Bay Avenue, Newport Beach, California, Phone: 949-673-0408