Newport Beach Area-- what to do?
 

My daughter relocated to Newport Beach in July. My husband & I will be going out to see her in late October. Since she's on a new job, she won't be taking time off, so we'll be on our own most of the time. She has some ideas, but hasn't been there long enough to really know the area. One of the places we're intending to go is San Diego, but what else can anyone suggest? We like scenic coastline, museums, historic places, nice restaurants... Sorry if this is a repeat for some...I wanted to post it on the "California" website and clicked before I selected "California".

Newport Beach is a lovely town with a high-end sheen to its offerings. Start here:

http://www.newportbeach.worldweb.com/

Among things to see and do in the city itself:

-- Balboa Island (fun collection of little shops, eateries, etc.)
-- Corona del Mar (strolling neighborhood)
-- Fashion Island (trendy, classy mall)
-- The coastline

Heading down to Laguna Beach on Coast Highway, you'll see even more gorgeous coastline, and there you'll find shops, galleries, museums, great restaurants, etc. Continue on to San Juan Capistrano to see the historic Mission. San Clemente is a sweet coastal town with some great art galleries.

LA County's attractions are well-documented on this website. But you'll have plenty to do in Newport Beach and the surrounding communities.

rjw-Great list of things to do around Newport. Just wanted to let you know that my DD who lives in Newport and her boyfriend who lives in Huntington Beach went to the Long Beach Aquarium last week. She had never been and I think he went when he was very young. They both enjoyed it a lot and also ate lunch somewhere on Pine Street (don't remember the place). I know they would recommend it.

I wasn't going to mention Long Beach attractions-- too much "hometown boosterism" on my part already! But it's always nice to hear about people enjoying the Aquarium of the Pacific, a fairly new and narrowly-focused facility. Monterey and Scripps are broader, older and better, but the AotP is well worth the time when you're in the area.

Don't forget the Queen Mary, which is dry-docked not too far from the Aquarium. Very historic and nicely-preserved and presented.

Thanks for posting the correct name of the aquarium-I had forgotten the actual name. I don't think you promote Long Beach that much as you are usually giving good advice about LA, Santa Monica, etc. But I did want you to know they enjoyed it and now I guess I will have to go!!

We were there this past January. My husband had a conference which had welcomed wives on the trip. The wives gathered together as a group and chose various activities to do. On one particular day most of us spent the day at Getty Museum (take the tour of the grounds esp. - it is what you hear in the tour that you would not get otherwise). Everyone who went enjoyed it. One of the oldest and popular missions is heading south - San Juan Capristrano and Dana Point Harbor which is nearby just prior to the mission. I agree with the second post Balboa Island (we walked, a little shopping and did the cruise around the Islands which we got to see Nicholas Cage sitting outside on his lawn - now how cool is that!), Corona del Mar, the coastline and Fashion Island (which has a couple of good restaurants - Flemings, Roy's of Hawaii and El Torrito. El Torrito I thought had the best Mexican food. We are from the NE and we don't have good Mexican food here.) Other things might be the huge outlet mall (if you want to shop), Laguna Beach is magnificant (lots of art galleries) and then go have a cocktail at Las Brasis to see the sunset. This was the first place where I have ever seen organic liquor listed. We ran out of time to do San Diego. What we were told was to do old town SD. Where are you coming from? Newport Beach is an expensive little community or should I say the area more so than other parts of Calif. Call the Chamber of Commerce/Vistor's/Tourism Center and request some material and ask for local maps. We did the library first for tour books before I decided to buy any books. There is an area (one of the southern points of LA) where the whales come through spring and fall I think - where you can see them migrate - it was mentioned in the Fodor's book. Our map was invaluable. I hope this helps.

CherB: Sounds like you hit some great spots on your trip. The Getty Center in west LA is quite something, isn't it? The original Getty facility has reopened as the Getty Villa-- also worth a trip.

I had to chuckle about El Torito a bit. I'm glad you liked it, but it's far from the best Mexican in southern California (probably not even the best in super-gringo Newport Beach). Next time you come to this area, post a request, and we'll get you a list of great Mexican joints. So great you'll say "El Whatzit?!" afterward.

Las Brisas in Laguna is not one of those great Mexican joints, but the views are truly spectacular. Go there for drinks and appetizers-- those are pretty good.

As far as whale watching, you can catch boats out of San Pedro and Long Beach in LA County to see the big beasts up-close "in season". I have a view of the ocean from my office and see pods of porpoises swimming in Santa Monica Bay all the time (literally daily when I have the time to just look out the window). It's quite wonderful, actually. I think the whale expeditions also sail out of Newport Beach somewhere, but I'm not 100% sure.

R,

Did you know that Las Brisas is owned by El Torito? Still, a great place for drinks and the views are great!

You know, Dayle, I *did* know that, but had forgotten about it. It figures...!

But love those views.

Of course, there are some incredible views from the bar and dining areas at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel (Dana Point). And the food's good there too!