First of all, it looks like 2 distinct places on the map. Is it? I've heard some people call it one and the same.

In any case, I had planned to go to Laguna Beach on Tuesday - the museum happens ot be free that day too. Anyway, my hubby and I have the day free tomorrow too (at least til about 4ish) so we wanted to go somewhere near anaheim for lunch and do a small stroll. Is Newport Beach a good spot? If so, where do you recommend for lunch? I love seafood but a good spot with fun people watching and good food is also more than great.

Looking forward to what fodorites have to recommend.

Many thanksin advance!

Yes Newport Beach and Laguna Beach are two distinct places. Honestly, I have never heard anyone say they are the same. They are fairly close to each other but if you are driving south on PCH from Newport Beach you have Corona Del Mar, then you drive along the Crystal Cove area before coming to Laguna Beach.

If you are talking about having Sunday free, it's supposed to rain sometime during the day so that may change your plans for a stroll. Newport Beach would be a closer drive from Anaheim if you are pressed for time. Balboa Island is very cute with some shops but you can walk around there pretty quickly. If you go onto the Balboa Pennisula, you could have lunch at The Crab Cooker. Just a fun place to eat but not upscale (they serve on paper plates). www.crabcooker.com/

For walking around and having a beautiful view of the ocean, I think Laguna Beach is better. However you said you are going there Tues so have to decide if you want to go twice. There are some restaurants that sit right on the ocean. Las Brisas has one of the best views from their patio. Their food is just OK but it's a great place to sit and enjoy a drink. The Beach House in Laguna sits right on the water and has a Sunday Brunch.

Both places are fun but if the weather is a little iffy I would probably just go to Newport, eat at the Crab Cooker and save Laguna a nicer weather day.

I did a trip to both last Sunday. Great day to go as we hit no traffic in both directions coming from LA. If you have at least 6 hours, you have enough time to walk around Laguna and have lunch and then head over to Newport Beach and spend the rest of the afternoon there. Laguna was packed, but Newport was pretty quiet last Sunday. We did rent a bike at Newport.

>>if you are driving south on PCH from Newport Beach you have Corona Del Mar, then you drive along the Crystal Cove area before coming to Laguna Beach.<<

What happened to the Irvine Ranch area? When we lived down there 32 years ago, there was about 3-5 miles of undeveloped coasline between Corona Del Mar & Crystal Cove (I think Crystal Cove is in Laguna, not CDM - I'm relying on memory).

We liked to drive along the coast in Corona Del mar - nice houses to look at, and nice coastline. As I remember, you really can't see much water driving along PCH or down the peninsula in Newport. It's best to get out at McFadden's Wharf (20th st), and look around. It was a popular surfing spot, and there was a morning fish market next to the pier. There were a few 'rustic" but fun restaurants in the pier area. The Crab Cooker was near there.

Further south along the peninsula, you come to the Balboa Pier, where there was a large parking lot, a "Fun Zone", a few more restaurants & shops, and where you can catch the ferry to Balboa Island. As you continue to head south (on the peninsula), you dead end at the famous Wedge. It's the entrance to Newport Bay & a fun place to get out of the car & watch the boats. Across the entrance to the Bay, you can see Corona Del Mar.

The Laguna Beach Coast is quite different from Newport. There are a lot more private & hard-to-get-to coves that you can explore. We lived at Victoria Beach, which is at the southern end of Laguna beace - just as you get into South Laguna. Ozzie & Harriet plus Ricky, & the Tom Harmon family lived there. Nice beach, and good tidal pools at the north end of Victoria Beach.

Stu Dudley

thanks everyone, doing newport and balboa island sounds great. I'll have to do some research to figure out where to catch the ferry, etc. the crab cooker sounds super! they have a place called the barking crab in boston that the crab cooker reminds me of and i loved that place in boston.

paula, sorry I guess I;m generalizing. I've only heard it twice when I asked some locals (in anaheim) in asking for recommendations. ahould've gone straight to fodorites instead!

I'll grab the address of the crab cooker from the link you included so i can just get the gps to take me directly there and then walk around.

anymore info on balboa island you guys want to share? that was interesting to me...

many thanks!

Maria,

Where did you end up having dinner in Palm Springs on Friday night?

Hi MB, we went to Zin's and it was absolutely lovely food. My husband had the filet mignon and I had the most amazing venison with endives and fingerling potatoes in currant gravy. I almost melted with that first taste! The spa we ended up in was also a really good choice. Was so relaxed and refreshed after. It helped alot because the drive from LA to Palm Springs was expecially daunting.

The ferry to Balboa Island is very easy to catch from the Balboa Pier area - it's just opposite the pier on the bay side side of the peninsula. Just make sure you're at the Balboa Pier - not McFaddens/Newport pier where the Crab Cooker is located.

32 years ago, if the weather was nice on a Sunday, the Crab Cooker had a long waiting line to get in. They didn't take reservations then & I assume things have not changed.

Is the Cannery restaurant or Delaneys still there???

Stu Dudley

Hi Stu,

I didn't see it so no idea.

We went to the crab cooker and it was ok, I loved the "shack by the bay" feel but it was overpriced for what it was. We think the lady overcharged us too (charged us dinner prices instead of lunch prices and we didn't figure it out until later - after we got back to the hotel).

Still, had a cool time. we walked around balboa island with the cute shops and then took the ferry across to balboa beach/newport harbor. Had late lunch at crab cooker and went back to hotel. Not a very pretty day but it was a good recommendation.

Thanks everyone!