jayne1973

Help me decide whether to go on this proposed trip in July:

My daughter is going to be in a wedding on a cruise ship near Newport Beach on July 8. We are invited to come along if we want to. It would probably be a short trip (maybe four nights.)

I'm looking for suggestions on some interesting things to do in the area. We like driving/walking on the coast, offbeat sites, non-mall shopping and non-chain restaurants. Not interested in sports. We would have a car.

Thanks in advance. California Fodorites are awesome.

Orlando_Vic

Here are a couple of restaurant recommendations, should you decide to go.

Lunch: The Crab Cooker <http://www.crabcooker.com/>, in Newport Beach. A local institution. Very moderately priced and hugely popular. No reservations taken. I advise against going here for dinner because of the long wait times.

Dinner: The Pleasant Pheasant <http://www.thepleasantpeasant.com/>. Still off the radar for most tourists, but a long-time favorite of mine. Be careful about the driving directions - it is tricky to find, even with a good map. Allow extra driving time.

rjw_lgb_ca

Newport Beach is a very ritzy oceanside community with lots to do and lots around it. Let's see:

-- The big shopping is at Fashion Island, an open-air mall in Newport Center (business park, home of Pacific Life and PIMCo). However, the Corona del Mar section of NB is your strolling area of little shops and Ladies Who Lunch eateries. Coast Highway runs through, so it's got lots of traffic. Oh, and Balboa Island is a fun place to walk and relax.

-- Laguna Beach is just down Coast Highway. For a once-in-a-lifetime thing to do, check out the Pageant of the Masters (tableaux vivants):

http://www.foapom.com/site/overview_pom.asp

And when I say "check out", I mean NOW. Good tickets sell out almost immediately.

Laguna itself is historically an artist's community, and downtown (around Main Beach) is full of great art galleries, little museums, and wonderful restaurants.

-- How about hitting the historic Misión San Juan Capistrano, another little jaunt down Coast Highway? And San Clemente's a little farther south and very charming as well.

There's a lot to do in the area (and I'm leaving out obvious touristy things like the Queen Mary up in my hometown, or fun diversions like Old Towne Orange, one of the best antique-shopping towns in the US). Any other specific interests?

jayne1973

Great information, Orlando Vic and rjw lgb ca -- sounds like we could find plenty to do in a few days.

Orlando, the Crab Cooker looks soooo good. Wow, those crab legs....mmmm. I love going to these local places. If you have any other suggestion, bring 'em on.

rjw, I still cannot imagine what the Pageant of the Masters is like, even after looking at the website. Do you think it's worth seeing if you don't have primo seats?

You've offered some great suggestions (we've done the Queen Mary.) We would also be interested in anything with a hippie or surfer vibe.

Orlando_Vic

Here is one more of my favorites.

If you like good Mexican food, my favorite is Avilas El Ranchito <http://www.avilaselranchito.net/> in nearby Costa Mesa. Please note that this is not part of a corporate chain of restaurants, but all are family-run and operated (38+ years). They have several restaurants, but the Costa Mesa one is the one I keep coming back to. I like it much better than the Newport Beach location and it's only a few miles away.

rjw_lgb_ca

For the surfer/hippie vibe, there's always Huntington Beach just up the coast.

The PotM is a unique celebration of the visual arts: Live re-creations of famous art works set to original, live music. It sounds dull and precious, but it's magical to experience. One year the theme was Cubism, and they managed a faithful execution of this (for those who don't want to click, it's Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon"):

http://www.moma.org/collection/brows...bject_id=79766

The better the seats, the better the view.

There is a stunning eatery in south Laguna: Studio, the main dining room at the Montage Resort & Spa. Expensive, but the food is incredible. Splashes at the Surf & Sand (also in Laguna) has great views and very good food as well.

jayne1973

This is looking better and better. Definitely great food options.
The Pageant does sound totally different. According to its website, the season opens the weekend we would be there. I assumee it will sell out fast.

Huntington Beach looks really interesting and like something we would enjoy. I noticed they have a big Independence Day parade.

I have always wanted to go to Catalina Island. Any comments/tips on doing that, i.e. how long to allow, what boat service to take, what not to miss?

Also, what are the closest airport options? I liked John Wayne when I was in the area three years ago. Is it the closest?

stumpworks73

John Wayne is definitely the closest airport. 15 minutes to NB.

Nobody mentioned Las Brisas in Laguna Beach. Super Mx food with one of the best coastal vistas at night in North America.

Balboa Island is worth a couple hours of window shopping and walking. Charming cottages and a nice couple block shopping district.

Oysters on PCH just S of Jamboree is a super food destination with an enjoyable jazz combo most nights.

You'll love these few days. Wonderful destination with great activities.

rjw_lgb_ca

Airports: John Wayne aka Orange County aka SNA is absolutely the closest option (about eight miles to downtown Newport Beach). The next-best option is Long Beach aka LGB, depending on where you're coming from (a small but growing number of cities have nonstop service to LGB, including Chicago/O'Hare via JetBlue); it's about 23 miles from downtown Newport Beach. Very limited onsite facilities, but the major car rentals have operations there as do the major shuttle services.

Catalina Express runs ferries from Dana Point (about 35 minutes south of Newport), Long Beach (about 35 minutes north of Newport) and San Pedro (about 50 minutes north of Newport). I'd take an early ferry and plan a fairly full day, coming back late afternoon-early evening (6 PM-ish). There are bus tours, rental bikes, horseback guided tours, you name it. You could just stroll around Avalon and take in the little shops and the beautiful scenery. To start you off:

http://www.catalinaexpress.com/

Huntington Beach is fun. It's also a zoo during summer, so expect traffic snarls going up Coast Highway, especially around Huntington Beach Pier.

rjw_lgb_ca

Las Brisas, for locals, comes under the umbrella of either "Guilty Pleasure" or "Somewhere to Take Out-of-town Visitors for Mexican Food and Drinks and a View". There are far better Mexican eateries in the area (although for truly outstanding Mexican you have to go up into LA County or down into San Diego County), but the view is outstanding.

Just sayin'....

IamBooth

jayne, you can see the Dory Fleet in the morning on newport beach.....

http://www.doryfleet.com/

You can buy seafood from the fishing boats.

Next time I go to the Crab Cooker I need to tell them not to smash the fish together with the rice! The rice got stuck to the fish the last few times I went there. Talk about picky, eh!

Just "being" in Newport Beach is a great feeling.

Of course you want to visit Surf City a few miles up the coast.

Walk around on the piers and hang out at Balboa Fun Zone for awhile.

jayne1973

You guys are awesome.

Regarding Mexican food, being from Texas we are addicted to Tex-Mex and will probably be seeking fresh seafood -- something we rarely get at home. (I won't even complain about the rice at Crab Cooker!) It would be fun to see the Dory Fleet boats. Is the market all seafood?

What are your opinions on Catalina? Just curious because it could be a little pricey if we end up taking a couple of extra people with us...

Also, any suggestions for reasonable (less than $100) non-chain lodgings in any of these towns?

rjw_lgb_ca

Tex-Mex is not the style found in the best Mexican eateries in southern California. The more interesting cooking styles of Baja California, Oaxaca and Jalisco, as well as New Mexico and that fusion cuisine known as Southwestern, are more prevalent. Combine that with the superior produce available year-round here, and you'll find Mexican food here to be quite different from the offerings you get at home, although some Tex-Mex items sneak onto menus all the time.

Fresh seafood? Southern CA is Sushi Heaven, if you're so inclined (I'm not, other than those gorgeous buttery slabs of sashimi-grade ahi you find at the better sushi joints). There are two OC seafood specialists worth a trip up the coast from Newport Beach: Walt's Wharf in Seal Beach and the Original Fish Company in Los Alamitos.

Catalina? Gorgeous. It's a nice break from the mainland, and something you should experience at least once in your life. For a short trip, however, it might not be worth squeezing in this time.

Now we come to The Problem. $100 a night for good non-chain lodging is a VERY challenging price point in coastal California in general. Newport is notably pricey.

I can think of a possibility in Laguna Beach: The Laguna Riviera is a glorified motel, but it's on Coast Highway on the ocean side, has a reputation as spotlessly clean and reasonably comfortable, it's just south of downtown Laguna and all the fun therein, and it's pretty cheap. Another property I know of is Casa del Camino, also in Laguna-- but other Fodor's posters who have stayed there were not thrilled.

This is going to require some thinking.

itsv

We love to go to the Sundried Tomato Cafe in Laguana before we go to the Pageant of Masters. http://www.thesundriedtomatocafe.com/
We like the food and it is walking distance to the Pageant and there is a parking structure nearby.

In Corona Del Mar, we love Bandar. Its located on Pacific Highway near MacArthur Blvd. Its a family favorite and we love the roasted chicken.

Shopping in Laguna is great, go on Pacific Highway a little past the maindrag (Forest Street I think?) and you will find my favorite shop Cottage Furnishings.

Also between Corona and Laguana is a shopping center on Pacific Highway near Marriots Newport Coast Villa. I don't know the name but it has a shop called Urban Gardener which I love.

As far as hotels, a best western etc. would be your best best for that time of year. If you don't want to go over $100 then you will have to stay inland (near South Coast Plaza or 5 freeway) or try Priceline.

bear900

We were in NB a few weekends ago visiting some friends. Their youngest son who has made a good living distributing surf accessories took us to this place for breakfast. ~o)

http://cappyscafe.com/index.htm

We humored him and fought through the crowd both inside and out as well as struggled for parking spots. It’s definitely off-beat.

The real “old-fashioned” feel for NB and a great breakfast made it worthwhile. Check out the review. You may not run into the celebrities mentioned but you will see plenty of surfer types and slim bodies which besides the food is all the glamour we saw.

lynnejoel1015

definitely do the pageant of the masters!! i haven't yet been, but it's hugely popular w/ locals and acclaimed as a great arts event! you'll have my envy if you get to go we live in LA proper and don't manage to get down to OC much.

sfamylou

There are El Ranchito branches in Corona del Mar and on the Balboa Peninsula. Balboa Island is a fun destination for shopping and wandering. Someone suggested Bandera; it has great chicken and is sort of a pickup scene at the bar, and it as at PCH at Marguarite. I think the restaurant at PCH and MacArthur earlier poster was thinking about is Gulfstream, also very nice. Nearby is Sprinkles, where us locals line up for gooey and overpriced cupcakes.

There is a Laguna restaurant called Xavier's that people love; it is closing in Laguna and opening in the shopping center across from Crystal Cove State Beach. Also nearby is the Shake Shack, where you can get a milkshake and enjoy the view of the ocean.

Laguna is a lot of fun to explore, and while you're in Orange County it might be worth the trip to the Nixon Library and birthplace. I'm a fan of visiting presidential libraries, and it's a nice one with a gorgeous garden.

In terms of lodging, yikes. That time of year is very pricey. You might want to look at beach rentals for the week, or perhaps the Balboa Bay Club. Another idea is to look into the cabins at Crystal Cove. They rent six months in advance and it's a shot in the dark, but check out this website to see if you can manage a July rental. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=644

Ruby's hamburger chain just opened a nicer restaurant at the beach that I've heard is a lot of fun. I believe it is called Beachcombers.

Sort of rambling here, but I hope it helps.

sfamylou

I just tried the link I posted and it didn't work. But you can find it if you look for the California State Park website, under Crystal Cove, and then cabin rentals.

2fly

Pageant of the Masters:
I always buy tickets later than sooner. Good seats are taken by members during presale. And a good seat is the key. Check out Craig's list http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ a few days before the show. For additional $5, you would get a good seat that you would otherwise not get.

Restaraunts:
- Las Brisa sells the view more than the food (although the food is decent). The best deal is Saturday breakfast buffet for $10.
- sfamylow mentioned a popular Mex restaurant. The correct spelling is Javier's http://www.javiers-cantina.com/location.htm. It is easier to go to the Irvine location - shorter wait and easy to park. (Irvine neighbors on Newport and Laguna Beach.) Parking in Laguna in summer is a pain...
- Balboa has quite a few nice restaurants. Find one by the water, and make sure you take the ferry between the peninsula and the island (night is better - the lights are on).

Other activities:
Catalina is overrated. I highly recommend Channel Islands if you don't mind driving. http://www.nps.gov/chis/. You can join a tour http://www.islandpackers.com/. It is a little more than an hour drive. But absolutely worth it! If you fly into LAX instead of SNA, I'd recommend you doing that on your 1st day or last day. LAX is in the between Newport and Oxnard where the cruise starts.
Another locals favorite place is OC Performing Arts Center. http://www.ocpac.org/. It offers at least 2 things: good shows, and how a rich life can be.
If you are really into offbeat sites, follow an open house sign from PCH to check out how the locals live.

My final suggestion: figure out the excursions and shows before dining and shopping because good restaraunts and shops are allover S.OC.

Enjoy!

beechbum

I love Newport Beach. Also agree with all the suggestions especially the Crab Cooker. Last time we were in the area we stayed in Long Beach at an interesting place, it is called Dockside Boat and Bed. You stay on a yacht, it was really fun and an awesome break for a hotel! If you are going with another couple and can split the cost it may fall within your price range, and if you decide to go to Catalina you can catch the ferry there. www.boatandbed.com