Things To Do
Balboa Island
Balboa Island is a cute, man-made island in the Newport harbor area. Walk on the path that goes around the edge (about 2 miles) and look at all the houses on the island and the boats in the harbor. Stop by Dad's Donuts on Marine Ave. for a classic frozen banana or Balboa bar (ice cream).
Fashion Island
Taking advantage of the great weather year-round, the area has a lot of outdoor malls, like Fashion Island (not an actual island). This mall has a good mix of casual and upscale shopping and restaurants. It's also just a nice place to walk around with green space, seating areas, and a koi pond. Or, a bit further away (around a 25-minute drive from Newport) there's the Irvine Spectrum, which is even bigger and has more options for casual shopping and food. If you're planning on checking out either of these, ask us for some of our favorite spots!
South Coast Plaza
Not your average shopping experience, stop by South Coast Plaza for some window shopping. This ultra-luxury mall has every designer brand you can think of and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Inspiration Point
One of our favorite ocean-front spots is Inspiration Point. With "Big Corona" (Corona del Mar State Beach) to the north and "Little Corona" to the south, there is a pretty walking path along the top of an ocean-side cliff with paths down to the beach. One of our favorite afternoon dates is to grab sandwiches at Gallo's Deli across the street and take them over to the beach to enjoy the view.
Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
Newport "Back Bay" is an inland bay nature preserve with a trail around the edges. Great for running, hiking, and biking.
Lido Marina Village
Lido Marina Village is a little collection of shops and restaurants on the water. If you're looking for some great fresh fish to eat, check out Circle Hook.