Top Things to Do & See in Newport Beach

Newport Beach Family Activities & Attractions

No matter what type of family getaway you have in mind, you’ll always find something for everyone throughout Newport Beach, California. From young to old and everyone in between, Newport Beach easily combines the best of family fun with activities to keep everyone entertained for hours and hours.

After you have a day of family fun in Newport Beach or the surrounding areas, you can stop and have a relaxing meal at one of the fabulous restaurants. The food here is to die for, giving everyone in your family a chance to eat their favorite food.

With something for everyone, it’s hard to believe that Newport Beach is actually an undiscovered vacation spot for many. The area has so much to offer, that it’s just a matter of time before people start to discover everything the area will provide them with. When the time comes for your getaway – make sure you give Newport Beach a try – you’ll be glad you did!

The Beach

One of the most popular family activities in Newport Beach is going to the beach. During the summer months, the beach is a very popular resort and getaway spot for the entire family. You and your wife or your friends can enjoy swimming, boat riding, or even hitting the waves on a jet ski. With temperatures in the summer hitting 75 degrees and above, nothing breaks the heat better than the beach.

For the kids, the beach holds many different activities. They can build sand castles in the sand, play around in the water, or simply bask in the glorious sun. If they get tired of playing in the sand, you can simply go back to your hotel room and enjoy the fun of the safe yet confined swimming pool.

 Balboa Fun Zone Newport Beach

Another popular activity in Newport Beach for the family is the Balboa Fun Zone. There is something here for everyone, with the Fun Zone keeping kids entertained the entire time they are there! If you’ve never experienced the Fun Zone before, you’ll be in for the treat of a lifetime!

The Balboa Fun Zone is comprised of many different areas, including restaurants and beaches. There is so much to do here that you’ll probably have to come back over the course of several days to see everything that the Fun Zone has to offer.

One of California’s oldest and greatest coastal amusement parks, the Balboa Fun Zone is a great place for your entire family. With plenty for the entire family to do, the Fun Zone can make the time just fly by.

Perfectly situated on the Balboa Peninsula along Newport Beach, the Balboa Fun Zone has always managed to rival with top amusement park giants such as Sea World, Disneyland, and even Belmont Park.

For more than 50 years, the Fun Zone in Newport Beach has provided people with something to do either day or night. Residents of the area and those who have visited in the past can recall the big name bands and loud music that streamed from the infamous Rendezvous Ballroom.

From basking on the sandy yet pristine beaches to exploring the Fun Zone areas, you’ll quickly find that there’s always something to do here. You can go out on the Balboa Pier as well, which was built in 1912 as a way to go from Balboa to Catalina Island. The pier is also one of the few to survive the well known yet destructive coastal storms California endured during the 1980’s.

Catalina Flyer

Those of you looking for adventure and travel would enjoy the Catalina Flyer, which is actually one hour to Catalina Island. The island ferry at Balboa Island only costs a buck or so, yet it takes you to the well known Catalina Island.

Fun Zone ferris wheel

One of the biggest attractions here is the well known Fun Zone ferris wheel. Since 1936, this wheel has proved to be a night and day landmark at the Fun Zone, calling out to all to enjoy the fun. If you’ve ever been on a ferris wheel, you know just how much fun they can actually be.

In 1986, the Fun Zone was rebuilt completely from the ground up, adding to the already fun and exciting environment here. The ferris wheel, bumper cars, arcades, and everything else here make the Fun Zone so much fun for everyone who decides to pay it a visit.

After you’ve had experienced a few of the rides and attractions, you can get some food at one of the many vendors or restaurants, then enjoy a cruise on the harbor. Young or old, the Balboa Fun Zone in Newport Beach can help you relieve those precious memories from when you were a child.

If you plan to visit California and you want something fun to do, make sure you visit the Fun Zone. There are plenty of things to see in the area as well, making the Fun Zone an absolute treasure. With no cost for admission, the Fun Zone is one area of Newport Beach that you don’t want to pass by.

Newport Beach Balboa Pier

A pier can be one of the most romantic places to go in the world. If you doubt that, take a trip to the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach and you’ll see first hand just how great a pier can be. On any given summer night, this pier is enveloped in darkness by 10 PM.

While the average fisherman heads home when the pier is dark, life continues. All along the pier, darkness does nothing but add to the atmosphere. Towards the end of the pier, you can see the neon lights of Ruby’s Diner lighting up the sky, calling out to those on the pier.

Walking along the pier you can see many different lights illuminating the sky. The Balboa Pavilion can be seen as well, adding to the already magical time that the lights help to add to the pier.

In many ways, the Balboa Pavilion is a sister attraction to the pier. They were both built in 1906 and designed to attract people to the Newport area. Even in those times, the pier and the pavilion helped to bring travelers to the area.

Down the peninsula from the pier, the area has a feeling that rivals days gone by. For fishermen and those that enjoy fishing, the Balboa Pier is simply heaven on earth.

Looking to the south of the pier, you’ll see the Newport Jetty and the bay entrance. Main Street is right around the corner, adding a wealth of things to do to the pier.

Even though some consider fishing to be secondary on the pier, it gives fisherman that are there more room to fish. For many residents of the area, the pier is where they began their life of fishing.

When standing on at the end looking down the Balboa Pier you’ll probably be amazed. The 920 foot pier is simply incredible to look at. Walking down it is great any time of year, especially at night when taking a moonlit stroll. For honeymooners or married couples, the pier beckons out for romance.

The Balboa Pier is open from 5 AM until midnight. There are restrooms located near the entrance, with lights and fish cleaning stations located on the pier. At the end of the pier, there is even a small restaurant.

Located in the city of Newport Beach, the Balboa Pier is a must visit for anyone who loves fishing. Even if you don’t like fishing, the pier is great to walk at night or during the day. If you want to see what piers are all about, make sure you check out the beauty and splendor that the Balboa Pier will provide you with.

Newport Harbor Art Museum

Featuring vintage art, the Newport Harbor Art Museum is the primary showcase in Newport Beach or California for that matter for the best in contemporary art. Being founded in 1962, the museum is dedicated to the collection, exhibition, and the interpretation of both contemporary and modern art.

By reflecting on the past as well as the present, the museum features the exhibitions of local, national and international scopes, and also maintains one of the most impressive and important works of California Art since the beginning and end of World War 2.

For those who don’t know much about contemporary art, the Newport Harbor Art Museum offers a broad series of programs designed in assisting the understanding and appreciation of the subject. Even though you may be new to contemporary art, the museum will show you all there is to know and love about it.

Known all over the world, the museum has a reputation for its depth of holdings in California post-war art, a collection of over 2,000 sculptures, paintings, prints, drawings, and even photography.

Those who are already familiar with contemporary art will surely appreciate everything that the museum provides. Fans of post-war art will enjoy this museum as well, as it provides the most extensive collection of California art around.

Some of the key holdings found in the Newport Harbor Art Museum include David Park, Nathan Oliveira, Joan Brown, Ed Ruscha, Larry Bell, Joe Goode, Robert Irwin, Chuck Arnoldi, and Judy Fiskin. There are also major holdings in room size works featuring Bill Viola’s Theater of Memory and even the Tale of Two Cities by Chris Burden.

Open year round, the museum hours are Tuesday – Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM and Sunday 12 PM – 5 PM, closed on Monday. Although there is small price for admission, the day to visit is Tuesday – as admission for everyone is free. If you are in the Newport area on Tuesday, you should drop by the museum as you have nothing to lose.

If your on vacation in Newport Beach, you can go to the Newport Harbor Art Museum during the day, on a side trip. The museum is a great way to spend the day looking at art. For the locals of the area, the museum is a great place to go back to time and time again to bring back memories of the post-war art and everything that contemporary California art is known for.

Rollerblading

Another activity that yields a lot of fun in Newport Beach is rollerblading. You can rent rollerblades from many different providers, from kids sizes to adults. There are also many places to use your rollerblades, including the sidewalks along the beach. If you like rollerblading, Newport Beach helps to set a new standard of fun.

Toy Boat

When it comes to the kids enjoying themselves, nothing will please them more than the Toy Boat. Located at 3331 East Coast Highway, the Toy Boat is the best place in Newport Beach to take the kids. There are hundreds of thousands of toys and activities here to keep your kids and probably yourselves entertained for hours.

Newport Beach Shopping

The Fashion Island, located at the Newport Center in Newport Beach is the ideal place to go if you like adventure and shopping. Proving to be one of the premiere establishments in Newport Beach, Fashion Island is one place you simply must go if you crave a fun and exciting time during your trip here or your stay here.

Centrally located between Los Angeles and San Diego, stopping here won’t put you out of your way. Offering shopping, beaches, theme parks, museums, parks and other events, this is an absolute treasure. On Fashion Island itself, there are more than 1,300 hotel rooms within the Newport Center.

On Fashion Island kids love the carousel. The carousel is a custom made Venetian-themed ride with 32 antique horses and other animals, perfect for riders of nearly any age. With animals such as the rabbit, tiger, bear and fish, the carousel is a must see for anyone who enjoys theme parks and amusement rides.

For younger children, Fashion Island offers the whimsical Kiddie Train. For younger children of the area, the train has become a tradition. If you are visiting here, you can find the train between Bloomingdale’s and Marcus.

On the island, two of the most signature elements are the splashing fountains and the well known sparkling koi pond. Located adjacent to Macy’s, you’ll find the Pop Jet, and near Island Terrace you’ll find the also well known Iris Fountain. Both were created in 1989 and custom made for Fashion Island. The koi pond was also custom made in 1968 and holds 15,000 gallons.

The entire area of Fashion Island is surrounded by top class hotels, including the Hotel Newport Beach. Minutes away from the island is the Orange County airport and several beaches. During the summer, the sandy beaches provide the ultimate relaxation from a day of shopping and fun on Fashion Island.

Throughout the year, there are many events as well. With summer concerts, a project playhouse, and seasonal activities for the children, Fashion Island proves to be more than just shopping.

On the shopping side of things, as the name implies, you’ll find hundreds of shopping stores and several fine restaurants to dine in here. Fashion Island on Newport Beach is the place to be for anyone visiting the area looking to see the best in shopping and entertainment.

If you’re looking to visit Newport Beach, make sure you pay Fashion Island a visit. You can find almost anything to buy here along with plenty of activities to keep the kids happy as well. A visit to Newport Beach isn’t complete without stopping here – making Fashion Island a very important part of the entire beach experience.

Disneyland Resort Near Newport Beach

If you’re looking for action and adventure in the Newport Beach area, the Disneyland Resort is everything you need. Bigger and more magical than ever, the world famous Disneyland is just a short ride from Newport Beach. With the addition of the California Adventure Island, the Disneyland Resort is better than ever.

For kids of all ages, Disneyland is where the dreams come alive. From riding the many rides to the magical parade and seeing the enchanting characters of Disney in person, no place on earth can capture the wonder and magic like Disneyland.

With everyday excitement and the seasonal events like the fireworks display, Disneyland Resort will keep kids of all ages enchanted for hours. Best of all, Disneyland Resort has something for the entire family.

You can also learn about past and present California at the Disney Adventure Park, as well as learn about the colorful history that makes California what it is today. Things such as the California Gold Rush and the Hollywood Golden Years are all included at the Adventure Park.

There are plenty of family activities to be found here as well, such as the Muppet Vision 3D, Twilight Zone Tower, and several others. From enjoying the rides to exploring everything in the Disneyland Park, you can spend hours and hours here and still not discover all of the magic.

When you get hungry, you can rest assured that the resort has plenty of places to eat. You can stop and eat at one of the restaurants or simply grab some food from one of the many vendors. There are all kinds of treats here as well, from caramel apples to cotton candy.

What was once a tourist attraction giant, has become even bigger with the recent addition of the Disney California Adventure Park. The park has become very popular as well, helping to add an extra bit of kick to the resort.

Although there are many reasons to visit Newport Beach, few are bigger than either the Disneyland Resort or the Disney Adventure Park. Both are great for the entire family, and both will provide days and days of cutting edge entertainment.

If you plan to visit Newport Beach or a nearby area, you shouldn’t hesitate to take your family to the Disneyland Resort. It’s a short distance from the Little Inn by the bay in Newport Beach, which is more than worth that extra bit of time.

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