Can anyone tell me about The Wedge in Newport Beach?

[5 Disney Fans]

We will be visiting Southern California for the first time as a family in late June. We are staying in Anaheim (Disneyland!! ) and wanted to break away for a few beach days. I've received some tourist information from several places and Newport Beach looks really cool. It is hard to judge directions from their maps though. DH wants to do some boogie bording as do the kids. My kids are kind of young though (7 and 9) so I don't want to put them into any dangerous surf. They are good swimmers and all, but I don't want to put them at risk KWIM???

Anyway, we were thinking of going to Newport Beach and locating ourselves near Balboa Pier. It looks like we could walk down to "The Wedge" from there if my DH wants to see some better wave action. Is that correct?

If I have the wrong impression entirely please let me know! Also, any information on this area would be greatly appreciated

We are planning on using our GPS to get us there anybody know of an address we should plug in that would get us the closest?

Thanks so much

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

I grew up in California near Huntington Beach , the wedge can be a bit dangerous for your kids. I have heard of several people that I have been hurt or killed there. I would really check out the waves before you go. I would suggest that you go by the pier at Huntington Beach. The south side of the pier is usually a good side for boogie boarders and they will blackball the surfers if there are alot of boogieboarders in the water and send them to the north side of the pier.

 

[QueenTriton]

I agree with the above. Plus, parking is a nightmare at Newport unless you really know what you are doing. Huntington has bathrooms, etc. also, which are scarcer at Newport.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Newport has a parking lot near the Balboa Pier. There's also a Ruby's Diner on the end which kids love. I agree about boogey boarding near the pier as opposed to the wedge. The Wedge is named for the shape created by the rocky jetty constructed at the entrance to Newport Harbor, and those in the water can get tossed about (not to mention up against) the jetty area.

A much more delightful place to visit the beach is just south of Newport, in Corona del Mar, also known as "big Corona". It's just on the other side of the Harbor entrance and the beach is much calmer, though it has waves. It sports a parking lot, facilities and food stands, as well as more street parking.

If you are in Anaheim, take the 5 south to the 55 south (west) and continue on Newport Blvd after the freeway ends. When you reach Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) head south for one of the most beautiful drives of your life. Drive a few miles, over the bridge at Dover Dr and into Corona del Mar, turning right on Marguerite Ave. Drive a few blocks to Ocean Blvd and make a right. The entrance to the parking lot will be on the left and you go down the hill to the lot.

To the very right of the parking lot is an outcropping of rock overwhich you can climb and find yourself on the bay in an area called China Cove, named for China House, a 3 or 4 story home built into the adjacent cliff which looked like a pagoda and sported a blue tile roof. I have no idea if it's still there. There's a cave underneath where you used to be able to explore, but I believe it's been locked with iron gates for years. Still neat to see.

Also, a ton of great restaurants on PCH... and Fashion Island for shopping.

Have fun!