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- Dec 15, 1998
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Last weekend, my cousins came out from El Paso, and we went to one of their favorite places for the day Newport Beach. Of course, whenever I do something for fun, I always think how I can share it with my friends on the DIS. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me, so I cannot add photos to this....
Newport Beach is a great place to spend on a non-Disney day. To get there, you take the 5 south to the 55, and get off on MacArthur (take the exit to Newport Pier). Near the pier is a parking lot. This lot fills up quickly, so I would recommend getting there by 10am on a weekend or holiday.
There are several stores there that rent out bikes, skates/rollerblades, boogie boards, and wet suits. If you have children, I recommend renting the boogie boards for them. The surf is quite mild, yet the waves are big enough for them to ride in. Kids love doing this (and adults, too)
We found a little lot on 28th Street, and parked there for $5 for all day. On the same street are two bike shops. We went to the one that doesn't sell ice cream, and got bikes for $15 for all day. Most shops have regular bikes and tandem bikes. They also have bikes for the younger set, and some with the seat attached so you can take your toddlers.
There is a path along the beach where you can ride up and down, people watch, and bask in the sun. It is a very nice community, and it's fun to see how "the other half" lives. Newport Beach is on Balboa Peninsula. At the end of the peninsula is a channel. This is the channel that the USS Minnow left from on that "3-hour tour." During Christmas, they have a parade of boats all decorated with Christmas lights that is quite popular. At this area there is also what is called "the Wedge" where waves come from two different directions, and can create pretty large waves. The beach ends here, and there is a nice jetty of sorts where you can walk out and watch the ships & boats pass. We really liked it here. You can carry your food in backpacks, and have a nice picnic at this area.
You can also bicycle around the beautiful neighborhoods here, and go to a place called the "Fun Zone," located on the bay/harbor side. Here they have a couple of rides - Merry-go-round, small ferris wheel, and bumper cars. There are also several shops and eateries here.
From here, you can take the ferry across to Balboa Island, a small community with regular homes, summer homes, and some shops. The ferry costs 65 cents for pedestrians, and $1.20 for cars. We found the bikes to be the best mode of transportation since we could get around, and not have to wait in line with the rest of the cars.
After riding around, we ended up having a late lunch (early dinner?) at a restaurant right on Newport Pier, overlooking the ocean and the beach. It was really nice, though a bit pricey.
I'd say we spent about 6 hours riding around the peninsula. If we had been prepared to spend time on the beach, we could have been there for a lot longer. There were some "houses" along the beach for rent, but I don't know how much they charge. A small "cottage" on the island was $1,900/month rent, which averages about $500/week.
This is a picture of the peninsula. Newport Pier is to the left, and Balboa Pier is to the right. The ferry and fun zone are located right above Balboa Pier, facing the island.
If you'd like to read more on Newport Beach, here are some links:
Newport Beach & Channel Inn
Another Newport Beach site
Good prices and VERY casual atmosphere.
