Setting of the famed television series The OC, Newport Beach lives up to its reputation as the quintessential beach town, with miles of sand in Corona del Mar, Crystal Cove State Park and the Balboa Peninsula, where body surfers won't want to miss the waves at The Wedge. Setting of the famed television series The OC, Newport Beach lives up to its reputation as the quintessential beach town, with miles of sand in Corona del Mar, Crystal Cove State Park and the Balboa Peninsula, where body surfers won't want to miss the waves at The Wedge. True romantics can stroll on the pier, watch the sunset as the fog rolls in, and stop in at one of the pier's restaurants for a candlelit dinner.
The Balboa Fun Zone, opened in 1936, offers a bit of nostalgic family fun with its old-time ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and bumper cars. Art lovers can wander through the modern art collections at the Orange County Museum of Art, while sporty types can choose from a variety of activities, from kayaking and canoeing at The Newport Aquatic Center to sport fishing at the historic Balboa Pavilion, which also offers whale watching tours, party boats, and private charters.