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During last July’s 5.8 earthquake, 3-year-old Bronwyn told her 1-year-old sister, “We’re going for a wiggle.” READ MORE
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Sick and tired of the same old routine? Can’t stand eating at the same restaurants night after night? Looking for something to spice things up? It shouldn’t take a cheesy infomercial to get Southern Californians to spend a day in Newport Beach, home to “The OC’s” Seth, Ryan, Marissa, Summer and the rest of those crazy do-gooders. And if you don’t know to whom I’m referring, how about…Newport Beach, former home to stars like John Wayne and vacation hot spot for the likes of Rock Hudson, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Frank Sinatra. Needless to say, Newport draws quite the crowd, and it’s no surprise. There is much to do here for the whole family Here are some suggestions for a great day out and about. 8 a.m.: Wake up!!! 8:45 10 a.m.: Breakfast on the Town: Zinc Café, Ruby’s, Wilma’s Patio, The Galley, Pacific Whey. 10 - 11 a.m.: Take the ferry from Balboa Island across Newport Bay to the Peninsula: You’ll be right at the Fun Zone, where you can choose between the Ferris wheel, bumper cars, the carousel. 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Rent a boat: The perfect mid-morning voyage for all you seafarers out there. The easiest way to secure yourself a rig is to visit one of the rental establishments on Edgewater Avenue, the first main drag after exiting the ferry. Places like Balboa Boat Rentals ( www.boats4rent.com/balboa or 949.673.7200) and Marina WaterSports (marinawatersports.com or 949.673.3372) will rent electric boats, kayaks, power boats, sailboats and pedal boats by the hour. Expect to pay somewhere in the ballpark of $70/hour for an electric boat. One way to make it more cost-effective: Skip buying lunch in a restaurant and pack a picnic for the slow-moving boat. Once you’ve acquired your vessel, explore Newport Bay and its channels through the neighborhoods of Balboa. For power boats and sailboats, you might head for the ocean. Or… Rent a bike: The more athletically inclined may choose this option. Rent a bike locally or bring your own. Just be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen. A beachfront bike outing is a great way to spend time with the family and get some exercise too. (You can ride along the beachside boardwalk from Balboa Pier to Newport Pier.) Local places like Easy Ride Rentals (www.talesofbalboa.com/ads/Easy-Ride.htm or 949.887.5547) and Balboa Bikes ’n Beach Stuff (balboa_bikes.tripod.com or 949.723.1516) rent surreys, or bikes that look like four-seater carriages. These may be the best option if you have small children who aren’t necessarily Tour de France-ready. Personally, I have vivid memories of riding up the coast with my dad on a breezy Saturday afternoon; it’s truly unforgettable. So take the kids and make some memories of your own. 12:30 - 2 p.m.: Lunch: Original Pizza, Ho Sum Bistro, Fashion Island Food Court/Atrium Court, Pacific Whey, Ruby’s, Gina’s Pizza, Gary’s Deli…Eat it there or make a picnic of it. Take it to the beach, Lookout Point in Corona del Mar or the Newport Dunes. 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.: Fashion Island: Who can resist an afternoon of shopping at Fashion Island? The financially impaired, you say? Think beyond the box. I’ve become more and more an advocate of window-shopping, especially at Fashion Island because you just can’t beat the ambience; and they have a carousel and a train for the little ones. For the gadget-enamored like me, the Bose store and the Apple Store are two of the best around. Or… Newport Dunes: Known primarily as an RV park and marina, the Dunes is also a great place for a day trip. Visit www.newportdunes.com for more information. Or… The Beach: Just chill out or take a surfing or sailing lesson. Never a bad choice. For the beach, you can, again, take the ferry across from Balboa Island and walk a few blocks to the beach. Or, you can drive south a bit, past Hoag Hospital toward Huntington Beach, and take in a long strand of beach area, close to the Newport Pier. 5 - 6:30 p.m.: Dinner: The Spaghetti Bender, The Spaghetti Factory, Joe’s Crab Shack, The Crab Cooker, restaurants on Marine Avenue on Balboa Island 6:30 - 7:15 p.m.: Dessert: Cruise on over to Marine Avenue on Balboa Island to Dad’s or Sugar ‘n’ Spice for a frozen banana or Balboa Bar, complete with sprinkles (or jimmies to some of you), nuts, or the topping of your choice. With dessert in hand, take a stroll along the island’s boardwalk that faces Newport Bay, which gives you a close-up look across the water at the Peninsula or, if you’ve done enough walking already, find the nearest bench and take a breather…’cuz you ain’t done yet, unless you’ve got very young children. But, if it’s not sleepy time… 7:15 p.m.: The Movies: Ah, the movies. My home away from home. If you or your children are prone to fits of post-activity energy boosts, the Fun Zone may be more bang than you need. Lean back, kick up your feet (and possibly the person in front of you) and top off the night with a flick. The distance between the Fashion Island 7 and Big Newport Theater on Newport Center Drive (the road that encircles Fashion Island) can be measured in footsteps as opposed to miles, so you’ll typically have more than enough to choose from, cinematically speaking. Home! Tired yet? Didn’t think so. And that is why I gave you options, so you can mix and match another funtastic day in Newport tomorrow! What? Too soon? For citywide information: Newport Beach Conference and Visitor’s Bureau: www.newportbeach-cvb.com. Phone: 949.719.6100 or 1.800.94.COAST Matt Susson of Irvine, a summer intern for Churm Publishing, Inc., knows all the ins and outs of Newport Beach. But, for now, he’s stuck back on campus at UCLA. |
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