The Beach of Newport Beach

Growing up in Orange County, Newport has always been my beach of choice. From when I was 10 years old bodyboarding and spending summer days with my mom, to when I was 15 getting dropped off for a few hours with my friends to go surfing, and when I was 16 and driving myself to go surfing, to when I turned 21 and could start going to the heaps of bars in the area, and still to this day for a nice relaxing day of people watching, body surfing, and sun bathing.

There's a lot to do in Newport Beach, great food, nice sandy beaches, good waves, good nightlife. You can go whale watching, rent a boat and cruise the harbor, or spend your day at the Balboa Fun Center playing games. It's a great place for people of all ages. The best time of the year for peak crowds is July to September (Labor Day), however if you want to enjoy the beach with fewer people, spring and fall are generally still great times to visit. Just last week in the middle of October we had clear skies and temperatures in the 80's in Newport. Spring Break generally finds good weather as well, then it tends to get a bit cloudy for a while before summer is in full swing.

Whale Watching in Newport Beach

Not even known to most Orange County residents, there are giant blue whales swimming off our coasts every summer. Southern California lies in the middle of their migratory path, and there are a handful of operators who bring tourists out to see these ocean giants throughout the season. Not only do they usually see whales, but dolphins and sea lions are common sightings as well, sometimes in large numbers. If you head down to Balboa Fun Zone, there are 2 companies providing whale watching tours out of Newport Harbor.

See Big Waves @ The Wedge, Newport Beach

There is an infamous beach in the Balboa area of Newport called "The Wedge".  Once or twice every summer the conditions are perfect and the drive a massive swell towards The Wedge.  Waves get over 20 feet (6+ meters) and people from all over the area flock to the beach to surf, bodyboard, bodysurf, kneeboard, and just to watch the massive waves break very close to the shore.  Standing on the shore in front of the wedge you can literally feel the ground shake as these giants break in front of you.