A Local's Guide to Newport Beach

• Rent A Duffy Boat: One of my favorite past times is spending an afternoon on a Duffy boat. It's also one of the most fun ways to see Newport Beach is from the water. You can also bring food and drinks to enjoy on the boat.

• Spend A Day At The Beach: Newport Beach is home to many, you guessed it, beaches. Take your pick at one of the gorgeous beaches (Crystal Cove, Corona Del Mar Beach, Balboa Peninsula Beach) and enjoy some California sunshine.

• Walk Around Balboa Island: Balboa Island is a two-mile island filled with beautiful homes, and a few shops/restaurants. There is a boardwalk around the entire island, making it the perfect place to walk and enjoy the views.

• Fashion Island: Enjoy this great outdoor shopping destination with a blend of luxury, designer, and specialty boutiques and stores. They also have a vast array of fine dining and quick bites.

• Hike Newport Coast: Crystal Cove State Park is the location to many trailheads for every level of hiking ability. Expect beautiful views, plenty of nature and great weather.

• Newport Pier: The Newport Pier is a central location of the Newport peninsula, and filled with bars and restaurants. It's a great spot to catch some sun, get views of the coast and people watch along the boardwalk that is always full of life.

• Rent bikes and ride along the Newport Beach boardwalk: What better way to enjoy the Newport Beach coastline than by bike?

• Shop around Lido Village: Lido Village is filled with cute shops and restaurants all along the bay-front.

Day trips

Take A Day Trip To Catalina Island

If your trip permits, take the Catalina Flyer to explore Catalina Island for a day From Newport Beach, the ferry takes about 75 minutes. From there, you can see the shops/restaurants in downtown Avalon, go zip lining, head on a glass bottom boat tour and so much more. If you feel like one day isn't enough in Catalina, there are plenty of beautiful hotels to stay at as well.

Breakfast/Coffee:

• Shirley’s Bagels: Shirley's is a staple bagel spot in Newport Beach. You can order ahead to beat the rush too.

• Huskins Coffee Company: If you find yourself strolling Balboa Island, grab a coffee from Huskins Coffee Company.

• Wilma's Patio: Another great option if you're on Balboa Island and looking for a classic breakfast.

• Malibu Farm Lido: If you're looking for a fun brunch on the bay, Malibu Farm Lido is the perfect spot. Bonus, you can peruse the shops in Lido Village after.

Dinner:

• The Quiet Woman: A neighborhood favorite since 1965, the Quiet Woman is perfect for a date night, great cocktail, and live music after dinner. Be sure to ask for their bread...it's SO good.

• Louie's By The Bay: If you're looking for great food on the water, head to Louie's. The view is gorgeous and they also have happy hour daily from 4-6 p.m. in the bar.

• The Cannery: The Cannery is definitely a staple spot. They also have a great happy hour with great sushi (our favorites are the Cannery Roll, the Popcorn Shrimp Roll, and the Pablo Escobar Roll).

• Bear Flag: One of the best fish spots in Newport Beach is Bear Flag. It's more casual dining, but the fish is so fresh and delicious.

• Shorebird: A fun bay-front restaurant, Shorebird has a little bit of everything. Be sure to try the Spicy Tuna Egg Roll, Chicken Sandwich and Catalina Roll.

• Royal Hen: A cozy spot on Balboa Island, known for their pot pie, burger and mac and cheese.