Newport
Beach, California
Room Reservations: 800 255-8614
If
no availability online then please call the hotel directly.
Newport
Beach, California offers so many wonderful ways to enjoy your
days at the beach, whether you spend your time on the sand,
on the land or on the water!
On
the Sand
Swim, surf and sunbathe at the beach, reached by just
using the crosswalk at the corner. Our incredibly beautiful
beach has been named one of the top 10 beaches in the
USA by both the Travel Channel and the Surfrider
Foundation. Stop by the NEWPORT CHANNEL INN's front
desk on the way and check out some beach towels. When you return from your
fantastic day at the beach there is a place by the office to
rinse the sand off your feet.
Great
surfing can be found just across the street from the NEWPORT
CHANNEL INN; in fact, it is one of the premiere surf
spots in California. The angle of the beach here creates
the ideal-shaped waves for both board and body surfing.
Newport Beach also has some of the best surf shops in the world,
where boogie boards and surfboards may be rented.
Sunsets
are often breathtakingly beautiful, with prime viewing from
the beach.
For
your beach barbeque and nighttime campfires, fire rings can
be found on the beach in several locations. Beach volleyball
courts and free public tennis courts are located
just a few yards up the beach.
One
of our best-kept secrets is Little Corona Beach, a secluded
rocky cove with some of the area's most outstanding tide
pools. It is also a perfect spot for scuba diving.
The entrance is almost hidden, check with our NEWPORT CHANNEL
INN Staff for directions. You can view all of the boats
going in and out of the harbor from Big Corona Beach, a
terrific family picnic beach with volleyball courts, fire rings,
picnic tables, snack bar, restrooms and showers. It is also
a great snorkeling spot. Check out the famous "Wedge",
to watch giant waves that sometimes form over 30 feet tall.
On
the Land
A most pleasant way to spend your day is to bicycle,
rollerblade, or walk along the oceanfront boardwalk, which
runs most of the length of Balboa Peninsula and connects the
two piers. Bicycles and rollerblades can be rented at
a number of shops. Another great place to bicycle or walk is
around the Back Bay Ecological Reserve, where you can
observe up close a wide assortment of wildlife and
migrating birds. The Back Bay is also reachable by kayak,
canoe or car.
Fans of “The O C” can check out many of Marissa and Ryan’s Newport Beach Hangouts with a free self-guided “The O C” tour map.
Head
to the Balboa Fun Zone. You can play the day away riding the
Ferris wheel and carousel, playing games in the arcades, and exploring the surfing and boating exhibits in the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. Next to the Fun Zone is the Balboa Pavilion,
the main landmark on Balboa Peninsula, which was built in
1905 as an electric railway terminus and Victorian bathhouse.
It now houses a seafood restaurant, which offers sweeping
views of the harbor (see Restaurant page).
We
highly recommend walking along the sidewalk at the water's
edge all the way
around
Balboa Island. This walk takes about an hour and is a
wonderful way to see the harbor and the Island's bayside
homes and cottages. An after-dark stroll can also be very
romantic! Check out the evening lights reflecting across
the water from the Balboa Pavilion and the Fun Zone. Be
sure to take a window-shopping detour up Marine Avenue,
Balboa Island's main street. For a really cheap thrill (and
a memorable one!), the most interesting way to reach Balboa
Island is to take the Balboa
ferry,
which leaves from the Fun Zone area on Balboa Peninsula. This
historic ferry departs every few minutes on its short
trip across the harbor. The experience is also quite a value
- adults 60 cents, children 30 cents, and you can drive your
car on board for an additional 90 cents.
Walk
to the end of either the Balboa Pier or the Newport Pier
and see
what
the fishermen have caught. Near the Newport Pier, the Newport
Dory Fishing Fleet returns from the sea every morning to
sell their catch on the beach. Pelicans seem always to
be on hand to scoop up any dropped fish.
On
the Water
Newport Beach is known for its love of the water.
Boating is extremely popular here, and Newport Beach
boasts one of the world's largest and most beautiful small-boat
harbors, with over 9,000 pleasure craft. As a
NEWPORT
CHANNEL INN Guest, rental discounts are available
to you for sailboats, motorboats, electric boats, pedal boats,
water bikes, canoes, kayaks, sailboards, and Jet Skis.
Give it a try. No matter what your speed, there are boats
for everyone!
If
you would rather have a captain pilot the boat for you, there
are many excellent cruise choices. The Balboa Fun Zone
is the departure point for narrated tour boat cruises of
the bay, on which you will see movie star homes, cute
harbor seals, incredibly luxurious yachts, and some
of the most expensive real estate in the world. The cruise
stays within the calm harbor waters and takes about an
hour. As a NEWPORT CHANNEL INN Guest, you will be overjoyed
at how little you pay for your special discount tickets,
available for purchase at our front desk.
Enjoy
a day trip to Catalina Island aboard the luxurious Catalina
Flyer (see "Other
Attractions"
page). For you romantics, gondoliers will steer your private
gondola through some of the narrower canals in the bay,
or you may prefer a dinner cruise aboard John Wayne's
yacht, the Wild Goose (see Restaurants page). Adventurous
spirits can experience the thrill of parasailing, board
a deep-sea sport-fishing boat, or try a whale-watching
tour (see "Special Events" page). Discounts are
available to NEWPORT CHANNEL INN Guests for many
of the above adventures.
Our
beautiful coast offers just about any activity you could possibly
want!
The
perfect excuse for staying another day!