The beach here offers ample privacy because of a mountainous terrain that lines it. This terrain makes it difficult to commercialize the beach excessively keeping it secluded yet lively. Seawater here has dark and light shades of blue. Some white waves travel on these colors before hitting the coast. The view is truly panoramic and inviting. Some of these waves swell making them ideal for surfers. As the evening sets in it is the orange sunsets that take the breath away. These seem all the more picturesque because of tall dark palm trees all around. Late evenings are filled with exciting nightlife. The streets are well lit giving them a stunning appearance.

Newport Beach also offers all modern amenities that people are accustomed to or desire such as shopping malls, boutiques, entertainment options, medical facilities, schools and colleges, boating facilities, sports facilities, restaurants, art museums, etc. The city also holds art shows and film festivals. These are the reasons for a higher concentration of rich and famous people living here.

Because the place finds favor with the rich, cost of living is considerably higher than in other cities. Newport Beach homes would be termed as luxury homes because of the stylish interiors and exteriors, and of course, the cost. The median cost of a home in this city is one of the highest in the country, but so is the median family income.

The average cost of a home in Newport Beach is about $1 million. Considering the fact that average family income is about $200,000, this does not seem very high. But there are other homes, apartments, and condos as well suiting to different budgets. Prices also vary as per localities, size of the accommodation, furnishing, amenities, etc. Therefore, a house in Corona Del Mar would cost anywhere between $250,000 to $800,000. Homes in San Joaquin Hills are available in the range of $700,000 to $900,000. Houses in Newport Coast and Crystal Cove are still costlier. They would cost anywhere between $600,000 and $5,000,000. A few homes also cost as high as $17,000,000. Professionals manage and maintain most of these homes, making it easier for the residents to get their problems attended to.

Homes in Newport Beach also fetch good rental income, so investing in a home here would be equally rewarding. Again rental income varies as per type of accommodation, i.e., condos, apartments and homes, locality, size of the accommodation, furnishing and amenities. Rents can be paid annually or monthly. A single-family home near Newport pier would fetch about $5,500 per month, while an apartment could fetch $2,400 pm.

So if living or owning a home close to the coast is what dreams are made of, Newport Beach might just be that place provided the finances permit it.

Before you leave, pack wisely. If you will be visiting the famous beaches of North Star, Little Corona del Mar, or China Cove, be sure to remember your swimsuit and beach towel.

If packing for a shopping excursion, you can either choose the dress for success look (dress shoes or heeled sandals), or plan for a shopping marathon (sport shoes or tennis shoes). You will have your choice of shopping centers. Fashion Island is an icon, so that would be a good one for your to-do list. If you have time, you could also go to Bayside Center, Westcliff Plaza, Lido Village, Newport Hills, or Harbor View. You might also really enjoy shopping on Balboa Island and in Corona del Mar.

If you are traveling to Newport Beach because your boss wants to transfer you, bring some bags of money in your suitcase, too. Since it’s paradise, there is a price tag attached– over a million dollars for condos, and over $2.1M for a single family detached home. Even rentals are more than $1,500 per month.

Which airport you fly into for your Newport Beach visit will be your choice. You might get a cheaper fare flying into LAX, but oh the traffic! Los Angeles International is 34.5 miles away, but it could be slow-going to get down to Orange County after arrival. Other L.A. area airport options include Long Beach, Ontario, and Burbank.

Another possibility is to fly to an airport further away, and then make the drive into Newport Beach part of your visit. Las Vegas sounds like it’s far away from the California coast, but it’s really only 231.5 miles. Even scenic Santa Barbara is only 122.9 miles of a drive after arrival towards the south. Palm Springs might be another choice, particularly if you want to play golf there first. San Diego is an excellent choice, as you can then drive the 74.9 miles north to Newport Beach.

By far the most convenient option is to arrive only 4.8 miles away at the Orange County Airport. Be careful as you board your plane to California. Sometimes they’ll say your flight is leaving for Santa Ana, sometimes they’ll say John Wayne Airport, and sometimes they’ll say Orange County or SNA. It’s all the same place.

If you are renting a car for your visit, beware. Some rental companies have offices in the terminal and some car rental firms are off-site. If you are a smart shopper, you can get your car from one of the in-terminal companies at no added cost. From the baggage area, walk through on the same level to where the rental companies are. This is a beautifully tiled area with large tan tiles. Atop a grand foundation of tiles you will see the statue of the Duke himself, John Wayne. (This is a great spot for a photo!)

Now, in order to get to your rental vehicle, you will have to cross the street and go to the parking garage. Wow- check it out– the street crossing has audio as well as visual “walk” and “don’t walk” instructions. This is fantastic if you are visually impaired.

The adventure of getting to your rental car continues on the other side of the street. You have to go down the elevator to the lower level. This is where the chaos begins. It’s a noisy, densely packed area of several rental companies. When you exit in your rental vehicle, just go very slowly, as you may be asked to make your way through tight spaces with sharp turns.

As you leave the airport on Airport Way, you may be taking MacArthur Blvd next– watch out! If your Mapquest directions say to turn right on MacArthur, be sure to do that. There are two lanes of traffic that go off to the left there; it would be easy to follow the crowd and end up miles and miles and miles from the beach! If this happens to you, simply turn around. Retrace your way back to the airport and you will now be going in the proper direction.

The nice thing about the Newport area, is that everything is relatively close once you arrive. In no time at all, you will be at your hotel enjoying the best of California weather and scenery. Have fun!

Newport Beach is one of the most exclusive areas to live in Southern California. It’s home to almost any different water activity that you can think of and the weather is great year round. There are hundreds of restaurants that you can choose from to eat at and many high end realtors that make for great shopping. The most popular neighborhoods to own property include Corona del Mar, Mariner’s Mile, Balboa Island, and the Balboa Peninsula. However, the great weather and atmosphere will set you back a pretty penny. Beachfront condos and homes range anywhere from $700,000 to $17 million.

While it is incredibly expensive to get into Newport Beach, the fact that it is home to some of the richest people in the area makes the property prices relatively stable overall. While you might find a few, you won’t find large-scale foreclosure that you will in other communities.

But this isn’t to say that there won’t be problems affecting Newport Beach property prices in the near future. Because the homes are so expensive in the area, most people that are going to buy them need to qualify for jumbo loans from lending institutions. However, these have gotten increasingly difficult to obtain since the beginning of the credit crunch. Buyers may have to wait longer to buy because they will need a larger down payment or might not even qualify because of stricter lending practices. This will put a damper on the amount of people able to buy and affect property prices at least somewhat.

If you think you want to buy property in Newport Beach, the best thing that you can do is to get in contact with a realtor in the area that can be trusted. A realtor should help you with their knowledge of the area and which neighborhoods are the best ones to buy in and also should be able to help you understand your financing options. Realtors also have a lot of resources that they can use to put you in touch with sellers and provide some due diligence

If you can afford it, Newport Beach is a great place to own property. The market is stable and the atmosphere the area offers is unmatched. Just make sure that you know what you are doing and get in touch with a trustworthy realtor first.

It stands in competition with some of the best of all Orange county amusement centers, such as Knott’s Berry Farm or even Disneyland for that matter. For over an entire half a century, the Balboa Fun Zone has been sporting every type of entertainment for every possible age or audience category.

What’s more, it’s even the perfect destination to plan a fun and adventurous date out or even to hang around on a friendly night out. The pure and picturesque beaches of Balboa can be quite a treat for the eyes, the mind, as well as the body. Even exploring other sites within the Fun Zone can be such an entertaining experience that it’s hard to notice how one’s time just passes away in fun and enjoyment.

One of the first of water-to-water flights was constructed over here, as early as, 1912. Stretching across Balboa to the Catalina Island, this pier, also popularly known as the Balboa Pier, is one among the last of them surviving the destructive and deadly coastal storms that came rampaging down this amusement area in the 1980s.

Some of the entertainment facilities are so economically feasible that they cost as less as just a single dollar, for instance, the Balboa Island Ferry. Some of the entertainment activities to be enjoyed in the water include cruises of entire harbors or cruises undertaken to watch whales. You can even indulge in water sports like fishing. For others, who’d like to shop or eat, there are great hangouts like quaint shops and exotic restaurants.

The Ferris wheel has been one of the oldest attractions of the Balboa Fun Zone that is available for use 24/7. It has been operating, since, as early as, the year 1936. After the coastal storms of the eighties, the entire park was completely rebuilt by 1986. Today its carousels and arcades welcome one and all with open arms while on their Newport Beach vacation. .

The pier has amusements and rides, and of course games and prizes. You can relax at the local coffee shop and if you surf, it’s a surfer’s paradise offering equipment and supplies and reports of how the surf is doing. One of my favorite places to eat and just hang out is the Cannery. But the best attraction for me is the Wonderland Bakery! Just so much fun to look at and everything is always good.

I enjoy a long walk on the pier as the sunsets, smelling the fresh sea air. You can rent boats of all kinds, so if you are set on some water fun, they have it there for you. This is a great vacation spot. With waterfront lodging, a quaint shopping village. Plenty of dining choices. You can whale watch during spring and fall.

Newport is located within an hour or so drive to Disneyland, or Hollywood and Beverly Hills. It’s a beautiful place to visit. Family friendly, pet friendly. The sky’s the limit. Accommodation’s include hotels, rental homes, luxury rentals. Beachfront property, in town property. You can rent a row boat to a yacht! There is plenty to see and do in Newport. I suggest a minimum of a one week stay, but can tell you even 2 weeks is not nearly enough time, there is that much to see and do.

Don’t miss out on the Ferry, Corona Del Mar or if you golf, remember to hit the greens!and of course, Fashion Island is a must for you avid shoppers! they have a great koi pond there and great shops!Be sure to take a dinner cruise or enjoy one of the many concerts and entertainment provided!

You are sure to enjoy your stay and will remember it for a long time to come.

Last year, I took our family, consisting of my wife, and my three children down there on a week long vacation. The kids loved it and we are considering going back since we loved it so much. The best attraction that we went to and enjoyed the most definitely was the Balboa Fun Zone.

The Balboa Fun Zone is a great attraction if you do have kids. They are open every day of the week. On Sunday through Thursday, they are open from eleven am to four pm. On Friday they are open from eleven am to nine pm, and on Saturday the same hours except till ten pm. One of the great things is that one night we were there, the park was absolutely packed. We were going to go back the other day since we got there late, but they actually kept the park open past six pm on Wednesday night since the park was so crowded.

The Balboa Fun Zone is one of the oldest amusement parks in California. The Balboa Fun Zone is known for its two main attractions: the Ferris wheel and its carousel (or merry go round). The Ferris wheel is one of the most beautiful, serene rides you will ever go on. The ride moves slowly so you can enjoy the view that is obtained from the ride. You can see the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful coast. The Ferris wheel is inexpensive; at only three dollars a ride and you must be over fifty inches to ride it. The merry go round is even cheaper, at only two dollars a ride. Anyone can go on it, although smaller kids like one of my kids need an assistant, and they don’t even charge you for that. There are also tons of arcades, places to eat, and more that make the Balboa Fun Zone a kids haven.

My kids just cannot wait to go back!

For honeymooners or those in love looking to re-kindle the flame, Newport Beach has a lot to offer when it comes to romance. The entire environment and setting around the Beach is romantic, with romance budding at each and every turn.

On a hot day, walking hand in hand down Marine Avenue on Balboa Island is enriching. You and your mate can check out the sites and talk about things. Then, you can head over to Balboa Fun Zone and play games together,
enjoying the best life has to offer. To show her that you care, you can even win her a stuffed animal – one thing that all females seem to love!

On the harbor of Newport Beach, a romantic gondola ride remains one of the most romantic things to do. A gondola ride is great to relax, sitting back with one and another and enjoying the best of the beach. Sometimes,  nothing beats just enjoying the presence of one another and taking in some of the best sites that vision has to offer.

Once night begins to set in, nothing is more romantic than a trip to the Bayside Restaurant or the Aubergine, two of the most romantic restaurants in Orange County. Both you and your partner will enjoy the setting here, as
well as the food.

After you have enjoyed a romantic dinner, you can watch the sunset on the beach. Both sunrise and sunset is breathtaking at Newport Beach, something each and every couple should experience at least once in a lifetime.

Before you call it a trip, you should also make sure to get pampered at a local spa. The spa’s around Newport Beach are exhilarating, something your whole body will find superb. As a couple or a separate trip, a relaxing
day at the spa is very hard to rival.

When it comes to a honeymoon or a trip as a couple, Newport Beach is one location you’ll remember the rest of your lives. There is so much to do here as a couple, you’ll probably want to come back again and again. As
time goes by and you get older, you’ll find that Newport Beach is the perfect place to come back to – no matter where the road of life takes you.

Although you won’t need martinis at the festival, you can bet on some of the best wineries in California being on hand to pour their distinctive wines. You should also come hungry as well, as the food is to die for.

On a typical night, you can find mounds of shrimp, a variety of oysters, fish, pasta, and many other types of seafood and exotic treats. Along with the wine, this festival is a great attraction to Newport Beach.

A highlight for the festival is the cognac and cigar seminar, provided by Martel Cognac and Hamilton Cigars. During the seminar you can sip superb cognac while learning all about them. Also, you can learn all
about fine cigars as well.

During May, the Newport Beach Food and Wine Festival is reason enough to visit the area. There are plenty of other things to do and see as well. If you love food, wine, and the water – Newport Beach is the place to be in May. Even if you’re going to travel to San Diego, you don’t want to miss it.

Amusement parks have always been a place to go to take the family and spend a day having a blast. In Newport Beach there a place that will fill your senses and excite the mind. Balboa Fun Zone is a great place for the entire family. With so much to do, you might have to make a second day trip out of it to get to all that there is to do.

Located on the Balboa Peninsula along Newport Beach, Balboa Fun Zone has always been a fierce competitor to other amusement park giant like Disneyland, Sea World and Belmont Park in San Diego.

For over fifty years, Balboa Fun Zone has been available in the area for residents and tourist alike with something to do either day or night. The famous Rendezvous Ballroom has been the host to many big name bands over the years.

One of the attractions at Balboa Fun Zone is the well known Fun Zone Ferris Wheel. Built in 1936, the Ferris Wheel has become a landmark to the area providing a fantastic view of the bay as you ride it.
In 1986, the Fun Zone was rebuilt completely from the ground up, adding to the already fun and exciting environment here. The ferris wheel, bumper cars, arcades, and everything else here make the Fun Zone a great experience for all that come through it’s gate.

After a long day of rides and games, you can head over and get some food from one of the many vendors and restaurants. No mater how old or young you are, Balboa Fun Zone will give you memories that will last a lifetime. So if you’re planning to vacation in California, make sure you stop by Balboa Fun Zone.

If you think that a pier isn’t a romantic place to go to, then just go down there and see for yourself. Balboa Pier in Newport beach is one of the most romantic places to go when in California.

When you walk along the 920 foot pier you will see how incredible it is any time of the year, especially at night when taking a moonlit stroll. You will see why honeymooners and married couple find the pier beckoning romance.

You will also find that many fisherman love to spend their days on the pier. The atmosphere is something that needs to be experienced. When the average fisherman leaves after night fall, you’ll see how the darkness adds to the karma of the area.

You can see the lights from Ruby’s Diner lighting up the night sky. Walking along the pier you can see many different lights illuminating the sky. The Balboa Pavilion can be seen as well, adding to the already magical time that the lights help to add to the pier.

Just south of the pier, you can see the Newport Jetty and the bay entrance. With Main Street right around the corner, you have even more things to do while at the pier.

Balboa Pier is open from 5am to midnight everyday. Restrooms are located near the entrance with lights and fish cleaning stations right on the pier. There’s even a small restaurant at the end of the pier.

So when your on your Newport Beach vacation, the Balboa Pier is a must visit for anyone who loves fishing. Even if you don’t like fishing, the pier is great to walk at night or during the day.