The best things in life are free – and these 9 totally free Newport Beach activities are proof!

Create forever memories with your whole family without having to swipe your credit card! Check out our favorite ways to save a buck and have a ball in Newport Beach!

@itsleeannmarie

1. Build a Beach Bonfire!

Whether you like your marshmallows burnt to a crisp or toasted to a tan, you gotta spend an evening around one of Newport’s fire pits. 

You can find ’em at the Balboa Pier and at Little Corona on a first-come-first-served basis. They’re free to use and will give you a front row seat to sunsets over the Pacific. So pack up a cooler and beach blanket, eat your weight in hot dogs, and sing a song or two around the fire. We promise you: your evening will be lit 😉 

2. Explore the Tidepools!

The tidepools at Crystal Cove State Park are great for getting your family off the phones and straight into nature.

Just a 10 minutes drive from the Newport Peninsula, the tidepools are home to sea cucumbers, sea anemones, crabs, and fish of all shapes and sizes. Be sure to bring your appetite and grab a bite at the Crystal Cove Shake Shack or The Beachcomber Cafe after your day of adventuring.

3. Romp and Relax at Marina Park

There’s something for everyone at this state-of-the-art park!

An expansive complex of basketball courts, outdoor gyms, and a larger-than-life playground right on the Newport Harbor, this 10.5 acre park has activities at the ready for all ages. There’s even an delicious cafe located in a make-believe lighthouse that serves delicious brunch, lunch, and dinner, all with an interrupted view of the water. 

@kentmonro

4. Delightful Delicacies at the Dory Fish Market!

Crab & sea urchin, anyone?

Sneak a peek at the fishmongers at work with their daily catch at the Dory Fishing Fleet & Market. Founded in 1891, this fish market will whisk you back to yesteryear, with its wooden boardwalk lined with stalls filled with fresh fish. But you gotta get here early! It’s typical for the day’s catch to be sold out by 6am! Talk about the early bird catching the worm!

5. Boatloads of Fun at the Balboa Fun Zone 

See what all the fuss is about!

Newport’s most beloved landmark, the Fun Zone is a flash of color, games, and family fun. Fly on the ferris wheel or compete for a bushel of tickets at the arcade. It’s here you can take a ferry to Balboa Island or embark on a whale watching adventure. With so much activity teeming at the Fun Zone, you’ll be entertained just by strolling through the mayhem.

@thepicnic.collective

6. Picnic n’ Play at Pirate’s Cove!

X marks the spot at this treasured picnic spot!

Just west of Corona del Mar State Beach, Pirate’s Cove is an instagrammer’s heaven, with picturesque views and photo ops everywhere you turn. This small cove is the best place to picnic in Newport Beach, because of its privacy and stunning views. It’s also great for beach days with small kids, since the waves here simply lap onto the shore.

7. Listen to Live Music at Lido Marina Village!

Unwind on the deck and look cool doing it!

One of the chicest shopping centers in Newport is right on the bay and now features live music on their waterfront deck. Every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12:00-3:00pm, sit back, relax, and sip on something refreshing as California tunes float through the breeze. There’s also a ton of great shopping and dining options at Lido Marina Village, like Malibu Farms, Aesop, and Jenni Kayne.

8. Romp on the Beach with your Pup!

Kids…puppies…they’re all welcome in Newport Beach!

Dogs are invited on any of the city’s 10 miles of beaches before 9:00am or after 4:30pm. As long as your dog is leashed, your pup can romp and play all they’d like! (Currently, there is an unofficial dog beach at the Newport Beach River Jetties where dogs play together lease-free at all times of the day – check it out at your own discretion). The Newport Beach boardwalk, which stretches from one end of the Balboa Peninsula to the other, though, is always open to dogs. 

@ninathefinn

9. Hike Through Newport’s Nature Preserve! 

Newport Beach has some of the most picturesque and accessible trails and pathways for enjoying Mother Nature at her finest.

One of our go-to’s is the Back Bay Nature Preserve. With over 10.5 miles of wide paths and little elevation change, these coastal wetlands are perfect for exploring with the whole family on foot or on bike. You’re also guaranteed to spot the many migratory birds and local wildflowers teeming at every turn. 

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With a boatload of free outdoor adventuring at your fingertips, Newport Beach is the #1 family destination in SoCal!

Stay for a long weekend or work from paradise in one of the 1,500 vacation homes located right on the Newport peninsula. Here are some of our favorite vacation rentals that serve some real home-away-from-home comfort and convenience.

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