- If you are feeling like a little exercise or just don't want to get in the car, here are some ideas for nearby fun!
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Surf Spots - Boogie Land (40nd to 44th Street) |
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For all you body-borders this is the place for you. A year-round black ball is in effect at this stretch of beach. The waves are just as nice as the surrounding areas, but no surfers allowed.
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Surf Spots - 54th and 56th Street |
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Any South swell will make this place go off; you got to watch out for the crowds though. There is some metered parking near by, but street parking is most abundant, but also hard to come by.
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Surf Spots - River Jetties |
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The farthest point in Newport Beach before reaching Huntington Beach is the River Jetties. This place can be deadly after even the smallest storm, so if the weather has hit, I recommend that you steer clear of this stretch of beach. However, if the sun has been shining and there is a strong south-south east, south, or south west, or a short period west or west-north west, this is the place to go. On the best days you can get sets in the chest to overhead range and some nice racy barrels.
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Restaurants and Bars - Cabo Cantina |
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Located on the corner of Oceanfront and Main Street, Cabo Cantina has excellent Mexican cuisine and great drink prices. On top of a great atmosphere there is free pool to all patrons. At night, Cabo Cantina becomes the place to be on this side of the Newport Pier. Better get there early though, it gets packed quickly.
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Restaurants and Bars - BJs Restaurant and Brewery |
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Just down the street from Cabo Cantina, BJs has an amazing menu. Sandwiches, salads, pasta, and great deep dish pizza, all topped off with a substantial microbrew selection.
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Restaurants and Bars - Shore House |
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Do you like to sing? If so, the Shore House is for you. With Karaoke a couple times per week, this place can liven up the dullest weeks. Located on the corner of Balboa Blvd and Main Street, the Shore House his a great menu, great drinks, and a great atmosphere, and the best part is, its only steps away from your front door.
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Restaurants and Bars - Ruby’s |
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“Shooby Dooby Down to Ruby’s”. A classic 40s diner style restaurant, Ruby’s has great burgers and shakes, along with other great menu items. Located on the end of the Balboa Pier this place can either have a wait of 5 minutes or during busy summer days, waits can get as long as an hour or more.
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Restaurants and Bars - Balboa Saloon |
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If you’re looking to play some pool and the line at Cabo Cantina is too long, head on over to the Balboa Saloon. To get there walk down to Main Street and turn right. From there you will turn left on Bay Avenue; the Saloon will be on your right hand side. The Saloon offers a great selection of imported, domestic and craft-brewed beers and spirits in addition to a menu of pizza, sandwiches and munchies. Balboa Saloon's fun, open atmosphere overflows with memorabilia and includes English darts, American darts, billiards and other games as well as satellite sports.
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Restaurants and Bars - Sharkeez |
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If you are looking for a lively night spot, correction, a lively spot at all hours of the day, Sharkeez is your place. This place has an extensive drink menu as well as a great food menu complete with salads, sandwiches, tacos, and burritos among other things. If you and your party are ready for a strong drink with a sugary kick, try taking on the famous Sharkeez “Shark Attack”. Sharkeez can be found on 21st street by the Newport Pier.
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Restaurants and Bars - Rudy's |
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While most places have a limited outside seating area, that is not the case with Rudy’s Pub and Grill. They recently made some renovations that now allow them to retract their roof and nearly triple their outside seating. This added to their great menu and wall to wall LCD TVs (32 to be exact), makes Rudy’s a great place to watch the game, meet up with friends or have a nice meal. Rudy’s is located by the corner of Newport Blvd and 32nd street.
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Restaurants and Bars - Malarky’s |
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Have you got a little Irish in you? If so, Malarky’s is the place for you. Located just south of the Albertsons on Newport Blvd, Malarky’s is a great place to relax during the day. They have two dart boards, good food, and always have the game on. At night you better get their early because it is one of the most popular bars at night.
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Restaurants and Bars - Newport Beach Brewing Company |
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Located at 2920 Newport Blvd, the Newport Beach Brewing Company has a varied menu with everything from Mexican to Italian to burgers and fries. With a great outdoor patio and ample seating inside this place is a great spot for any meal. In addition to all this, the Newport Beach Brewing Company has one of the best micro-brew menus on the Balboa Peninsula.
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Grocery Store and Pharmacy |
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The closest pharmacy is on the corner of Balboa Blvd and Main St at the Balboa Pharmacy, they have a few snacks but the Albertsons on 32nd Street and Balboa Blvd is the closest and most complete grocery store you will find nearby. The Promelis Market on Balboa Blvd in between Island Ave. and 6th Street is a great place to shop if you are looking for organic/healthy options. This market has a small selection of items and will cost you a little more than the Albertson’s down the road, but for the quality of food you are getting, it is worth the price.
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Balboa Pier and Balboa Fun Zone |
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You are a stones throw away from the Balboa Pier and Balboa Fun Zone. At the end of the Balboa Pier is a Ruby’s Diner, for more information refer to the restaurants section, and from the end of the pier you can see far up and down the California coast. This is a great place for pictures, and it’s always fun to see what the fishermen are catching.
The Balboa Fun Zone is a short walk from your unit. Walk out of the complex onto the boardwalk and turn right. Once you have reached Main St. turn right and walk down to the Pavilion, once there turn left and you have arrived at the Balboa Fun Zone. Here you will find arcades, a Ferris wheel, Merry-Go-Round, the Nautical Museum, and many restaurants. On the bay side of the Fun Zone there are many places to rent boats, book harbor cruises, as well as set up your day trip to Catalina Island.
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Balboa Island |
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Across the Bay you will find Balboa Island, just 1.71 miles around this quaint little man-made island is full of beautiful homes, specialty shops, art galleries, and great restaurants. The majority of the shops and restaurants are located on Marine Avenue, but a few can be found on the exterior of the island where the ferry lets you off. To ride the Balboa Island Ferry head to the Fun Zone and you will see the signs.
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Surf Spots - The Wedge |
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The world famous wedge is located at the south east end of the Balboa Peninsula. On a strong South swell (beginning in New Zealand!) this place attracts sightseers from all over. People will line up on the beach just to watch the brave and stupid ride faces up to 25 feet tall. If you decide to take a trip down there, be sure to take your camera, there are beautiful views of the harbor entrance and of course, you don’t want to miss a good shot of these waves. WARNING: Only advanced swimmers and body surfers should even attempt to swim at the wedge. The waves here break very hard in very shallow water.
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Surf Spots - A Street |
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Located only steps from your front door A Street is a very popular body surfing and skim boarding spot. On strong south-south west swells you can see faces in the 8-10 foot range, but be careful because these waves are very powerful and break in less than a couple feet of water.
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Surf Spots - Blackies (21st to 24th street) |
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Easily the friendliest of the beach breaks on this list; Blackies is the ideal place to learn to surf. There are a few surf camps offered during the summer at Blackies, Newport Surf School is probably the best. Wave heights range from ankle to head high on the best west swells. The crowds can get a little heavy, but make sure to watch out for swimmers in the water. The large parking lot located next to the pier makes this a very popular place for tourists and beach goers.
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Surf Spots - 36th Street |
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This is still a great place to learn, though the waves do move a little quicker and break a little harder. The nice place about learning here is that you are slightly removed from the daily onslaught of visitors.
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Surf Spots - 18 Street/The Point |
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Given its name because this area of the peninsula sticks out further than all parts around it, The Point works well off of both South-South West swells and West swells. This sandy bottom beach break is a quick one, barrels abound on good chest to head high sets but be careful, if you are not moving fast enough these waves will eat you up.
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