5 Activities for Family Fun in Newport Beach

Newport Beach is the perfect spot for your next family adventure. This city famous for its lavish lifestyle and beautiful surroundings and known for its beachy vibes and water sports. You can either make it a fun-filled day trip or a relaxing vacation by staying at the nearby hotels that allow you to see the gorgeous views that Newport Beach has to offer.

Newport Beach Civic Center and Park

The cool architecture at this location perfectly matches the beachy vibe that Newport Beach is known for, where the blue bridges match the color of the blue skies and the blue Pacific. This park also includes sculptures of white bunnies that many tourists and locals see as an instagram-worthy spot. So relax and have a picnic at the Newport Beach Civic Center and Park! There are many perfect spots to sit and eat on a picnic table or on the grass. After a picnic, this spot also offers great trails and a great space for a walk in the park. This is located at 100 Civic Center Dr in Newport Beach.

Balboa Water Sports

Come catch the cool waves and experience the beachy vibes that Newport Beach has to offer with Balboa Water Sports! The water sports that are available include paddle boarding and riding a sea doo. Many locals and tourists often say that these activities allow them to feel the freedom of the big blue ocean and highly recommend Balboa Water Sports as your next adventure in Newport Beach. This is located at 204 Washington St #B in Newport Beach.

Fashion Island

Fashion Island is a mall that is located right by the beach at 401 Newport Center Dr. in the heart of Newport Beach. This mall is known as an Orange County classic as a venerable, upscale outdoor mall that’s a perfect spot to spend the afternoon whether you’re shopping or just hanging out. This mall is also a great place to walk around to relax and settle down after a long and eventful day of other festivities in Newport Beach.

 

Top 8 Things to Do in Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach is the perfect spot for your next adventure in Orange County. This beautiful city is known as Southern California’s top coastal point and is prepared to wow you with the beaches, art galleries, and attractions that they have to offer. Here are the some of the best things to do in Laguna Beach.

1. Stroll Through Heisler Park.

Heisler Park is an oceanfront park in Laguna Beach that stretches several miles down the Pacific Ocean. It offers beautiful views of the Laguna Beach coastline, making it the perfect spot to take a stroll, have a picnic, and even watch the sunset. There are great open lawn areas, picnic tables, barbecues, and accesses to the beach to make your day in Laguna a day well spent. This park is located at 375 Cliff Drive in Laguna Beach.

2. Visit the Pacific Marine Mammal Center

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center was the first marine mammal rehabilitation facility in California and is the only marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation center in Orange County. Not only can you look at marine mammals up close, but you can also participate in the educational programs to learn more about the world of these marine mammals and the role of keeping the oceans clean.The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is open everyday from 10am-4pm with free admission and is located at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

3. Go to the Laguna Art Museum.

The Laguna Art Museum was founded in 1918 as a fine arts museum. This museum is now one of the oldest museums in California and also one of the only museums that is dedicated to displaying and preserving the art of California artists with pieces that depict the history of the state or spans all periods and styles. This museum is located at 307 Cliff Drive in Laguna Beach and is open every day except Wednesday’s.

4. Visit Table Rock Beach

Table Rock Beach is one of the most popular beaches to go to in Laguna and is known for its tall rock wall formation located on the northern end as well as its sandstone walls on the south side of the area.Table Rock Beach is also gorgeous and secluded with a ton of tide pools. Popular activities at this beach include photography, snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, and skimboarding, especially because of the shape of the waves at this particular beach. This beach is located at 31681 Sea Bluff Ln in Laguna Beach.

5. Ride on the Laguna Beach Trolley

The Laguna Beach Trolley is a free weekend transportation system that takes you around the city of Laguna Beach with both long and short coastal routes. Visitors have the option to choose any of the 34 stops throughout the transportation system.

6. Visit the Sawdust Art Festival

Laguna Beach is known for its creative energy that has brought together many talented young local artists. The Sawdust Art Festival was created because of how these artists wanted somewhere new, fresh and exciting to display their artwork, so this festival was designed to both entertain and educate. This go-to art festival is open from June 29th, 2018 through September 2nd, 2018 this year and will feature arts and crafts from over 200 Laguna Beach artists. The arts and crafts include hand-blown and fused glass, painting, jewelry, surf art, ceramics, clothing/textiles, wood/metal sculptures, photography, and more. Come experience and see how art has held a strong sense of community in Laguna Beach. This is one event you do not want to miss.

7. Take Photos with the Whaling Wall

The Whaling Wall is one of the most popular locations to take photos at in Laguna Beach. A world-renown marine life artist, Robert Wyland, has created 100 outdoor murals of life-size whales and other sea life in various locations across the nation and other countries. Wyland wanted to use these murals to increase the world’s awareness of the world’s oceans. The first mural was created in 1981 on the side of Hotel Laguna in Laguna Beach and it depicted a life-size California gray whale with her calf. So start your adventure in Laguna Beach by finding one of these Whaling Walls that still exist in Laguna Beach today.

8. Catch a Performance at Bluebird Park

Bluebird Park is one of the most highly recommended parks in Laguna Beach. On any Sunday in July or August, the city hosts a “Music in the Park” event as a free and family-friendly concert. If you’re not there for a concert, the large, open grass space is perfect for a picnic and outdoor activities. Kids love the half-basketball court, the space for running, and the play area with structures and swings. This park is located at 798 Bluebird Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach.

Well what are you waiting for? Go check out all these awesome things you can do in Laguna Beach!

Photo Credit: Shutterstock//Engel Ching