Newport Beach Tourist Attractions
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Orange CountyAltitude; 26ft/8mLocation and urban featuresNewport Beach, often likened to Cannes on the French Riviera, does indeed have a beautiful sandy beach over 5.5mi/8km long, but it is extensively urbanized. Newport Beach includes Balboa, Balboa Island, Corona Del Mar, Newport Heights, Lido Isle, Harbor Island, Bay Shores and Linda Isles. There are luxury hotels with hundreds of rooms, as well as magnificent villas, elegant shops and first-class restaurants. Sunning themselves in Newport Beach will be found the rich from Orange County and Los Angeles, which is less than 37mi/60km away on the CA 1 coast road. Not far from Newport Beach lies the campus of the University of California of Irvine - the whole region once formed part of the Irvine Ranch, the rural character of which has long been lost.
Newport Harbor Nautical Museum
The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum in Newport Beach is dedicated to the preservation of the maritime history of Southern California.The museum has three galleries on the sternwheeler "The Pride of Newport". There is a model gallery showing the evolution of yachting.
Orange County Museum of Art
Newport Beach possesses an excellent museum with temporary exhibitions as well as its own permanent exhibits.Among exhibits in the permanent collection at the Orange County Museum of Art are works from the 1920's by Franz Bischoff and Mabel Alvarez.
Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve
The Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve in Newport Beach is Southern California's largest estuary and a major stopover for birds. Dozens of species, including endangered ones, can be observed here.
Balboa Fun Zone
There is a pleasure park called "Fun Zone" on Balboa Boulevard, above Balboa Pier, from which there are boat trips of various kinds.
Corona del Mar, California
Corona del Mar is part of the city of Newport Beach. It is located on the Pacific Coast, 50 miles south of LAX.
Sherman Library and Gardens
About 5mi/8km south of Newport Beach, near the coast road, you will find the Sherman Library and Gardens, also a charming garden with exotic flora. The marina, with berths for 9,000 sailing craft and motor boats, is one of the largest on the Pacific coast. The Marina Village and eight other shopping centers can meet the needs of every customer.
Roger's Gardens
Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar has seven and a half acres of flowers, shrubs and plants. The plants are for sale as well as art, antiques, collectibles, gourmet foods and linens. There are also gardening seminars available.
Corona del Mar State Beach
The Corona del Mar State Beach is located in a cove in Newport Bay. It is the most popular climbing site in Orange County with sandstone cliffs.
Corona del Mar Marine Life Refuge Visitor Center
The visitor center for the Corona del Mar Marine Life Refuge is located at 1768 Ocean Boulevard in Newport Beach.
Newport Harbor Cruise (Balboa Pavilion)
The Newport Harbor Cruise offers boat tours of the Newport Harbor on double decker Mississippi style river boats.
