Newport Beach
A Coastal Paradise.
Halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego sits the city of Newport Beach, that although known for its pristine beaches, great restaurants, high end shopping, spectacular views and luxurious accommodations, has a quaint seaside town aspect that many people are not familiar with.
We arrived to the 4-Diamond Balboa Bay Resort, the only full-service waterfront property in Newport Beach which sprawls across 15 waterfront acres of pristine Southern California coastline. Designed to celebrate Southern California’s natural beauty, plantation shutters open to balconies or patios, we relished the scenic views from our private balcony. Excellent service, amazing location and luxurious accommodations combined with the charm the Resort offers made the resort the perfect jumping off point for our adventures.
First, we ventured off to Fashion Island, Orange County’s premier shopping destination to dine at Red O Restaurant. The restaurant features both authentic Mexican and lighter California-style Cuisine by Rick Bayless. The stunning décor and details complemented the authentic guacamole and queso fundido that opened our appetite for the Braised Short Rib Enchiladas that followed before finishing off with a cuatro leches dessert.
The next day, we enjoyed a beautiful afternoon by renting electric bicycles from Pedego Corona del Mar. They offer tours, hourly and daily rentals – we chose the tour. Electric bicycles are amazing- you can peddle as much as like, but if you need some help going up a hill, or just feel like cruising, one simple button and you will never go back to a peddle bicycle again. We explored Balboa Peninsula, Newport Harbor and we boarded a ferry with our bicycles to Balboa Island. This town with its shops, galleries, boutiques and quaint, historic and charming homes is host to a signature treat, the world famous frozen bananas covered in countless toppings.
After an active day, our appetites welcomed us back to Fashion Island to dinner at FIG & OLIVE. FIG & OLIVE is about passion for the best olive oils and Mediterranean flavors. To start our dinner we ordered Burrata & Heirloom Tomato Caprese followed by the filet mignon and finishing our dinner with a warm chocolate soufflé.
With the largest harbor on the west coast, the adventurous part of the weekend for us was the rental of the electric Duffy Boat, allowing us to tour the harbor and skipper our own boat. Packing our own lunch and beverages made it the perfect way to enjoy a sunny afternoon. We cruised the harbor, enjoying all the sights, dockside attractions and nature encountering seals along the cruise.
Newport Beach is an intimate seaside haven where you can relax, enjoy scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, dine at the best restaurants and enjoy the Southern California sun making it a perfect ESCAPADITA.
