Travel Tips

It’s no secret that finding a honeymoon location or
a place to take your sweetheart is important. With
many places to choose from, you may be surprised to
hear that Newport Beach is actually one of the most
romantic – yet also one of the most overlooked areas
in the entire United States.

For honeymooners or those in love looking to re-kindle
the flame, Newport Beach has a lot to offer when it
comes to romance. The entire environment and setting
around the Beach is romantic, with romance budding at
each and every turn.

On a hot day, walking hand in hand down Marine Avenue
on Balboa Island is enriching. You and your mate can
check out the sites and talk about things. Then, you
can head over to Balboa Fun Zone and play games together,
enjoying the best life has to offer. To show her that
you care, you can even win her a stuffed animal – one
thing that all females seem to love!

On the harbor of Newport Beach, a romantic gondola ride
remains one of the most romantic things to do. A gondola
ride is great to relax, sitting back with one and another
and enjoying the best of the beach. Sometimes, nothing
beats just enjoying the presence of one another and
taking in some of the best sites that vision has to offer.

Once night begins to set in, nothing is more romantic
than a trip to the Bayside Restaurant or the Aubergine,
two of the most romantic restaurants in Orange County.
Both you and your partner will enjoy the setting here, as
well as the food.

After you have enjoyed a romantic dinner, you can watch
the sun rise on the beach. Both sunrise and sunset is
breathtaking at Newport Beach, something each and every
couple should experience at least once in a lifetime.

Before you call it a trip, you should also make sure to
get pampered at a local spa. The spa’s around Newport
Beach are exhiarating, something your whole body will
find superb. As a couple or a separate trip, a relaxing
day at the spa is very hard to rival.

When it comes to a honeymoon or a trip as a couple,
Newport Beach is one location you’ll remember the rest of
your lives. There is so much to do here as a couple,
you’ll probably want to come back again and again. As
time goes by and you get older, you’ll find that Newport
Beach is the perfect place to come back to – no matter
where the road of life takes you.

Featuring vintage art, the Newport Harbor Art Museum is the primary showcase in Newport Beach or California for that matter for the best in contemporary art. Being founded in 1962, the museum is dedicated to the collection, exhibition, and the interpretation of both contemporary and modern art.

By reflecting on the past as well as the present, the museum features the exhibitions of local, national and international scopes, and also maintains one of the most impressive and important works of California Art since the beginning and end of World War 2.

For those who don’t know much about contemporary art, the Newport Harbor Art Museum offers a broad series of programs designed in assisting the understanding and appreciation of the subject. Even though you may be new to contemporary art, the museum will show you all there is to know and love about it.

Known all over the world, the museum has a reputation for its depth of holdings in California post-war art, a collection of over 2,000 sculptures, paintings, prints, drawings, and even photography.

Those who are already familiar with contemporary art will surely appreciate everything that the museum provides. Fans of post-war art will enjoy this museum as well, as it provides the most extensive collection of California art around.

Some of the key holdings found in the Newport Harbor Art Museum include David Park, Nathan Oliveira, Joan Brown, Ed Ruscha, Larry Bell, Joe Goode, Robert Irwin, Chuck Arnoldi, and Judy Fiskin. There are also major holdings in room size works featuring Bill Viola’s Theater of Memory and even the Tale of Two Cities by Chris Burden.

Open year round, the museum hours are Tuesday – Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM and Sunday 12 PM – 5 PM, closed on Monday. Although there is small price for admission, the day to visit is Tuesday – as admission for everyone is free. If you are in the Newport area on Tuesday, you should drop by the museum as you have nothing to lose.

If your on vacation in Newport Beach, you can go to the Newport Harbor Art Museum during the day, on a side trip. The museum is a great way to spend the day looking at art. For the locals of the area, the museum is a great place to go back to time and time again to bring back memories of the post-war art and everything that contemporary California art is known for.

Although the area of Newport Beach is known for the harbor and love of the water, it also contains a hidden shoppers paradise. With the infamous Fashion Island and Balboa Island nearby, Newport does wonders for those who like activities yet enjoy shopping.

Fashion Island is one of the best areas of Newport Beach, containing over 200 stores. The Island has everything you could ever want, from toys to expensive clothes. If you’ve ever tried Fashion Island before, you’re probably aware of just how great it can be. With over 200 stores, it’ll take hours and hours to explore everything here – and possibly even days.

If you happen to be looking for an inexpensive, yet excellent experience, Balboa Island is where you should be going. The Island is accessible from Palm Street by ferry at the Balboa Peninsula, or by car/foot from Jamboree Road at the Pacific Coast Highway.

With its great location and environment, the community is home to more than 80 galleries, gift shops, and fine restaurants. All along the streets on the island, you can find locals selling great merchandise, along with vendors selling superb sweets and hot eats.

When walking on foot on the island, you’ll notice that there are wonderful views of the extravagent homes, harbor, and even the bay. Passing the street signs, you may notice that they are indeed named after precious stones, which is quite different.

Once you pass Turquoise, Topax, Diamond, and Sapphire, you’ll reach the popular Marine Avenue, which is where shoppers will fall in love. With unique and attractive gift shops and sidewalk cafes, it’s easy to spend hours here looking at everything you can purchase.

The heart of the Balboa Island’s shopping and apparel district, Marine Avenue has many unique boutiques and galleries as well. If hunger strikes, you can lose yourself in the tastefully impressive Balboa Bar, a bar made of vanilla ice cream that is dipped in chocolate.

With restaurants on the Avenue as well, you can enjoy everything from a simple meal to some of the best Italian food in Newport Beach. Offering you plenty of things to see as well, Balboa Island gives you more than just shopping – although the shopping here is something you must experience.

If you enjoy shopping and seeing beautiful views, Newport Beach is truly the shopping paradise you’ve been longing for. As a family vacation, Balboa Island and the surrounding areas can provide everything you need for fun and entertainment. For shopping lovers everywhere, Newport Beach provides the type of shopping you won’t find anywhere else.