Hey hey hey, Torey’s Treasures fam! It’s been awhile, but I’m back starting 2024 strong with a travel guide! Coming at you live from stunning Newport Beach, CA! I mean, look at all the cotton candy sunset skies and boat/beach filled days! I’d 100% move here in a heartbeat if that was in the cards for me, but in the meantime, I have a full itinerary for you if you’re planning an upcoming trip (or month long stay like me), including where to stay, what to do, and where to eat/drink! I’ve got you covered on all things beachy bliss meets laid-back luxury, California style 😉
WHERE TO STAY:
Because Orange County and Newport Beach are SO big, I highly highly highly recommend staying on the Newport Peninsula. There are only a couple hotels (the nicest being Lido House), so otherwise your best bet is an Airbnb, VRBO, or Vacasa rental. In my opinion you want too stay as close to 32nd street as possible, making it convenient and the most incredible stay! Our rental was actually on 46th street, but it worked out perfectly 🙂
WHERE TO EAT/DRINK:
There are SO MANY amazing restaurants, coffee shops, etc here in the area! Some of our favorites that we highly recommend are:
- anything in Lido Village (specifically Malibu Farm for bfast/lunch/dinner, Skal Pizza, Herst Coffee, or Bear Flag for the #1 rated fish burrito omg I dream of it)
- South of Nick’s- the BEST Mexican food I’ve had in Laguna Beach! Grab the Mexican pizza and a skinny marg to start and enjoy the vibe/view
- A Restaurant- upscale dining but so fresh and great vibes
- Shorebird Restaurant- beautiful waterfront dining with the most delicious food/drinks (anyone can find something they love)
- Shack Shack- the coolest, retro, old school shack shack on PCH and on the water (highly recommend the Oreo malt milkshake and fries)
- Billy’s at the Beach- Hawaiian style brunch and dinner on the water!
- Guac Amigos- casual Mexican restaurant on the water
WHAT TO DO:
- 100% rent a Duffy boat out in the Newport harbor (this is the best thing you can do here). Bring a cheese platter, wine/beer, and just enjoy a beautiful sunset on the water with friends or your significant other. It’s 10/10 the best!!
- Take the ferry to Balboa Island and ride bikes around (grab a bite to eat or enjoy the bike path around the island)
- Ride bikes on Lido Island and look at the multi-million dollar houses
- Lido Marina Village- trendy outdoor area with fountains and seating for shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, and more!!
- Drive down PCH (highway 1) to Laguna Beach. We found an insanely gorgeous lookout view at Crescent Bay Park Point and even saw dolphins while taking in the view!
WHERE TO WORKOUT:
Curl Fitness is in Lido Marina Village and it’s where we bought our monthly membership! It’s a great gym, nice people, and awesome equipment! Plus it’s in the most convenient spot on Newport Peninsula. I also used my ClassPass membership and signed up for some pilates (get free credits on me here)!
OTHER TIPS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
I couldn’t recommend purchasing a bike off Craigslist or OfferUp more! It was the highlight of our month 🙂 We bought $50 cruiser bikes and rode up and down the Newport Beach boardwalk daily, around Lido Island, and more! It’s about $35/day to rent bikes, so we figured we’d more than get our money’s worth, and we sure did!!