SPOT SOM
E WHALES HERE – Offering whale watching trips daily all year-round, Newport Landing puts visitors up close and personal with giant blue whales, finback whales, gray whales and dolphins in their natural habitat—just moments after leaving the bay. May through November brings warm waters and the chance to see blue whales, finbacks, dolphin pods (numbering in the thousands!), seals, orcas and more. Guests can choose from general public cruises or go for the full VIP experience and charter a private ship.
GET YOUR SEA LEGS HERE – There’s nothing like spending a warm afternoon on the water. Whether you’re looking for a chartered sailboat or a full-blown yacht experience, Newport Beach Sailing Charters is your ticket to the high seas. Aspiring skippers are invited to take the wheel or get their hands on the lines and trim the sails, or sit back and enjoy a drink while the captain takes care of the rest.
SHOP & DINE HERE – Orange County’s answer to Rodeo Drive, South Coast Plaza boasts the highest concentration of luxury retailers in the county, all situated within two blocks of connected shopping structures conveniently tucked off the 405. Replete with an indoor carousel, the mall draws shoppers of all ages and stripes, from teens searching for back-to-school digs at Aercrombie and Fitch to well-heeled fashionistas rounding out their wardrobes at Gucci, Chanel and Louis Voutton. AND HERE – The open-air shopping mecca aptly known as Fashion Island boasts chic luxury boutiques, cafes and high-end restaurants in an upscale California-cool setting. Shop ‘til you drop at Alice + Olivia, Anthropologie, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, and stick around for dinner at Fig & Olive or R+D Kitchen.
GRAB A FROZEN BANANA HERE – Balboa Island in Newport Beach feels like stepping back in time to the summer of ‘65. Park your car and grab a frozen banana (or signature Balboa Bar) from rival stands Sugar N Spice or Dad’s before perusing the charming mom-and-pop shops along Marine Avenue. Then, hop on the $1 ferry and enjoy a quick trip across the water to the iconic Balboa Fun Zone, where you can stroll along the bayside boardwalk, ride the old-timey ferris wheel, play vintage arcade games and pretend it’s the sixties again.
LIVE HERE – 2245 Aralia, represented by Phillip Caruso and Michael Caruso, was crafted with an eye for the quintessential Southern California lifestyle. The five-bedroom, six-bathroom coastal modern farmhouse in Eastbluff features a soaring great room and oversized chef’s kitchen lined with sliding glass doors that fuse the spaces with a stunning pool, spa, firepit and outdoor home theatre. Located just moments from Fashion Island, Corona del Mar, Balboa Island and the Peninsula, the luxe home puts the best of the OC at your fingertips.
