I have struggled to write an itinerary for Newport Beach, California for years. Even though we grew up around here and we visit at least twice a year with our kids, I probably wouldn’t tell you Newport Beach is kid-friendly (other than the beach and its proximity to Disneyland).
My husband and I are both from Orange County, so for us, this is where our family is. We have amazing memories in Southern California and we love to visit with our kids.
Newport Beach is a desirable place to live, and it is a desirable place to vacation. But the reality is it is expensive, a lot of activities are centered around shopping, it is hard to get a dinner reservation, parking is limited and busy, and there aren’t a lot of options for family-friendly resorts.
If you get a chance to visit, you won’t regret it. Here are some of our favorite spots to visit when we are in town!
Corona Del Mar
Corona Del Mar is our favorite beach. It is surrounded by cliffs and beautiful homes. If you are a fan of Shea McGee (McGee & Co), she got a lot of her inspiration from walking the flower streets in Corona Del Mar.
This beach is great for families because it has a parking lot, restrooms, harbor views, tide pools, and a snack shack. The lot is paid, but you don’t have to worry about parallel parking on a narrow and crowded street and hauling all your stuff to the beach. I do recommend getting there early or planning an afternoon beach day to ensure you get a spot in the parking lot – both of which usually work well with kids!
Corona Del Mar beach is also a great spot for family photos, and I think taking professional family photos when you are on vacation is a great option!
Balboa Island
Balboa Island is such a gem. To be honest, there was a time where I thought Balboa Island was losing its charm, but our most recent visit was really fun. The shops are cute, the coffee is good, and there are multiple restaurants.
If you can find parking, you could easily spend hours on Balboa Island shopping and snacking along Marine Avenue, walking the boardwalk around the island looking at houses, and stopping to play in the sand and watch boats in the harbor. Don’t forget to grab a Balboa Bar or frozen banana.
Balboa Ferry & Balboa Fun Zone
You can take the Balboa Ferry from Balboa Island to the Balboa Peninsula to play at the Balboa Fun Zone! Balboa Fun Zone is a small entertainment zone with a ferris wheel, arcade, and more. It is a hub for many excursions like whale watching, harbour cruises, the Catalina ferry, and bike rentals.
Please note, the ferry takes cash only and charges for pedestrians and cars.
Lido Marina Village
Lido is one of my favorite areas EVER. It is an expensive place – expensive restaurants, expensive coffee, and expensive shopping – but we love to walk around and look! Lido Marina Village is usually decorated cute for holidays and has pockets of fun for kids. If you walk towards Lido Island, there is a grassy area and a small beach too that is fun with kids.
I recommend skipping the coffee options at Lido Marina Village and taking the walk to Alta Coffee instead. Alta has my absolute favorite chai latte! For lunch, you can’t go wrong with Bear Flag, but we love Bee’s Knees too (formerly Tupelo Junction) for their fried chicken salad.
Fashion Island
I told you most of our favorite things to do in Newport Beach revolve around shopping, and this is another one. Fashion Island is a beautiful outdoor mall with fountains, a koi pond, and fun decorations around the holidays. The Barnes & Noble has a cute kids reading area too!
Noguchi Gardens (Costa Mesa)
Noguchi Gardens is a total hidden gem. It is tucked behind Moongoat Greenhouse, an adorable coffee shop, making it a great option for a breakfast or lunch outing! While it is intended to be art and a garden, it is shockingly kid-friendly. My kids absolutely love running around here!
South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa)
South Coast Plaza is one of the largest malls in the United States and is a global destination for shoppers. It is home to incredible restaurants and every designer store you can think of, but it also is super fun for kids. South Coast Plaza has two carousels, one of which is replaced with a train at Christmas, a LEGO store, and multiple candy stores.
Sunset Ridge Park
Sunset Ridge Park has a small playground, a huge field, a restroom, and beautiful views of the ocean! You pay to park and walk across the bridge and along the path to the playground!
Duffy Boat Rental
There are a ton of options around Newport Harbor to book a duffy boat. I recommend price checking multiple companies and looking at Groupon to save. You can pack a picnic or grab food to-go from one of the restaurants on the harbor! Many restaurants on the harbor have docks, making it easy to pull up and run inside to order.
Newport Beach places we have yet to visit (with kids)
My husband and I have been to these places many times, but not with kids yet! Maybe we will make it soon!
Crystal Cove State Park and beach
Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas
Our Favorite Restaurants in Newport Beach
Bee’s Knees (formerly Tupelo Junction): order the fried chicken salad!
Alta Coffee: my favorite chai EVER. I recommend mobile order!
Mama D’s: We love ordering this to-go because the wait for a table can be long!
Avila’s: the one on Newport Blvd recently added a kids play area!
Bluewater Grill: this is a great spot for Happy Hour. We love to grab the couch area in the bar and it works well with kids!
Check out this post with 4 Hidden Gems within 20 Minutes of Disneyland for more family-friendly locations near Newport Beach, California!
More Kid-Friendly places near Newport Beach
Disneyland, obviously
Downtown Disney
Adventure Playground in Irvine
Pretend City in Irvine
Irvine Regional Park and Railroad
OCME free train rides in Costa Mesa
Have you visited Newport Beach with your family? Leave a comment and share your favorite location!
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