Copy My Trip: Whale-watching, relaxation and sweet treats in Newport Beach, California

15.05.2024 - 17:43 / lonelyplanet.com

Lonely Planet associate editor Ann Douglas Lott recently traveled to Newport Beach, California, for a sunny coastal getaway. Here, she shares some tips and insights for anyone planning a similar trip.

With a hankering for a West Coast getaway and a head start on my summer tan, landing in Newport Beach felt like the biggest sigh of relief. I was just starting to hit a trip-less lull, and nothing scratches that itch like being on a boat in the California sunshine. Also, with my only prior knowledge of the area stemming from The OC and Selling the OC , I wanted to experience the Orange County hype for myself.

Thanks to the five-hour direct flight from JFK to SNA (John Wayne Airport), I was able to dodge the explosion of chaos that is LAX and arrive at my hotel within 25 minutes of landing – a magical start to any trip. It only got better from there.

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I stayed at the newly opened Pendry Newport Beach. It checks all the boxes for what you want in a luxurious getaway. The rooms are brand spanking new, spacious and peaceful. The hotel has a sushi and steak restaurant, a gorgeous lobby bar and a cabaret, as well as a members-only club for local guests (mental note for when I become a bicoastal property owner, sigh ). It also has a spa, where I had the most glorious massage. Most importantly, there’s a beachy pool deck with plenty of lounge chairs for what you really want to do on vacation – just relax. And while it might not be directly on the beach (it’s located right next to a shopping mall icon, Fashion Island), the crashing waves of the Pacific are just minutes away.

I love to visit a state park when I’m at the beach. The beaches are always well-maintained, you can learn something, and usually, they’re virtually crowdless. That part about the crowds isn’t the case for Crystal Cove State Park – but understandably so. The Crystal Cove Conservancy has restored 24 (and counting) beach cottages from the 1930s–50s for guests to reserve and stay in, including dorm-style rooms and entire cottages. They’re simply adorable and relatively inexpensive.

You’re probably wondering, “How can I book one of these magical cottages right now?!” Frankly, it’s pretty competitive, with reservations opening up exactly six months in advance and getting snapped up… six months in advance. But if you make an account on the website, have all of your information ready, and ask all members of your party to consistently attempt a reservation, you could be one of the lucky guests.

And now for the part where we all learn something: the conservancy hosts education programs for local students, and guests can also visit a restored Japanese schoolhouse ( cottage #34 ),