Newport Beach, California
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Newport Beach
Notable For
Newport Beach is largely known for its idyllic location. Nestled along the coastline, the city features miles of beaches and the expansive Newport Harbor. The Wedge, found at the end of the Balboa Peninsula, is renowned for producing the city’s biggest waves while Lookout Point in Corona del Mar is famous for expansive ocean views (and great sunset-watching). The Upper Newport Bay runs through the heart of the city and connects to the Newport Bay before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. Neighborhoods like Balboa Island and Corona del Mar offer residents the quintessential beachside lifestyle while areas like Big Canyon and Newport Coast boast luxury homes and impressive golf courses. Residents appreciate the varied dining and entertainment options, opportunities for outdoor activities, relative proximity to other major cities, close-knit communities, and, of course, year-round sunshine.
Cost of Living
There’s no denying that the cost of living in Newport Beach is substantially higher than the national average. This is largely due to the real estate market and the high demand for housing in the area. Though owning a home in Newport Beach is expensive, the homes consistently retain their value and frequently increase in value over the years.
Transportation
Like most of Orange County, Newport Beach isn’t particularly known for its public transit. Instead, most residents own cars and driving is by far the primary mode of transportation throughout the city. Thankfully, traffic isn’t typically too tragic in this sprawling city, unless your headed south on the 55 freeway at rush hour or on a particularly beautiful summer day. The 55 carries you to Balboa Peninsula, and when there is an influx in beachgoers, you can also expect an uptake in traffic. Pacific Coast Highway is another main thoroughfare running along the coast of the city and will carry you from West Newport to Crystal Cove Biking is also a popular option when traveling lesser distances or navigating the peninsula, and it’s not uncommon to see residents out in the bay boating to dinner. Newport Beach also abuts John Wayne Airport, an extremely accessible, mid-sized airport that negates the need to spend an hour driving to LAX in order to catch a flight.
Schools
Newport Beach is served by the well-regarded Newport Mesa Unified School District. Newport Beach residents are able to send their children to one of several highly ranked public elementary schools. Horace Ensign Intermediate School and Corona del Mar Middle School, both of which have excellent GreatSchools ratings, serve as the primary public middle schools, while Newport Harbor High School and Corona del Mar High School, boasting equally impressive ratings, serve as the primary public high schools in the area. There are also several private education options for student, including Montessori and faith-based schools.
Attractions
Newport Beach has no shortage of attractions, but arguably the most notable has to be—you guessed it—the beach. The Newport Beach coastline is nature’s launchpad for a host of activities and events. Think surfing, whale watching, stand-up paddle-boarding, boat parades, and yacht races. The Newport and Balboa Piers offer even more opportunities for waterfront activities and the Balboa Fun Zone brings out the inner child in all of us. Upper Newport Bay, or the Back Bay as it’s affectionately known, is surrounded by miles of trails perfect for biking or jogging. Balboa Island is a destination for shopping and strolling and driving through Corona del Mar on Pacific Coast Highway is a destination as much as it is a journey. The city’s annual film festival is an impressive event, while the Newport Beach City Arts Commission boasts outdoor performances. The expansive outdoor mall, Fashion Island, is a destination for avid shoppers and several theaters in the area. The city also boasts several public libraries, art galleries, museums, and nature conservatories.