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Newport Beach Facts

Newport Beach Facts
Newport Beach is located in Orange County, California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is a seaside city with a population of over 86,688. Newport Beach encompasses an area of 52.95 square miles, of which 29.17 are water. When Newport Beach was being settled in the early 1800s the State of California was selling land at $1 an acre. Newport Beach got its name simply because it was a new port. In 1906 the settlements in the region were incorporated into the City of Newport Beach. Newport Beach\s harbor was created by dredging in the early 1900s. Although it was once busy with marine industries Newport Beach's harbor is mainly used for recreation today.
Interesting Newport Beach Facts:
Newport Beach has a semi-arid climate that is greatly moderated by the Pacific Ocean. Although it has some Mediterranean characteristics it is too dry to be classified as a Mediterranean climate.
Newport Beach has a neighborhood called the Balboa Peninsula that is home to the 1906 Balboa Pavilion, the Balboa Pier, and the Newport Pier. Attractions include the Environmental Nature Center, the Balboa Fun Zone and Balboa Village.
Newport Beach operates the Corona del Mar State Beach, which was established as a state park in 1947. It encompasses 30 acres.
Newport Beach's Newport Pier is 1,032 feet long. It was originally built in 1988 but destroyed by hurricane in 1939. The new pier was built in 1940.
Newport Beach is home to the Orange County Museum of Art that holds regular exhibits and activities.
The Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve is a 1,000 acre coastal wetland, a popular place for bird watching with over 35,000 migrating birds stopping along the Pacific Flyway to rest between Alaska and Patagonia.
Newport Beach's beach is five miles in length. It has fine sand that makes it perfect for sunbathing. It is also a popular place for swimming, surfing, fishing, and boating.
Balboa Island is located between Newport Beach's mainland and the Balboa Peninsula. It is a manmade island created when the bay was dredged.
The Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach encompasses 15 native plant environments on 3.5 acres, with trails and a variety of habitats to explore.
Newport Beach has a shopping center named Fashion Island with over 150 luxury shops, restaurants, and boutiques.
Tourists can enjoy gondola rides in an authentic Venetian gondola in Newport Harbor.
Visitors to Newport Beach can take an underwater semi-submarine tour of Newport Beach. The bottom of the M/V Sea Life Discovery boat is half submerged, making it possible to view to underwater life from inside the boat.
Visitors to Newport Beach can take whale watching trips to see the Grey whales, as well as killer whales, finback whales, blue whales, sharks, dolphins, and seals.
At the east end of the Balboa Peninsula there is an area popular with surfers, skim boarders, body surfers, and body boarders called the Wedge. Waves can get as high as 30 feet.
Cyclists enjoy the boardwalk on Balboa Peninsula as well as along the Newport Coast and San Joaquin Hills.


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