Newport Beach offers plenty of fun and sun for your family. You know about Newport Beach overall, Balboa Island, and Balboa Pier, but the neighborhood and area of Corona Del Mar is a great part of Newport. You can experience an abundance of restaurants, take the ferry to the island, find some of the best photographic scenery, or visit the state park. The best part? You’ll miss the crowds around Balboa Island and the more touristy locations!
As you begin planning your trip to this affluent coast, take a minute to download our free vacation guide to the best local spots!
Experience All That Corona Del Mar has to Offer
What to Bring with You
Anytime you go to the beach, you want to make sure you have the necessities. You want to ensure you have plenty of sunscreen. You want to stay hydrated with lots of water. If you’re going to a state park or shopping, you want to bring comfortable shoes and clothes for a day of adventure. As you explore, you may come across places that only accept cash, so you want to plan to bring some with you. Most importantly, you want to bring your family, positive attitude, and vibes. You’re on vacation!
Restaurants
Farmhouse Restaurant at Rogers Gardens
The Farmhouse restaurant is a beautiful spot for dine-in and takeout if you’re in a hurry. They have a great menu, Sunday brunch, desserts, and so much more to choose from. One of the most unique aspects of the restaurant is that not only do they purchase their ingredients from one of the top farmers markets in the country, but you can also purchase boxes of produce through the restaurant from the farmers market for a very affordable price. The restaurant offers several curbside market options of its own as well. Farmhouse is a place you don’t want to miss!
In business for more than a decade, SideDoor is a British-style gastropub at Five Crowns. They have many pub favorites on their menu, but you can also try some of their more delectable choices like the 45-day dry-aged ribeye. What makes them stand out is their menu. Beyond traditional pub favorites such as prime rib sandwiches, you can find a menu filled with different spins on traditional dishes and some of their own creations. Don’t forget to check out the self-serve charcuterie bar either! All you need to do is look for the door under the sign with the red key!
CdM offers private dining and reservations at their establishment. Their menu of seasonal offerings is simple and refined. They are also creative. You can try their chicken pot pie calzone for a new spin on an old Italian classic, or you can get the highest quality beef in the world with their Japanese Miyazaki Beef. With an ever-changing menu, each trip you make to CdM will be a different experience for your taste buds.
At first glance, Bandera is your typical menu with items you’ll recognize. When you dive deeper into the menu, you’ll notice the fun ways they combine flavors and ingredients into their dishes such as their braised red cabbage and goat cheese or the butternut squash and white cheddar enchilada. These sorts of takes on classic dishes make Bandera stand out in the crowd. Anyone who loves inspirational nuances to their food can’t go wrong with Bandera!
The Bungalow is very involved in the community of Corona Del Mar. They host private events, fundraisers, and a VIP club. Bungalow may offer a more traditional menu but their food is delicious. You’ll want to try their lobster mac and cheese, butternut squash ravioli, and steaks. It’s the perfect place for a dinner for two as well. This isn’t your typical dinner for two you find at other franchise restaurants. You will get 24 ounces of premium steak, lobster mac and cheese, and bouquet garni.
Summer House is the place to go for American-style comfort food and their hand-crafted cocktails. This is the place you want to go for your traditional food cravings. You can start with The Wedge and move on to a sandwich or entrée like fish and chips. When you wake up on the weekends, they offer a simple, hearty breakfast menu on Saturdays and Sundays until 2 pm for you later risers.
Gulfstream is a place to get great seafood from the North Atlantic and other areas of the country. We recommend the Ruby Red Trout, Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon, and True Dover Sole, a delicacy from the Strait of Dover between England and France. Their dishes are what you expect from a fresh seafood restaurant with some rare menu items you can only find here in Newport Beach. All of their meals are prepared fresh daily and subject to availability. You want to make sure you make it here!
Rose’s serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Their coffee is some of the best in Newport Beach. Here you will find all the comforts you need in a café. You can try their sandwiches and grilled items. You can stop in for a bagel or donut. Breakfast is what you want though! They have eggs, burritos, omelet platters, and pancakes. Everything you need to fill up and get your day going! You can’t leave this 5-star reviewed café off your list!
Beaches
Bayside Drive Beach
Down the strip of Corona Del Mar, you’ll find Bayside Drive. Along this corridor, there is a marina, shops, restaurants, and of course, the beach and park. It’s a great place to go when you want to mix some shopping and food with your day at the beach!
Big & Little Corona Del Mar Beach
The main beach in Corona Del Mar is Big & Little Corona. For divers and picnickers, Little Corona is just down the path from Big Corona but doesn’t involve steps. You access the beach from Pacific Coast Highway. You’ll find a public bathroom and shower facility here for even more accessibility. The cliff you come down to the beaches is also a favorite viewing spot.
Scenic & Instagrammable Views
What more can you want? You have great views of the Pacific Ocean and can get lost in the surroundings of life and nature. These are the top spots for scenic views and Instagrammable moments in Corona Del Mar:
Inspiration Point
Lookout Point
Cliff Island
El Moro Hike
Some of these spots aren’t just great views, you can also bring your mat and do some yoga!
Corona Del Mar State Park
Corona Del Mar State Park Beach
The state park is great for public swimming. The half-mile beach is surrounded by cliffs and the jetty that connects on the east to Newport Harbor. The park houses Big Corona beach which is popular for surfers, volleyball players, and leisurely sunbathers. The coves are famous for being in productions such as Gilligan’s Island and movie productions from Disney!
If you love Corona Del Mar State Park, you will want to explore these other Orange County State Parks!
Family-Friendly Activities
Fashion Island is your premier stop for the best fashion and stores. Whether you bring the whole family, or you come with a group of your favorite guys and girls, there is something for everyone at this top-of-the-line outdoor shopping center. You can shop at stores like Chanel, Armani, or Apple. There’s more to Fashion Island than shopping too. You can catch a movie at the cinema here or attend one of the public gatherings like more yoga!
Newport Dunes is a great place for the family! They have inflatable, bouncy platforms, slides, and other items out off the beach for more fun than just swimming. You and the kids will love it! The Dunes are open to the public for general admission prices. They also have a marina for boat tours.
One of the best companies to rent from, Pirate Coast Paddle Company offers paddleboards and kayaks for your fun in Newport. A unique experience they offer is their bottom-lit paddleboards for the perfect night out on the bay!
Burr White has You Covered for Your Trip to Newport
So, you’ve planned everything about your trip to Newport Beach, but where will you stay? Burr White Realty offers many family-friendly, affordable properties in close proximity to Corona Del Mar. Each home has its ow
n views and style, from oceanside and oceanfront to bay-view properties. We have many properties to accommodate any size and budget. Our rentals go fast, so make sure to book your stay soon!