Travis Newport Beach attractions? The Newport Pier is a 1,032 feet (314.6 meter) long municipal pier located on McFadden Place at the center of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. Completed in 1888, it was originally called McFadden Wharf named after local landowners, James and Robert McFadden. It was used for shipping but when it was sold in 1902, the new owner began to change the area for recreational and residential purposes. The old pier was destroyed by a hurricane in 1939 and the new and current pier was built in 1940 on the same site. If you are wondering what to do in Newport Beach with kids, this is a great place to visit. Today, it is a popular place for dining, fishing, and walking. Founded in 1891, the Dory Fishing Fleet is located at the base of the pier.
As it features an art gallery, an impressive library and elaborate botanical gardens, it’s not only bibliophiles who will love the enchanting Huntington Library. After exploring the library’s exhibitions and collections of rare books, step outside and be transported to a garden straight out of a Jane Austen novel. Roses and marble statues surround the ponds and waterfalls, with a Japanese-style bridge in the middle of it all. To immerse further in the experience, visitors can also enjoy tea and freshly baked pastries in the Rose Garden Tea Room, which overlooks the garden. Admission is free the first Thursday of the month, $25 on weekdays and $29 on weekends. Established in 1917, Grand Central Market is a one-stop shop for every craving. Here you can find vendors offering an overwhelming selection of cuisines – from decadent breakfasts at Eggslut to handmade pupusas at Sarita’s Pupuseria – plus there’s coffee from G&B and juice from Press Brother’s, along with a host of choices for wine and beer. In addition to meals, visitors can also shop for fresh produce and sundries here.
Fashion Island is an open-air shopping destination with views of the Pacific Ocean. Opened in 1967, the luxury shopping center features more than 150 department stores and boutique shops as well as a large variety of eateries. Some of the well-known department stores include Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and others. The dining options range from artisan burger houses, to Japanese sushi, pizza shops and other Italian restaurants like Cucina Enoteca, and many small quick-serve eateries. There is also a Whole Foods grocery store at the center and a movie theater. The center hosts events throughout the year. See more info on Travis Newport Beach.
Universal Studios Theme Park has a variety of mind-blowing rides based on movie themes, but is also a working movie studio. You can take a guided tour of the studios and explore behind the scenes of some of Universal’s most popular movie sets. The main attraction for most people is usually the rides, which range from simulators to roller coasters. Favorite movie and TV-themed rides and sets include The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, The Walking Dead, The Simpsons, and Transformers. You can easily spend a day or two here, particularly if the park is busy and wait times are long. When you are tired of the rides, you can check out CityWalk, a three-block entertainment area, with shopping, dining, and theaters. To save time standing in long lines consider purchasing a Skip the Line: Front of Line Pass at Universal Studios Hollywood. This handy ticket gives you one-time fast entry to each of the park’s rides, attractions, and shows, as well as behind-the-scenes access to select attractions.
Located around an hour’s drive from Downtown Los Angeles in Orange County, Disneyland was the first of Walt Disney’s chain of theme parks. It’s been the star tourist attraction in the City of Anaheim since 1955. Adjacent to the original park is the relatively new California Adventure, which features rides and attractions inspired by the Golden State. “Park hopper” tickets give visitors access to both parks. The meticulously maintained amusement parks are laid out in themed areas ranging from Tomorrowland and Fantasyland to Hollywood Land and Cars Land. Costumed performers wander the parks, offering children once-in-a-lifetime encounters with their favorite Disney characters.
Griffith Park opened in 1935 and remains America’s largest municipal park that includes true wilderness. It offers miles of trails and some of the most famous Los Angeles landmarks. The Griffith Observatory, newly recognizable to non- Angelenos thanks to its starring role in La La Land, is perched 1,135 feet high on Mt. Hollywood’s north slope, so its views over the city are unparalleled. On clear days, you can see to Catalina Island. Inside, the Griffith Observatory is a fascinating astronomy museum with educational space-themed exhibits and the 9,000-pound Zeiss telescope, which lets visitors see comets and other galactic phenomena. Every hour, a 20-minute film recounts the observatory’s history. Also in Griffith Park: the Los Angeles Zoo, train rides for kids, and hiking access up to the Hollywood sign. Discover additional info on Travis Newport Beach.