Corona del Mar is home to quaint shops and the Sherman Library and Gardens, where you’ll find 2.2 acres of palm trees, begonias, succulents, a koi pond, and carnivorous plants. The vibe here is more cottage than McMansion, and many of the streets are named after flowers.
Locals call this neighborhood that feels like a city within a city CdM. Every December the island hosts a holiday boat parade, and neighbors try to outdo each other with over-the-top decorations. A fun way to experience Balboa is renting an electric Duffy boat - an easy-to-drive craft with a surrey for shade - and circumnavigating the island. Charming bungalows line the streets, and mom-and-pop shops peddle arts and crafts and frozen bananas. Yes, there are some impressive houses along the perimeter, but the vibe on Balboa is decidedly low-key. This quirky community, comprising three artificial islands in Newport Harbor, can be reached by bridge or a quick ferry ride, but feels worlds removed from the glitzy city. Despite this beach’s popularity, it rarely feels crowded, and hiking a short distance from the main area (where there’s a cute restaurant and bar) will quickly transport you to a place of serene calm. Once on the beach, you’d be smart to take a walk along the water, which is buttressed by the sweeping cliffs and dotted with tidepools. There are two key ways to experience this park: hiking the clifftop trails that offer never-ending views, or descending to the beach below.
Crystal Cove State Park is one of the largest uninterrupted swaths of natural land left in Orange County.
0 kommentar(er)
