A few weeks ago I took a trip to Newport Beach with my boyfriend and his family and had such a great time soaking in the sun, snapping polaroids of palm trees and eating some of the best food I have all year! His family has been vacationing in the same neighborhood for years and have such a great lay of the land that they are practically locals! Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for any whale watching california on this trip. Don’t worry though as it’s at the top of my for my next visit.

Today I am sharing all of the best kept secrets this bustling beach town has to offer from the best acai bowls to the perfect place to snap you outfit pics. Check them out and don’t forget to read my post on what made it in my suitcase if you are in need of a little packing inspo!

Getting to Newport

You can score great prices on flights into Long Beach Airport, I snagged my last ticket for $106 round trip from Utah which makes it perfect for a weekend getaway. Plus the airport is way cleaner and less crowded making everything from security lines to getting that perfect airport #ootd picture way easier.

If you only have time for one meal…

This is a total toss up because there are so many yummy places to eat. If you are a seafood fan you will definitely want to check out The Crab Cooker. Their clam chowder, fisherman’s bread and pretty much anything else on the menu don’t disappoint. Personally I am not a huge shellfish person so I ordered the Salmon and there was literally nothing left on the plate.

If you are balling on a budget the next best thing is The Poke – a brand new takeout restaurant that literally has the best poke bowl I have ever tasted, plus did I mention its only $14 for a large bowl (that could feed a small army)?! I get the tuna and shrimp with the house dressing and spicy mayo – it tastes really good with pineapple, ginger and seaweed too.

Save room for…Seaside Doughnuts

Seaside Doughnuts are the perfect post-beach treat, plus they are open 24 hours a day so if you get a late night craving after a night out on the boardwalk you don’t have to go to far to satisfy your sweet tooth. My personal favorite are their glazed doughnut holes.

But first…coffee

If you are in search of coffee you won’t have to wander too far, Urban Cup is one of my absolute favorite parts about Newport Beach. Their Sea Salt Vietnamese Coffee is AH-mazing and tastes super good regardless of if its hot, cold or my personal fave blended. Don’t skip the whipped cream, its worth every calorie.

Instagram Gold

The Acai bowls from Banzai Bowl are super yummy and such a great way to start the day (not to mention the perfect way to add a pop of color to your vacay flatlay pics)! I love the Maui Sunrise bowl with extra granola and honey.

Also make time to take a walk on the pier, the view of the beach is so pretty, plus there are really pretty red coin operated binoculars which make the perfect prop for your outfit pics.

Insider Intel

One of my favorite parts of the trip was renting bikes and riding along the boardwalk to Balboa Island. After a quick 5 minute trip across the water by ferry we were surrounded by amazing (and affordable) boutiques and yummy restaurants. Such a great day trip, bike rentals are roughly $15 for the day and the ferry is $1.50 each way. A friend had recently rented a bike for the day when she visited Harbour Town which gave me the idea. If you’re thinking of heading over to Hilton Head anytime soon and want more information on the bike rentals, you can get it now.

Souvenirs Worth the Splurge

Beach threads are some of my favorite clothes to wear so the fact that the whole boardwalk is littered with them can make it hard to navigate without spending a fortune. I try to keep myself in check by reminding myself that tourist towns, mean tourist prices and ask myself how often I will really wear whatever it is that I am buying.

My philosophy when it comes to souvenirs is to buy something that I actually need or already collect, so I settled on a Saint Christopher necklace from Jack’s Surfshop. I have been wearing them since high school when I started going to surf camp every summer and at $20 for two of them, I would hardly call it a splurge, more like a no-brainer!

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