Tourist Information
Newport Beach, CA beach house or All Inclusive Family Resort is best for families with small children?
The attempt to distinguish between taking a trip to Newport Beach, CA to decide (rent a beach house) or go to an all-inclusive Family Resort (something like beaches or Club Med, which provides families). Wondering if people out there that have done, or could both their minds. We would stay old with a wide range of people aged from 6 months to 55 years. Two children, a 6 months old baby and a 2nd 5 years old, and all the rest of us adults. I have never been to Newport Beach, but have heard that it is really beautiful. Just not sure what there is there for the kids to do besides playing in the sand. I like the idea of an all-inclusive aspect of a resort, but sometimes these places sound better on paper than in person. . . Any help would be appreciated.
| This entry was posted by admin on March 20, 2010 at 3:51 am, and is filed under Special Interest Travel. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 4 months ago
Wow, either vacation sounds lovely, especailly because you are spending time with your family! How you lucky you are to have this dilemma!
I happened to have stayed in a beach house in Newport Beach, CA…in fact, we even had a 6 month old with us, along with other children. Although a beach seems like its not conducive for an infant, surprisingly, it can be. Not only will you have 5 other adults around to help you, but the calming affect of the ocean is contagious for those little ones. When you’re at Newport Beach, everyday consists of pure enjoyment. I loved watching the baby wake up in the morning, excited to greet everyone! It allows for a bonding to occur within a family unit, like no other. I especially loved being able to take beautiful pictures on the beach at sunset with my family. These photos will be cherished forever.
Renting a beach house requires a laid back, relaxed attitude–one where walking to the beach, avoiding the hustle and bustle of traffic, riding bikes on the boardwalk, and helping your 2.5 year old build sand castles is apprecaited. That is, beach houses are meant to be a safe haven for people of all ages. You might think, “Eh, I can sit around and hang out at home with my family. Why fly across the country with two babies and have my mom spend lots of money on a beautiful beach house?” Well, let’s face it…Rochester is no Southern California. Where else can you have family dinners, sitting around a big table, drinking beers with George, Georgie and Kris, while listening to the ocean each day and night? Where can you take your wife to Hollywood Blvd and show her the real “Hills” that she’s been so dying to see? Where can you have your mother babysit at the drop of a dime? Where can you take your beautiful daughters to Disneyland, and venture to the San Diego Zoo if wanted? The opportunities are endless…and it’s what you make of your time together that really counts.
Moreover, the benefits of going on a family vactation include: starting a tradition that you and your kids will cherish, having your mother’s home cooking more than 1 day a week, giving your kids the life experiences that traveling across the country offer, and meeting Micky Mouse.
I understand your uncertainty…really, I do. Think of this as a new adventure– something different, that, granted, you may not be 100% sure about, but who knows…it could be a great time. Think about your wife, your kids, your sister, mother and step brother who so badly want to go on a trip, and more importantly, a trip with you and your family. Think of this as a time to hang out with the people that love you the most, with people who want to be around you, Maria and your children. Vacations are supposed to be a time to leave your stressful lives, and escape to sunshine and luxury, and what better place than Newport Beach.
I leave you with this in hopes that you put aside your insecurities, and perhaps jump out on a limb here– try something you might not ordinarily be comfortable with and see what happens. Yeah, you might be out $800 for airfare, but a family beach vacation is priceless when you’re with people that love you.
about 4 months ago
Newport is boring. Besides the beach, not much happening there. Consider heading a little farther south to San Diego.
San Diego is one of the nicest cities in the country. It’s a major tourist destination and they know how to treat visitors right.
Mission and Pacific Beach are your best bet for fun in the sun. Belmont Park has a vintage wooden roller coaster as well as other rides.
http://www.missionbeachonline.com/
http://www.belmontpark.com/
Some must see attractions are the world famous Zoo, Sea World, and Balboa Park. Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the country. You can get a park passport which allows you entry to a dozen museums as well as the zoo.
http://www.balboapark.org/info/passport.php
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/index.php
North County San Diego is home to the Zoo’s Wild Animal Park. There are multi acre enclosures where herds of wild animals roam plus lots of hiking trails.
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wap/index.html
The Quail Botanical Gardens are in Encinitas
http://www.qbgardens.org/
Legoland is in Carlsbad
http://www.legoland.com/
La Jolla offers great views, great food, and shopping.
Check out the surfers at historic Winansea Beach. At low tide you can walk out onto the tide pools. Walk along the Cove and check out the caves. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art. Take a stroll on Prospect St and check out the shops, galleries, and have some authentic Mexican food and Alfonso’s. Then head to the Birch Aquarium at The Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It has a spectacular view of the bluffs over the Pacific Ocean.
http://www.dreamlajolla.com/
http://www.mcasd.org/
http://www.alfonsosoflajolla.com/
http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/
Take the trolley from Downtown to Old Town. There is a state park there that recreates life in the Mexican and early American periods of 1821 to 1872. There are also a lot of resturants in the area. Pizza Bella has the best pizza in town as well as homemade Italian food.
http://www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pizza-bella-san-diego
For nightlife, the Gaslamp Quarter offers dining, drinking and dancing. It’s also the home of Petco Park and the San Diego Padres major league baseball team.
http://www.gaslamp.org/
Pacific Beach also has some great nightlife.
http://www.pubclub.com/sandiego/pacificbeach.htm
http://www.pps.org/great_public_spaces/one?public_place_id=766
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse at the Cabrillo National Monument offers great views of the dowtown skyline, San Diego Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. On a clear day you can see all the way to Mexico.
http://www.nps.gov/cabr/
Check out this site for discount coupons and other info
http://www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors
http://thebestplacesinsandiego.com/