Travis Newport Beach attractions and local celebrities? Featuring an array of stunning beaches, nature preserves, a choice of activities and romantic restaurants, Newport Beach is a fun weekend destination. Take in the scenery at Corona del Mar State Beach, go for a walk along the Newport Pier, visit the Orange County Museum of Art and enjoy the beautiful Sherman Library and Gardens. Here are the best things to do in Newport Beach, California. Hours/availability may have changed.
Located in stunning Griffith Park – LA’s largest public green space, spanning over 4,000 acres, and a popular LA attraction in itself – the Griffith Observatory sits on the southern face of Mount Hollywood and boasts some of the best views of the city, including downtown and the Hollywood Sign. Opened in 1935, the Griffith Observatory offers free-to-use telescopes, exhibitions and a high-tech planetarium. Admission to the Observatory and its grounds is free, but there is a small charge for tickets to the planetarium shows. Far more than an open-air mall, The Grove is nothing less than an LA institution. This shopping destination is home to a plethora of stores – from Nordstrom to Anthropologie and Apple – restaurants, bars, a movie theater and even an American Girl doll café. For a snack and a moment of respite, pop into Sprinkles for a cupcake or Groundwork for a dose of caffeine. Along with shopping, The Grove is known for celebrity sightings and the iconic trolley that ferries guests from one end of the mall to the other. Adjacent to The Grove is the Original Farmer’s Market, which dates back to 1934 and is a hotspot for fresh produce and high-quality food vendors.
Gondola Adventures offers a romantic cruise along the Newport Harbor in an original Venetian gondola. Your excursion can even feature a singing gondolier, if you wish. Watch the sunset, have a glass of champagne and a picnic lunch or dinner, exchange a few kisses, and enjoy the pure romance of this unique cruise. If you are looking for date night ideas in Newport Beach, this is a great romantic activity. There are specially decorated wedding gondolas that are beautifully carved and ornate if you want to pop the question or tie the knot in a unique setting. There are gondolas with a canopy for privacy, shade, or protection from rain. And there are also gondolas with a motor to get you a bit farther along the harbor. Find extra details 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.
Tucked away in a 16-square-bloock area known as the Golden Triangle in the exclusive neighborhood of Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive is L.A.’s most famous shopping street. While few come to buy the high-priced designer clothing and accessories sold in the luxury shops, Rodeo Drive is nevertheless a tourist hot spot. Window-shopping is irresistible on this avenue of haute couture, and there’s always the chance of spotting a celebrity shopping for the latest styles. The mini-mall at Two Rodeo Drive always attracts attention. With its “faux-European” architecture and cobblestone street, it looks more like a theme park than a mall.
Gangteng Monastery: This is a very important temple in the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism. Black-necked cranes swoop around the building on their way to and from Tibet, and behind the temple, the Black Mountains rear into the heavens. Dating from the early 17th century, the temple stands in the village, looking down over the beautiful Phobjika Valley far down below. See even more details on Travis Newport Beach.