Get Your Hike On in Newport Beach

A quick one hour jaunt south down the 405 freeway from Los Angeles, the sophisticated coastal town of Newport Beach, California offers more than you think. With miles and miles of scenic hiking, biking, surfing, over 400 local restaurants, and a laid back nightlife, its intoxicating charm will have you coming back for more.

Crystal Cove, Newport Beach [Photo Courtesy Visit Newport Beach]

Mommy Hiker's Top 2 Favorite Newport Beach Hikes

Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve and Ecological Reserve

One of the largest coastal wetlands in southern California, offering 1,000 acres of open space, the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve and Ecological Reserve is a mecca for birders, hikers, runners, bikers and picnickers. Classified as a "critical estuary," its preservation is crucial to providing a safe haven for nearly 200 species of birds, and foraging, spawning and nursery habitat for numerous species of fish, such as halibut, croaker, white sea bass and barred sand bass. 

For breathtaking bluff-top trails, head over to the northwest side of the bay. If it's jogging or a brisk walk you're looking for, Back Bay Drive is a multi-use road that stretches 3 miles northwards along the east side of the Bay from the Back Bay Science Center at Shellmaker Road to Vista Point on the corner of Eastbluff Drive.

Avid cyclists can enjoy a 10-mile bike loop around the Bay which starts at Jamboree at San Diego Creek, and the more ambitious adventure seekers can tackle the 22-mile Mountains to Sea Trail, which runs from Weir Canyon north of Irvine Regional Park joins the Back Bay Loop at Jamboree Road and continues through to Shellmaker Road.

Crystal Cove Beach and El Moro

Divided into three beach areas, Reef Point, Pelican Point and Los Trancos, Crystal Cove Beach boasts 1,140 acres of majestic underwater beauty for snorkelers and scuba divers and white sand beaches for sunbathers to frolic. If water and sand isn't quite what you're looking for, head to El Moro Canyon located at the southernmost edge of the beach to explore 18 miles of pristine hiking, biking and horse trails.

Four More Great Winter Activities in Newport Beach

Newbie surfers at Blackies Beach, Newport Beach [Photo Courtesy Visit Newport Beach]

1.  Surfing Lessons at Blackies

On the northside of the Newport Pier is a special swath of sand called Blackies, known for its slower breaks it is the perfect spot for kids who are itching to get their toes wet in the sport of surfing.

2.  The 107th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade

Join over a million delight-filled viewers at the 107th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, the nation’s longest running lighted holiday boat parade, for five jam-packed nights on December 16-20, 2015.

3.  Whale Watching Cruise

December through April is prime grey whale watching season and Newport Beach is ranked as one of the top destinations to witness these magnificent creatures make their way down to the warmer breeding grounds of Mexico.

Stand Up Paddleboarders, Newport Beach [Photo Courtesy Visit Newport Beach]

4.  Stand Up Paddleboarding

From full moon paddles, to SUP movie nights, and sunset outings, take advantage of the gorgeous year round sunshine Newport Beach has to offer by taking the whole family out on a stand up paddleboard adventure.

4 Reasons Why I Have to Go Back to Costa Rica

Four years ago my husband and I reluctantly stepped back on US soil, with the echo of howler monkeys still ringing in our ears, the heavy dew of the rain forest still kissing our sun-soaked skin and our hearts full of every single happy, soulful person we met on our 2 week road trip across Costa Rica. The initial concept of a Costa Rican trip sprung from my brother, as a picture perfect locale to propose to his then girlfriend. When we were invited to go along and be a part of his surprise, life-changing moment, we simply asked, "When do we leave?!" 

Every second of our whirlwind 15 day trip was planned with an adventurous spirit. Having rented a four-wheel drive vehicle, we made a conscious decision to tackle the rugged interior jungle roads and washed out coastal passages head on with the confidence that the villages and the people and the eco-systems we would discover off the beaten track would be a thousand times better than any walled-off, all-inclusive resort. We were right.

I will warn you that the title of this blog is a bit misleading. As you scroll down, you might notice that three out of the four reasons appear to be the same: Adventure. But, I will tell you that the adventure that exists on the west coast surf town of Playa Negra is completely different from the adventure that awaits in the northern rainforests of Monteverde which is a complete one hundred and eighty degrees away from the adventure that we found on the more laid-back Caribbean coastal town of Puerto Viejo and the Panamanian border-town of Manzanillo.

Every single inch of the more than one thousand kilometers we traversed, was brimming with Pura Vida. I'm here to tell you that once you visit Costa Rica, it will live in your bones, your blood, your heart forever. We are dreaming of the day we will go back with our daughter, to introduce her to its wild jungles, watch her eyes widen at the sight of its majestic coasts, revel in its beautiful family-oriented culture and most of all inject her with a little of its happiness. Pura Vida! 

1 | Adventure

This is an awesome video my, now sister-in-law took as she and my brother zip-lined through the cloud rain forests of Monteverde, Costa Rica! My husband and I were right in front of them! It was a magical and exhilarating once-in-a-lifetime experience!

2 | Adventure

The surfing in Playa Negra is world class, the beaches are stunning and the villagers are warm and inviting!

3 | Adventure

The chances of walking 5 feet without a wildlife sighting is pretty low, in Costa Rica. One of my absolute favorite things while we were exploring the west coast was being woken up in the middle of the night by the howler monkeys. It was like a deep, melodic reminder that I was in the middle of the jungle. It's also a nice added bonus to have a professional photographer for a husband to capture all of the beauty we witnessed, so we can remember it for ever!

4 | Pura Vida

This totally out of focus and not-so-flattering picture of me and my hubby biking through the Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge on the southeastern most tip of Costa Rica pretty much sums up the pure joy and happiness we felt.