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Oceanfront
The OCEANFRONT implies that the vacation rental is located directly on the sand or along the boardwalk (where applicable). The boardwalk is a little more than two miles long and is only open to pedestrians, bicycles, razor scooters and rollerskates/rollerblades (no skateboards allowed). Rentals situated along the boardwalk have an added bonus of people watching, while rentals directly on the sand tend to be more quiet. A few of our oceanfront rentals are pictured below. The photo that follows is of a rental located along the boardwalk. As you can see, the boardwalk is situated right in front of the house with the sand and ocean just past that.
West Newport and Balboa
WEST NEWPORT has a few distinguishing features. The first feature is that the sand stretch (the distance from the beginning of the sand to the water) is significantly shorter than that of Balboa. You can see the difference in distance in the photo above. Some people prefer this because there is less distance to walk over from your rental to your spot on the beach. Another distinguishing feature of West Newport is that in the summer, the surf is a bit gentler than that of the Balboa area. The reason is that the shoreline is curved and the jetties (placed at every four blocks) break up the surf. In fact, directly west of the Newport Pier is "Blackie's", a famous longboard break--so to all dads that ripped it up 20 summer's ago-this is the place for you.
BALBOA also has a few distinguishing features. The first is that it's considered more of the family entertainment area for vacationers. Situated directly opposite from the Balboa Pier (with Ruby's Restaurant on the end) is the Balboa Fun Zone. The Fun Zone is full of activity for a vacationer as there is a Ferris wheel, an arcade, a carousel, and many fun tourist shops and restaurants. Furthermore, the Balboa Ferry can take passengers across the bay to Balboa Island for as little as 65 cents! And on Balboa Island there are over 70 gift shops and restaurants for your wife to enjoy!! Another distinguishing feature of Balboa is that the sand stretch is a lot longer than West Newport. Therefore, the beaches tend to feel less crowded
Peninsula Point
PENINSULA POINT is located at the very tip of the Peninsula. If you look at the aerial photo above, you will notice that Peninsula Point is on the right side. The Peninsula slightly expands and becomes rounder at Peninsula Point. One of the most distinguishing features of Peninsula Point is that it is a very quiet area of Newport. There are few vacation rentals located in this area because the majority of residents are long-term -- mainly families or retirees. You will rarely encounter late-night parties, because the full-time residents won't put up with it! This area is great for families looking for a quiet vacation getaway. Stroll up and down the quaint streets, or read a book on the bay or beach (all houses here are within walking distance of both). Also, the Newport Channel is located along Peninsula Point - the only place where all boats enter and exit the Harbor.
Another interesting point about Peninsula Point is that at it's very end is the Wedge. The Wedge is a world-famous body-surfing break that many top surfers enjoy. It is not a place for the inexperienced! In the summer, it is very common for the lifeguard on duty to tell parents that they can't even allow their children to play in the waves. Also, no one is allowed in the water without a pair of fins. Why such strict rules? If you were to look up the hospital reports of neck injuries received at the Wedge, we're sure you'd understand. Be sure to spend a few minutes watching the surfers here during your vacation.
Bayfront
The BAYFRONT implies that the vacation rental is located in front of the Newport Bay. Our bayfront and bayside rentals tend to be a bit more quiet because of the leisurily activity in the bay. Other advantages include the enjoyment of watching beautiful yachts cruise by your home. Please keep in mind that some of our bayfront rentals may have a small street that runs between the rental and the bay. However, the streets do not allow parking in front of the home and so the view is unobstructed. Below is a photo of one of our bayfront rentals. As you can see, the view from it's balcony is breathtaking.
Oceanside and Bayside
When you stay on the OCEANSIDE you are usually within walking distance of the sand. The majority of our homes that are listed under the "oceanside" option are within the first block of the beach. This means that they are anywhere between one lot and ten lots from the oceanfront. You can usually find the distance from the sand written on the Internet description. If it is not there, please ask your reservationist.
When you stay on the BAYSIDE you are still within walking distance of the ocean. However, you will have to cross Balboa Blvd. in order to get to the ocean beach. To get to a bay beach you just have to simply walk down the street. What is great about bay beaches? If you have small children, you have less to worry about because of the non-existent waves! The bay beaches also tend to be quieter and less crowded than the ocean. If you decide to spend a few days on the oceanfront, it is just a short distance away (usually no more than three blocks).
By staying just a few homes off of the oceanfront and bayfront, vacationers save a lot of money! Sure, you are unable to hear and see the waves from your vacation property but by simply walking a few steps down the street you can. Many of our vacationers decide that with the money they save they can rent a boat for a day, or go to Disneyland, or take the ferry to Catalina Island for extra sight-seeing!
NO MATTER WHAT AREA YOU CHOOSE - REMEMBER - ONCE ON THE BOARDWALK EVERYTHING IS ACCESSIBLE!!!