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Newport Pier is one of two major
Newport Beach piers, and five Orange County
piers located on the famed Orange County beaches. There's this
incredible vibe around the Newport Pier. First, it's located along the Balboa
peninsula overlooking some great restaurants and beach shops. A set of
Dory boats and a quaint little fish market smack dab on the beach next to the
pier offer the look and feel of something old--and real.
Newport Pier is open from 6 a.m. to
midnight daily. It includes a restaurant, free pier fishing, restrooms next
to the pier and several picnic tables adjacent to the pier. Pay parking lots
surround the pier with coin meters. There is an atm machine located at the base
of the pier, and restaurants and shops surrounding the pier. While the beach is
open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., the Newport Pier enjoys an additional 2 hours of
entertainment. From major freeways, you can access the pier via 55 and 73
Freeways.
The
Dory fishing fleet is, itself,
worth a story. It is their fishing methods and persistence in selling to locals
rather than the big Japanese conglomerates that make this site worth a look.
A paved beach path passes by the base of the pier, providing a constant stream
of traffic from bicyclists and joggers. So when you cross over the sidewalk to
walk onto the pier, you really have to look both ways.
You can turn this Newport pier and the
surrounding environs into a great little beach getaway. The Portofino (also
known as the Newport Beach Hotel) is a boutique property overlooking the beach
and pier. Luxury dining is located next to the hotel, plus Mexican, American,
some great local bars and night clubs with that salty, down home atmosphere, and
strolls on the pier or a walk on the beach make this very special for adults.
McFadden's Wharf as the Newport Pier
was once called, was established by the McFadden brothers, James and Robert, in
1879. The Newport Pier was completed in 1888 - 1889, according to historians.
McFadden's Landing and wharf were first established for commercial purposes. The
two gents knew this region was destined to grow and as landowners, they invested
in infrastructure to get things rolling. Lumber from Northern California
was one of the staples, though many products passed along its wooden planks
during its earliest days and formative years for the growth of Orange County.
Captain Samuel S. Dunnells is a name often
associated with the first Newport Pier. Some say he established the pier with
the help of the McFadden brothers, and they mostly provided the financing.
along with the help of developers James and Robert McFadden. The current pier is
not the original, but has survived longer, thanks to a
set of jetties that created a break
for strong waves coming into port.
It's difficult to not be confused over the
name of this pier and the other one within view, Balboa Pier. Newport Pier
has a restaurant that's changed ownership a few times. It is currently (as of
writing) Newport Beach Pier Grill and Sushi Bar.
Address: 1 Newport Beach Pier Newport Beach, CA. Call: (949) 675-9771.
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