Head to the beach at 32nd Street in Newport Beach and take some photos. Ocean waves that subtly sway, their force broken by jetties, offer a fun zone for experiencing the Pacific Ocean in all its glory.

From sandy beaches where kids play games with a ball or frisbee, build sandcastles or hang close to their moms and dads, to the college students from UCI (University of California Irvine), skipping out of a class to get some healthy sunshine, a visit to Newport Beach just wouldn't be the same without visiting the beach.

Though parking in the summer can be a challenge, buses run along Balboa Boulevard, dropping off beach-goers and vacationers at this particular stop. Across the street from the beach a few blocks is a grocery store, restaurants and even a bank. The beach is a lively location with beautiful stretches of sand, sizeable waves for surfing action between a set of jetties and the Newport Pier ever within view to the south along Newport peninsula.

A paved cement path runs parallel to the beach, offering two lanes of traffic for bicycling, skateboarding, joggers, skaters and those on a walk. A bit more mellow between the north beaches from Santa Ana River County Beach to this region, 32nd Street beach can make you feel at home, especially when you bring a family and want to share some stories with tourists from around the globe. You'll find lots of travelers coming to Newport Beach, the family-friendly destination.

Once living at 32nd Street and Balboa Boulevard, several observances from a resident's perspective still hold true. Beware and follow the parking rules. If meters require coins, feed them. If the sign says it's street-sweeping time, don't park there. I and my neighbors all paid lots of parking tickets, even though we should have learned how to avoid them!

There's an interesting vibe along this portion of Newport Beach. Vacation rental houses intermingle with residential properties and year-round rentals so you get a mix of youthful revelers, peace-seekers and workers who come home at night to inspiring surroundings. When July 4 rolls around, the streets pretty much shut down with barricades as traffic motorcycle cops direct cars away from the peninsula. Parties at house after house pack the place with celebration. Weekends in the summer can be equally as busy both on the streets and at the beach. Aside from those annoyances or excitement (depending on what you seek), the rest of the year is an easy drive and loads of fun to explore. For an introduction to Newport Beach at 32nd Street, you can drive along West Balboa Boulevard to 34th Street where you'll turn right, then left on Seashore Drive (one-way street). As you intersect 32nd Street, look for parking on the right or left side of Seashore.

Newport Beach 32nd Street map