Newport Beach, CA--What a great place to take photos! Surfers ply the waves at Newport Beach beaches at West Oceanfront and Grant Street on the north end of Newport Beach.  Located at the Santa Ana River County Beach, the waves are ideal for surfers who find the conditions less crowded than other locations such as jetties near the Newport Pier.

How's the water?  We asked several surfers if they were having a good day. One said it was a bit nippy at 58 degrees F. Wetsuits are a necessity during the winter months when the water temperature is its coldest. During the summer the water gets into the 70's.

The surf culture is evident in this section of Newport Beach. Near the Newport Pier, take a stroll into Blackie's By The Sea, where surfboards hang from the ceiling. Newport even stakes claim to Duke Kahanamoku, who introduced surfboarding to the western United States here in 1922. Now more than 5,000 surfers enjoy Newport's 7.2 miles of coastline on days where the surf works its magic.

Surfers on short boards in West Newport Beach ply the narrow channels of several jetties, while longboarders young and old, gather near the Newport Pier at "Blackies." 

For skilled body surfers, The Wedge is world-renowned for bodysurfing because the waves bounce off the harbor mouth jetty, then back to the shore in a deep cylinder. These waves can reach 12 feet in height on a good day.

For tourists, the portion of beach is located across the street from this beach is an affordable hotel, Best Western Newport Beach Hotel.