AArisings: Beach Trip



	Beach Trip By Kevin Wing Host/Executive Producer, Catch a Wave (Editor’s Note: his regular column about America's best beaches and beach communities is written exclusively for AArisings by Kevin Wing, a two-time Emmy Award-winning San Francisco Bay Area-based television and travel journalist who hosts and executive-produces Catch a Wave, a new travel podcast. Kevin is also a Northern California field producer for ABC News and serves as news producer and interim executive director at TV30 in the Bay Area. He has also worked at KTVU, KGO-TV, KRON and KNTV. Additionally, he is a voiceover artist and writes another AArisings column, Suite Surrender, which showcases America's best hotel and resort destinations. Kevin is also a travel columnist for ALIVE East Bay Magazine.) *This Month's Beach Trip: Newport Beach, California* If you're a regular reader of Beach Trip or Suite Surrender, allow me first to say thank you for taking an interest in my work. I do appreciate it very much, and I hope you've enjoyed my writings as much as I've enjoyed penning them for you. It has been a lot of fun for me. I've always appreciated Nelson Wong and AArisings for giving me an opportunity to share my interest in travel with you. That said, you may recall my last Beach Trip in September, in which I devoted that month's column to Toby, my golden retriever. He was the best dog ever. Of course, all dog owners say that about their dogs. I'm no different. Toby was the very best dog ever, as far as I'm concerned. He died Sept. 5th, two days after turning 13 years old. He had lived a very happy life. Toby loved people. He loved to play, eat, go for car rides; just about anything. One thing he always loved doing was going for a ride in the car with me to the beach. Toby had been to many beaches during his 13 years and two days in this world. From San Diego to northern California and everywhere in between, he'd seen a lot of sand and ocean waves to last a lifetime. In September, I wrote about Toby and our love for Carmel Beach. A great dog beach. He enjoyed beaches very much. I'm happy that you allowed me to share my experiences with him in that column last September. I will always love Toby, and I will never forget him. Yes, it's true, when I visit a beach these days, I wish Toby was there with me. Although he's no longer by my side and I'm no longer by his, I'm incredibly grateful that he was my dog and that I gave him a happy life. And, so it is that I tell you about my next beach excursion, unfortunately without Toby by my side. It's Newport Beach, in southern California. As most everyone knows, Newport Beach is known more for being an upper-class suburb of coastal Orange County. It's the place where John Wayne, wanting to avoid the bright lights of Hollywood, decided to take up residence. Other stars soon followed. Newport Beach, in the 1940s, became the hip place that it continues to be to this day. It's true that Newport Beach is considered a tourist trap. Disneyland, in Anaheim, is only a 20-minute drive up the freeway from Newport Beach. Most of Orange County, one could surmise, is a tourist trap. That's paradise for city and county coffers, but a downfall for residents. Newport Beach is a destination point in southern California. People go to Newport Beach to relax and enjoy the city that it is. The beaches, of course, are something else, too. With nine miles of sandy beaches, the opportunities are nearly endless for beach lovers looking to surf, sunbathe, body board, sail, snorkel and more. Newport Beach's beaches are one of California's most picturesque playgrounds. Newport Beach -- the city -- is also home to Newport Bay, situated just inland from the Pacific Ocean. Here's some Hollywood history for you: Newport Harbor served as the opening scene for the 1960s television series, "Gilligan's Island." On land, the city is totally impressive; by sea, it's even more so. You can board a chartered boat, hop on a romantic gondola, gawk at the luxury yachts which dot Newport Bay and Balboa Island and explore all of the different, intricate waterways of this beautiful area. From Newport Beach, you can board the Catalina Flyer, a giant 500-passenger catamaran that will take you on the open waters of the Pacific to Catalina Island, 26 miles off the coast of California. It's a smooth 75-minute cruise across the Pacific. The historic Balboa Pavilion, built in 1906, is the city's most famous landmark. Picture a very miniature Coney Island. There are a variety of options to entertain yourself and your family, from fishing, arcade games to nice restaurants and amusement park rides, including a historic Ferris wheel and an old-fashioned merry-go-round. Balboa Island, in the middle of Newport Bay, is home to the rich and famous. How do I know that? Take one look at the magnificent homes, and the huge yachts that are docked in front of them. You can also take a ferry tour on Newport Bay and the skipper of the ferry will offer an interesting narration about Newport Beach, Balboa Island and Newport Bay, from their colorful histories to its reputation today as a fun playground for tourists as well as local residents. Most of the Orange County coastline is considered an attraction, whether it be Laguna Beach, Dana Point or Huntington Beach. But, this writer must say that Newport Beach -- and all it has to offer -- is the defining city along the Orange County coast. It has been an attraction for generations. By all indications, it will likely remain that way for many generations to come. How to get there: From downtown Los Angeles, head south on either Interstate 5 or Interstate 405, then exit at state Highway 55 heading to Newport Beach. The freeway ends at Newport Boulevard as you enter the Newport Beach city limits. Follow the signs to the beaches and to Newport Harbor, and you're in paradise. *Next stop on Beach Trip:* We're off to the Lone Star State of Texas and the gorgeous beaches of South Padre Island. To learn more about the Catch a Wave travel podcast and Kevin Wing, send an e-mail to catchawavetvshow@aol.com. Watch for a new Web site for Kevin debuting in May 2008! Beach Trip Where It's Summertime Year-Round. Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved Kevin Wing / Toby Dog Productions Issue 14 / March 2008 Archive: September 2007 August 2007 May 2007 December 2006 July 2006 May 2006 March 2006 January 2006 October 2005 August 2005 June 2005 April 2005 February 2005 Photo used by permission courtesy of Kevin Wing. Photo copyright by Kevin Wing.