With a beach blanket bingo vibe from years past, Newport Dunes Resort provides the perfect home away from home for guests to have fun in the southern California sun.
Situated opposite the multi-million dollar beachfront properties that line the golden coastline of southern Orange County’s Pacific Coast Highway, the Dunes presents a 110-acre year-round aquatic playground at the Back Bay nature preserve entrance that the entire family can enjoy.
From the moment you arrive, you will see children riding bikes, families, and friends sharing a barbecue or roasting marshmallows on a stick over an open bonfire, and people out in the water splashing about and lying on the beach soaking up the sun.
While most guests arrive by RV, stopping for just a few days’ rest as they continue to their final destination or staying for an entire vacation, you don’t need an RV to stay here. There are plenty of overnight options, including tent camping and cottage rentals.
Newport Dunes Summer Waterpark
You can purchase a half or full-day pass to Newport Dunes Waterpark during the summer and have a blast in the safe and wave-free Newport Bay.
The Newport Dunes Resort’s main attraction is the bay and its access to numerous water activities. Whether you’re a kid or an adult, you are sure to find something to occupy your time.
Moe B’s Watersports Park is a hit for the younger ones and the teenagers, with an air-filled rock wall, trampoline, and numerous slides that rocket you into the waveless swimming lagoon. Where else can you ascend to the top of a 20-foot structure and soar like a bird before splashing into the water below?
Suppose that’s not a challenge enough for you. In that case, you can try sailing your sabot or catamaran, a task much more complicated than it looks, or participate in the always entertaining and amusing, build-your-own cardboard boat race.
Of course, suppose you want a more relaxing way to spend time on the water. In that case, one and two-person kayaks, paddle boats, and electric motor boats are available. The Dunes have plenty of areas to maneuver while also keeping you secluded, so you don’t have to worry about bigger boats speeding by you.
Newport Dunes Marina
If you have a bigger boat, the Dunes have a boat launch and offer daily, weekly, and monthly slip rates at their Marina.
A great way to view the Bay from the water is via an Upper Newport Bay Kayak Tour, offered daily at 10 AM. Rent a kayak from the Newport Aquatic Center at North Star Beach and head out onto the glassy bay. Watch for birds, leaping mullet fish, sea lions, and the occasional dolphin. Reservations are required.
Moe B’s Munchies
Moe B’s Munchies is located inside Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, behind the Marketplace and along the promenade. Moe B’s offers pizza, burgers, hot dogs, and cocktails. If you’re too busy to stop or pack a lunch, no problem; Moe B’s Munchies has covered you.
As the days wind down and the sun begins to set over the Pacific, the fun doesn’t end at the Dunes. Often, it’s just getting started, as the smell of open-pit fires and barbecues from campers permeates the air.
Pearson’s Port Newport Bay
You may even spot a few fish fries; these campers have likely discovered Pearson’s Port. This floating shack is a hidden Orange County gem and is probably one of the best places to purchase California Spiny Lobster, sea bass, and buckets of spot prawns.
A movie on the beach is a great way to experience a traditional family activity with a unique spin. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Dunes show current and popular family movies on a giant inflatable screen from May to September. Grab a blanket, chair, popcorn, or a snack, and enjoy time with the entire family in the great outdoors.
So the next time you are looking for a weekend excursion or a relaxing yet adventurous vacation setting to reconnect with your family while simultaneously disconnecting from the hustle and bustle of the suburban grind, the Newport Dunes Resort is a great place to relax and unwind.
Newport Dunes Waterpark day-use is open daily all summer long. For more information, call (949) 729-3863 or visit the dunes website.
Newport Dunes is located just one hour south of Los Angeles in Newport Beach, California.
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