What to do in Newport/Laguna Beach for a week?

[KrautHauler]

I'm gonna be on the coast right between Newport and Laguna beach for the week of October 7th, I'll be staying here (http://goo.gl/2P8RMq). Aside from the obvious time spent at the beach and getting drunk at the resort, what else is there to do? Any "must have" eats around here (Arizona is severely lacking in mom and pop places)? Attractions or sites I have to check out? Any good twisties to drive or dirt roads to get a little sideways on?

What do you locals do for fun out here?

[RAudi Driver]

Salt Creek for your beach!

[bsully1850]

There is a great Italian restaurant at Pelican Hill, right across from where you are staying. I can't think if the name though. Also, check out the roof top bar, there are two of them now. One at Mozambique and another above a small hotel, both in Laguna Beach, walking distance from each other. Almost all of the restaurants in that area are good too.

[rjpeaks]

ok - well to the north is Corona del Mar and Newps. then Huntington Beach - check out all three. there is a ton of fun bars/restaurants in newps and HB.

Corona Del Mar - Crow Burger, Nagisa, Banderas - check out Sprinkles if you have kids.

Newps - Mutt Lynch's (cold schooners), Pizza Mozze (mario battale), NB Brewery, Woody's Wharf, then get drunk and go to the beach ball, back to mutt's, blackie's, malarky's, cassidy's etc (very fun on a bike)

HB - walk around main street - have a happy hour drink at Duke's - buy something at Huntington Surf and Sport

at salt creek - watch for surfers

speaking of that - get a surf lesson...

have fun

[pjunk1]

"What do you locals do for fun out here?"...they count their piles of cash.

if you can rent a mountain bike or even want to, there's a great trail right up the street from you. you can definitely get sideways on it. it's pure downhill trail but you got to watch out for hikers/walkers.

marc's list above is pretty good. also, you can head down to Laguna Beach. if so, go to Nick's (on PCH) for lunch. eat and drink at the bar. trust me...good food while being very affordable.

besides drinking what else you into?

[Slave IV]

The Crab Cooker in NB...One of the best simple seafood spots I've ever been to. I usually order some chowder, bread and smoked fish and eat it on the beach but dining in is cool too. I normally prefer NE Style Clam Chowder but theirs is the best red chowder I've ever had.
There are definitely a lot of other good places to eat around there but it's the only must eat place around there, imo.

[SE-Chris]

Eats. Unfortunately Mom and Pop joints aren't really the Orange County way.

Sundried Tomato Cafe - Best Soup!
http://sundriedtomatocafe.com/lagunabeach.html

Harbor House Cafe - Open 24h, great food, great prices
http://www.harborhousecafe.com/

Mutt's - Used to have amazing Raspberry Cider =(
http://www.muttlynchs.com/


Things to do...

OC is about shopping, so difficult to find much else. Native's and lifers will suggest otherwise but know the truth deep down ;)

Anything I want to do (I'm from Oregon BTW) I have to drive 1-3 hours for. Camping, decent hikes, snowboarding, twisty roads, etc... Unfortunately i'm still looking for decent things to do that don't involve shopping or spending lots of cash around here ;)

Paintball, most pick-up sports, and similar all tend to be up north in IE. South OC is soccer mom and rich shopper central =( Oh and lots of beaches with sexy

[Slave IV]

Oh, for drives...Ortega Highway. It has excellent scenery, waterfall if you want to hike and the road is a lot of fun in itself. Don't think I'd want to go sideways on it but you can definitely push.

[oc-drop]

are you looking to get laid as well? good ole vacation resort poontang is always a plus. but there's some local bars in laguna off PCH that are worth checking out if you're lookin to land some tail.

harbor house cafe will give ya a good mom n pop stlye breakfast, I think it's in Dana Point or something (not too far south)

Muldoon's Irish pub is a great joint for beer, grub, and live bands on weekends. It is across from Fashion Island (outdoor mall) which is a good place to walk around and get a good scope of the locals.

[dhcivic27]

What do you locals do for fun out here?

Surfing, eating, drinking, mingling.

Coastal weather is on the cooler side right now though.

May I add. Just drive the coast and follow the ocean either north or south. You'll never be disappointed.

[bluesuede]

Spot on, Sundried Tomato Cafe has an amazing appetizer called their Rustic Jars I believe, its pita chips with pesto, sundried tomato paste, and goat cheese, also with sundried tomato hummus.

Same with Harbor House, you wont be disappointed. And its 24 hours as mentioned above.

Hwy 74 - Ortega Hwy off the 5 is a great drive, as is the coastal drive, but if you do drive through the Ortega Hwy, go down the road toward blue jay campground, its about as good as its going to get as far as mountain roads that are close by.

If your looking to hit the beach, try SUP, Stand up paddling, its huge out here, and you can rent a board from SUP Co. on pch, or do the lessons they offer.

If your looking for good mexican food, you can hit up Avilas, or if you want good cheap mexican food hit up Adolfos, a Laguna Beach must.

[OverSpun]

I'm gonna be on the coast right between Newport and Laguna beach for the week of October 7th, I'll be staying here (http://goo.gl/2P8RMq). Aside from the obvious time spent at the beach and getting drunk at the resort, what else is there to do? Any "must have" eats around here (Arizona is severely lacking in mom and pop places)? Attractions or sites I have to check out? Any good twisties to drive or dirt roads to get a little sideways on?

What do you locals do for fun out here?

Haha, Kobe Bryant lives in that area...

I'll mention some food restaurants since The Crab Cooker was mentioned but I'm not a fan.

Beachcomber- It's on the beach ~Crystal Cove area. Great food and good environment. (http://thebeachcombercafe.com/_crystalcove/index-apple2.aspx)

Bear Flag- Seafood. Poke, tacos, burritos, etc type- (http://newport.bearflagfishco.com/find-us/)

Javier's Mexican food, nearby where you're staying- (http://www.javiers-cantina.com)

Mastro's Also Crystal Cove, nearby Javier's. (http://www.mastrosrestaurants.com)

Pacific Whey Cafe- They have great breakfast but I have only been to the Crystal Cove location and it may have been closed since then but there are other locations- (http://www.pacificwhey.com/locations.html)

Coyote Grill- Also have great breakfast and everything. Also good view like beachcomber- (http://www.coyotegrill.tv/index.php)

Las brisas- Laguna, seafood. (http://www.lasbrisaslagunabeach.com)

Tommy Bahama's I like this place a lot but I haven't been in a long time. (http://www.tommybahama.com/TBG/Stores_Restaurants/Newport_Beach.jsp?SR=LBA+Newport%20Beach%201&cm_mmc=Google-_-LBA-_-Newport%20Beach%201-_-Restaurant,Store)

Martin's on Balboa Island. Very good mexican food, kinda a hole in the wall. I used to eat there all the time. (http://www.picantemartins.com)

The Porch- Tiny place, local place, could be crowded, etc. Very good desserts. (http://meetattheporch.com)

Beachwood BBQ- It's not exactly down the street, it's in Seal Beach and they have amazing food and always have good beer on tap- (http://beachwoodbbq.com)

Crow Burger Kitchen- Fairly extensive beer menu and great burgers- (http://www.crowburgerkitchen.com)

Bars:

Rudy's Sports bar- http://rudyspubandgrill.com

Goat Hill Tavern- Total dive bar. If you are a big beer fan, they have ~100+ beers on tap and they don't even really have a website or a list what's being poured but you'd have to show up. (https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Goat+Hill+Tavern%2C+Newport+Boulevard%2 C+Costa+Mesa%2C+CA&data=!2m1!1e3!4m10!1m9!4m8!1m3!1d3928!2d-117.9283304!3d33.6139348!3m2!1i1917!2i908!4f13.1&fid=7)

Just explore the peninsula, there are a bunch bars. Sharkeez, Cabo Cantina, etc.

That should be more than enough for your trip.