Laguna Woods, CA Outdoor Activities

Located at a private patio and dock upon the 880-acre Newport Harbor, Newport Fun Tours launches self-guided or escorted jaunts that allow customers to explore the harbor’s sandy beaches, gentle surf, and varied marine life. Guests ride down the beachfront boardwalk on bicycles, tandem bikes, and surreys, taking in the sights of moored yachts and million-dollar mansions with moored yachts on their roofs. Chatty, knowledgeable Newport natives lead segway tours on land, and water excursions depart via kayaks, electric loungers, and 10-person electric boats. As days on the water conclude, numerous dockside dining establishments tend to appetites, all offering parking for boats and passenger whales.

On a shimmering bay, a trained gondolier rows a happy couple along on a romantic evening. Having conferred with the gentleman before the trip, he slips a special message inside a bottle and discretely places it in the water. After turning the boat around, he asks the lady to retrieve the bottle that, unbeknownst to her, contains her marriage proposal. After tears of joy and a celebratory kiss, the engagement is confirmed, and the gondolier rows the lovebirds ashore.

This tale is not stolen from the pages of an Italian love story, but rather, it’s an unforgettable moment that Gondola Company of Newport helps make possible. A team of professionally trained gondoliers ferries guests through the bay and canals of Newport Beach, creating an intimate mood for special occasions, such as proposals, anniversaries, and birthdays. The journey is also ideal for families or friends, and includes picnic fare, and sparkling cider for guests to enjoy as they tour the bay in a unique and relaxing manner.

Adventures Boat Rentals' sea-loving staff outfits the Newport Beach area with both self-propelled and electric-powered vessels. The Duffy-brand electric boats produce zero emissions and carry up to 12 passengers, and Adventures Boat Rentals’ paddleboards and kayaks only produce a soft squeal when passengers board. The staff also equips each rider with a map of the harbor's restaurants to find grub after their adventure.

Catalina Island may reside a mere 75 minutes from Newport Beach, but that's no reason why visitors shouldn't travel there in style. The Catalina Flyer allows them to do just that, accommodating as many as 600 passengers who spend their speedy journey relaxing on the sun decks, enjoying a drink in one of two full-service cocktail lounges, or gazing out the viewing windows and watching for migrating schools of sushi rice.

After disembarking in Avalon, visitors are encouraged to take advantage of Catalina Island's many shopping, dining, and recreational opportunities, which include everything from golf and ziplines to horseback riding, undersea tours, and even buffalo watching. Hotel accommodations facilitate overnight stays, ensuring that weekenders have ample time to enjoy the island before taking the afternoon voyage back to the mainland.

Though Newport Beach Tennis Club has hosted such legends as Rod Laver and Roy Emerson, its 19 lighted courts welcome players of all stripes. Established in 1966, the club enriches members’ enjoyment of the sport with tournaments, clinics, and private lessons. It also keeps guests in shape as they work up a sweat at the fitness center, equipped with stationary bikes, ellipticals, and free weights, or cool off with laps in the junior Olympic-size saline pool. In the restaurant, chefs frequently change up the menu, filling the spacious dining room with daily specials ranging from grilled red snapper to filet mignon with béarnaise sauce. At The Clipper Ship salon and barbershop, members can transform their hair into any style, such as Andre Agassi’s legendary mullet or John McEnroe’s afro, in which he stored extra tennis balls.