Inexpensive Things to Do W/ 5 Yr Old in NewPort Beach?

Check out the tide pools at Corona Del Mar. I included a yelp link so you can find where to park and see the reviews of this beach. I think a five year old would get such a huge kick out of tide pooling.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/little-corona-del-mar-beach-newpo...

Balboa Island (my home sweet home for seven years) is a very quaint little tourist area. Main Street has lots of shops and a few restaurants. The restaurants are reasonably priced, and the Starbucks there has a nice clean bathroom. If you walk to the Balboa Ferry, you can pay some nominal fee to take it across to the Balboa Penninsula. For an additional fee, you can drive your car onto the ferry. The Fun Zone (ferris wheel, bumper cars, etc) might appeal to your daughter, but I found it to be cheesy as an adult.

Like the previous poster, I LOVE Fashion Island. It is a beautiful mall, and from top of the the south escalators, there is a gorgeous view of the ocean and Catalina Island. There are lots of great food options there from Wahoo's to Roy's to McDonald's.

The Sherman Library is a nice little distraction too, and I think it is free.

The beaches are very crowded around this time of year. If you do decide to go, try to get there before 10:00 am or it will be very difficult to find parking. Good luck!

I love the ferry but I would stay away from the Fun Zone as far as $. Maybe an ice cream:) There's also the pier or renting bikes (or bring your own) and ride all the way down the peninsula. Or roller blade. Depending on her age, you can kayak through the harbor. Once you're there, it feels like there are so many things to do.

I grew up in the area and worked in Newport Beach. The best people to ask is at the hotel as they are locals also. Balboa Ferry is fun and walking around down by the beach, there are shops. Also, Fashion Island (VERY nice mall) is right there too. We take the kids back every year and spend a couple days at the beach. Honestly, the most fun they have is at the hotel pool. lol

The aquarium, while not super cheap, is a must! And we bought a kite at the local kite shop, hours of fun on their perfectly windy beach.