Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve: Opastetut kierrokset ja aktiviteetit

Gorgeous paddle session surrounded by nature with our NIXY Inflatable SUPs

Leave it to the OC to build a combination automobile/bicycle/pedestrian path, each with its own lane, along a three mile stretch of the upper portion of the Newport Bay.

But that is exactly what they did.

The trail is all asphalt, with a few very small offshoots into dirt "nature" trails. The place is beautiful, really, but I have to put a fly in the ointment here and divulge one of the OC's dirty little secrets. Somehow or another, a heavy portion of refuse has washed back into the bay and now litters various spots along the trail. It does not overwhelm the area (as you see here), but it definitely gives one pause to reflect.

That aside, the refuge is home to all manner of wildlife -- Ospreys, Snowy Egrets, Herons, Terns, Seagulls, Ravens, crabs, lizards, frogs, wildflowers of an incredible variety, and all the insects they attract.

There really is no elevation gain to speak of, nothing but the 6-mile round trip to give it even a hint of hiking bona fides. But it is a very pleasant way to drop down from a 16-mile noggin' poacher like the long route at Crystal Cove.

We added a second "hike" at another relatively flat nature preserve to round out the day.

But more on that later.

The Preserve was established back in 1975 after a fairly ferocious battle between environmentalists and, well, everybody else. I doubt there is anyone alive today who regrets the turn of events.

For one thing, huge swaths of land have been preserved [and protected] in pristine form, for another, public access through the place makes it a popular destination for runners, hikers and slow-driving tourists.

Finally, the surrounding area is almost completely developed for business, high-end residential, and hotel property.

Everybody wins...well, as long as you're willing to keep your head pointed in the direction most suited to your tastes.

It's probably a workable model only where almost everyone is working with a set of unlimited resources and is willing to put them on the line in pursuit of their interests.

A Walden for billionaires, if you wish. But I gotta admit, it seems to work.

Koe Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

Activities

Newport Beach – matkaopas

Kiertoajelut ja päiväretket

Risteilyt ja veneretket

Liikenneyhteydet

Suositut vierailukohteet

Orange County Fairgrounds (messualue)

Kun matkustat kohteeseen Costa Mesa, sinun kannattaa piipahtaa viihdyttävässä kohteessa Orange County Fairgrounds (messualue). Kävele tämän perheystävällisen alueen kauniilla rannoilla tai käy tutustumassa sen viehättäviin kahviloihin.

Lyon Air-museo

Kun vierailet kohteessa Santa Ana, voit viettää iltapäivän tutkimalla näyttelyitä kohteessa Lyon Air-museo. Kuljeksi tämän perheystävällisen alueen kauniilla rannoilla ja piipahda viehättävissä kahviloissa.

Muth Interpretive Center

Kun vierailet kohteessa Newport Beach, voit viettää aikaa tutkimalla näyttelyitä kohteessa Muth Interpretive Center. Kuljeksi tämän perheystävällisen alueen kauniilla rannoilla ja piipahda huippuravintoloissa.

Newport Beach Vineyards & Winery

Lähde tutustumis- tai maistelukierrokselle kohteeseen Newport Beach Vineyards & Winery, kun olet matkalla kohteessa Newport Beach. Kävele alueen rannikolla tai hemmottele makuhermojasi huippuravintoloissa.

Sunbrite Pools

Kun lomailet kohteessa Newport Beach, sinun kannattaa lähteä tutkimaan luontoa kohteeseen Sunbrite Pools. Kuljeksi tämän perheystävällisen alueen kauniilla rannoilla ja piipahda huippuravintoloissa.

America's Family Pet Expo

Kun lomailet kohteessa Costa Mesa, sinun kannattaa viedä perheesi retkelle kohteeseen America's Family Pet Expo. Käy tutkimassa tämän kävelymahdollisuuksistaan tunnetun alueen eloisia festivaaleja ja viihdemahdollisuuksia.