Let the beach be your playground

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- As the weather heats up, the rents rise and the

tourists flood the city and clog traffic, it’s best to know where you’re

going.

Even if you don’t know what you’re doing -- it’s good to look like you

do.

Don’t be that guy thinking you’ll bodyboard The Wedge in the middle of

the afternoon or surf at 40th Street. This summer when you hit the beach

scene, do it with panache.

If you’re surfing, skim boarding, scuba diving -- whatever your

activity -- you want to do it in the best spot.

So here’s your heads up.

This is Newport Beach lifeguard Capt. Eric Bauer’s take on the best

spots for all your mainstream summer thrills:

Bodyboarding: Throw on a fin or two and head to the jetties anywhere

from 40th Street to 44th Street, where you won’t get run over by a surfer

because they’re not allowed.

Don’t go to The Wedge between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. -- no matter how

tough you think you are -- because that is one place spongers and surfers

alike are blackballed.

Know that blackballed means just what you think it does -- access

denied.

Bodysurfing: Anywhere on Balboa from 15th Street south, you should be

able to find a fun ride.

If you are an expert, not a vacationing beachgoer, summer swells make

anywhere from Balboa Pier to The Wedge a wild ride for a bodysurfer.

But the beach breaks also make for permanent spinal injuries for

anyone who gets drilled into the sand. So be careful.

Surfing: All other areas (non-beach breaks) go off when there is a

Chubasco, or Mexican hurricane. But a top spot is the point at 18th

Street, where surfers can usually catch a good hollow peak in the summer.

Also, 56th Street is a great surf spot, as are the jetties -- except

between 40th Street and 44th Street, where, once again, surfers are

blackballed -- and the river jetties.

For a beginner, Blackie’s, just to the north of Newport Pier, is a

primo spot, but watch out, it gets crowded with groms and rookies.

Swimming: Is best done by good swimmers with ocean knowledge (who know

what a riptide is and how to handle it). Anywhere that is not infested

with surfers, who may just run you over, is a good spot. Corona del Mar

is one of the best -- Balboa Pier to The Wedge is the worst. (Once again,

beach breaks equal spinal injuries.) One last note: The best place to

swim long distances is the bay, just watch out for boats and kayakers.

Skim Boarding: Is done down at The Wedge outside of the blackball area

and down at the Balboa Pier outside the blackball area. Also good spots:

L Street and G street, or anywhere from Coronado Street to The Wedge.

Sand Castle Building: It’s no contest -- Corona del Mar is the place.

Actually, there is contest. The annual sandcastle building contest is

held on Corona del Mar State Beach each summer. But if you get funny

looks while building a sand castle elsewhere -- that’s not why they’re

looking at you funny.

Family Beach (where screaming children may go unnoticed): Corona del

Mar and Balboa are the best for the whole crew. There are fire rings at

both beaches, so you can spend a whole day out there and really tire them

out. Or anywhere there is parking nearby, such as either pier.

Singles (no screaming kiddies running about) Beach: Anywhere there is

not parking. Somewhere you get to by bike is highly recommended. Some

suggestions include West Newport or the far end of Balboa.

Dogs: Are allowed on all beaches, on a leash, before 9 a.m. or after 5

p.m. they are never permitted on the boardwalk or either pier.

Kayaking: Probably the best place would be in the Back Bay. For those

of you who want to attempt a paddle over surf and through the whitewash,

just avoid the blackball areas and swimming areas.

In-line Skating and Biking: Unless you’re trying to get somewhere

specific, stick to the boardwalk, which runs from 36th Street to F Street

on both the bay front and ocean front. “Use caution and go slow,” Bauer

says.

Barbecue: Open fires are allowed in the fire rings (and only in the

fire rings) found at Corona del Mar and Balboa. These fire rings also

make those the best night beaches. If you want to bring your own

barbecue, make sure it sits up off the sand. Lowrider hibachi’s are not

allowed.

Rock Climbing and Bouldering: Is actually not allowed anywhere.

Contrary to popular belief, and what the many chalk marks indicate,

bouldering is not even allowed in that cove at Corona del Mar across from

The Wedge.

Volleyball: You can’t miss them. They are the spots with those nets

set up on poles in the sand. There are big contingencies up at Orange

Street in upper West Newport, at Corona del Mar and at C Street.

Boating and Boat Launching: The only place that allows large boat

launching, that is if you don’t own your own marina or dock, is Newport

Dunes. Hand-carried vessels, such as canoes, may be launched at 1901

Bayside Drive. Catamarans may set sail off of 18th Street and Bay.

Windsurfing: Launch your windsurfer at 18th Street and Bay, and head

outside of the swimming area. A helpful hint: It’s best to go when there

is wind.

Kite Flying: Anywhere there is wind should work. Lifeguards prefer

that kites be flown on less crowded beaches, which most are when it’s

really windy. (Blowing sand drives people away pretty quickly).

Fishing: Off either pier works well, or off the east and west jetties.

Rumor has it there is some killer surf fly-fishing at the Santa Ana River

Jetty.

Tourist Spot: Definitely the Fun Zone area. You can amuse the whole

family there for hours. There’s food and shops, amusement rides, harbor

tours, para-sailing, boat rentals, fishing charters, catamaran trips,

bars -- the list goes on and on. Plus, if you’re low on cash but want to

get out on the water, you can ride the ferry back and forth from Balboa

Island for only 50 cents each way.

Night Spot: See tourist spot. (unless you’re a big partyer, then head

down to Dennis Rodman’s -- just follow the noise.)

Scuba Diving: Go south of Corona del Mar to Little Corona, but (I know

you’re sick of hearing this) not in the blackballed areas.

Snorkeling: Once again, down south, Corona del Mar area -- the rockier

the area the better, that’s where the fish hang out. The best days are

for a day or two after a southeast wind blows. That usually cleans up the

water for a couple of days.

Tide Pool Hopping: Little Corona and south, just watch out after a

rain. Another obvious spot is the Back Bay Nature Center.

People Watching: Newport Pier, where bright and early with the surfers

and fishermen you can also find preachers (and maybe the Lord) and you

can hang out with the birdman.