ViX Paula Hermanny
insider tips
SUIT YOURSELF Newport Beach offers a bounty of distinctive swimwear boutiques.
expansive beaches and some of the country’s most expensive real estate. Upscale destinations at Corona del Mar Plaza, near Fashion Island, include Diane’s for swimwear and Tommy Bahama as well as new VICI and gourmet pantry Baker & Olive. On East Coast Highway south of MacArthur Boulevard, is Sherman Library & Gardens, offering 2,000 plant species on two acres. Consider a repast at Café Jardin or the Tea Garden Crêperie. Coast Highway is lined with design showrooms, rug dealers and boutiques. You’ll find bodysurfing, volleyball, fire pits, all amenities and Tackle Box gourmet “grub shack” at Corona del Mar State Beach. Picturesque Little Corona Beach, setting for countless family photos, is just south. South of Corona del Mar is Newport Coast. Crystal Cove Shopping Center offers boutiques such as Atelier 7918 and restaurants Bluefin, Mastro’s Ocean Club and newly
relocated French destination Marché Moderne. Nearby are Crystal Cove State Park, with its miles of sandy coves and miles of trails, and gorgeous Pelican Hill Golf Club.
HUNTINGTON BEACH Surf City USA has become more sophisticated. Though Huntington Beach retains some of its sand-in-the-cracks identity, shops, fine-dining options and luxury hotels have made for a dramatic transformation. Main Street is a promenade with lots of surfwear and beachwear shops, a Surfing Walk of Fame and Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum. Pacific City offers acres of retail and dining, including Kin boutique and LSXO and Bluegold restaurants. Hip lounges include The Bungalow and, atop Tanner’s, Treehouse Lounge. Next to Huntington Beach Pier Plaza are Duke’s and Sandy’s HB restaurants; the plaza hosts live music and farmers markets.
Three beaches—Huntington City Beach, Huntington State Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach—are popular for surfing and volleyball and for their fire rings. Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve (714.846.1114) boats 200 species of migratory birds in a salt-marsh setting with a 1.5-mile loop trail. Inland, at Talbert Avenue and Goldenwest Street, is 350acre Huntington Central Park; the park encompasses Shipley Nature Center (714.842.4772), an equestrian center, two “lakes” and the Central Library (714.842.4481). Tenants at 5 Points Plaza include Loft, CloudMover Day Spa and Vans; the dog-friendly center even has a barking lot. Draws at Tuscan-themed Bella Terra shopping destination include outdoor-sports specialist REI and Solita for excellent tacos and margaritas. Nearby is Old World Village, hub for all things German, notably dachshund races.
Beach Bunny Swimwear 2210 Newport Blvd. Suite 104 949.873.5711 beachbunnyswimwear.com Diane’s Beachwear Corona del Mar Plaza 920 Avocado Ave. 949.759.6880 dianesbeachwear.com San Lorenzo Bikinis Fashion Island 401 Newport Center Drive 949.759.1504 sanlorenzobikinis.com Seafolly Fashion Island 1135 Newport Center Drive 949.706.7690, seafolly.com Swimspot Fashion Island 259 Newport Center Drive 949.706.2996, swimspot.com ViX Paula Hermanny Fashion Island 259 Newport Center Drive 949.600.4490 vixpaulahermanny.com
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