A People's Guide to Newport Beach Map by Gretchen Mary Kirkreit

Balboa Island

gkirkrei — 2024-07-18 19:07:46 UTC

Established in 1908, Balboa Island became a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Home to beautiful, unique homes and mom & pop shops lining the main street, the island is a popular location to go for walks on the surrounding boardwalk, to sightsee Christmas lights, and to get the classic Balboa Bar or frozen banana. Additionally, the island has a ferry which transports passengers from the island to the peninsula, as well as access to the Catalina Flyer that transports passengers to the island about 30 miles away.

The Wedge

gkirkrei — 2024-07-18 19:07:46 UTC

The Wedge, a popular surfing spot in Newport Beach, became a significant location for civil rights demonstrations during the 1960s as activists called for equal rights and social justice. Additionally, the spot has become a local favorite for huge waves, and beautiful sunsets making this a go-to beach spot for many families, friends, visitors, and surfers.

Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

gkirkrei — 2024-07-18 19:13:35 UTC

The Newport Back Bay is a nature preserve that is home to thriving wildlife, and various means for outdoor activities. While the nature preserve is a protected area for species such as ducks, herons, frogs, and many others to live, it also has a bike/walking trail along the bay, beach access, low tides for paddle boarding and kayaking, and beautiful scenery. Aside from being a beautiful place to exercise, it also is the backdrop for many high school students' dance pictures, a park for families to picnic, and a beach front for young children to pay without waves.

UCI, Irvine, CA

gkirkrei — 2024-07-18 19:23:28 UTC

Built in the 1960s to add to the UC system, the campus is home to the Anteaters and is known for its research in science, medicine, and social sciences. Being a commuter school, the campus brings together students from different walks of life in efforts to provide a quality educational experience in Irvine, California. In recent years, the campus has made national headlines for student protests in support of Palestine, George Floyd, and COVID-19 protests.

John Wayne Airport (SNA), Airport Way, Santa Ana, CA

gkirkrei — 2024-07-18 19:33:13 UTC

The John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California allows for easy and quick travel to destinations across the U.S. However, when first built in 1923 there was no indication of how upset community members would come to be. Years later in 1985, once homes started to be built at a more rapid rate, citizens of the surrounding neighborhoods began to complain and in turn filed official complaints and began protesting for a solution. To fix this noise issue, the airport is now one of the most noise sensitive airports in the United States. With the strict curfew, no planes can take off between the hours of 10pm and 7am, and planes must take off with rapid speed in order to quickly clear the commercial area.