NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. (August 13, 2026) – School may be coming back in session, but there’s always a reason for another vacation. Today, Visit Newport Beach launched the Newport Beach Vacation Kids Club, a free, members-only club built around a simple idea: one last vacation. Signing up costs nothing and gives families access to exclusive perks for their next trip to Newport Beach. As temperatures linger in the 70s and 80s long after Labor Day and classrooms fill back up across the country, Newport Beach offers families a rare window to slip away for warm sand, fewer crowds, and a calendar packed with events that make the shoulder season feel like the main event.
“Summer doesn’t have a hard stop in Newport Beach,” says Gary Sherwin, President & CEO of Visit Newport Beach. “The ocean is warm, the sun is out, and the town is full of things to do, so we want to give families permission to squeeze in one more trip before the holidays take over, and the Vacation Kids Club is our way of making that easy.”
Families are encouraged to sign up now to discover special perks and book a trip before the season turns. A visit to Newport Beach this Fall is made even better with an exciting lineup of upcoming events:
- StyleWeekOC at Fashion Island: Fashion Island’s signature fall style event returns for its 15th year October 14-18th, again partnering with the Newport Beach Film Festival to blend fashion and film. The schedule includes runway shows, beauty experiences, celebrity conversations, and red-carpet moments set against Fashion Island’s open-air backdrop. Past editions have drawn names like Ashley Park and Penn Badgley, giving families a taste of star power alongside their coastal getaway.
- Newport Beach Film Festival: Now in its 27th year, the Newport Beach Film Festival runs October 15-22, bringing eight days of screenings, premieres, and industry conversations to town. The festival showcases more than 300 films from roughly 50 countries and draws tens of thousands of attendees for red carpets, filmmaker talks, and nightly receptions. As one of Southern California’s largest luxury lifestyle film festivals, it turns Newport Beach into a hub of cinema and culture for a full week.
- Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational: Beach volleyball’s biggest week returns to Newport Beach October 17-18, pairing the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 with the Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational. The event brings Olympians and AVP stars to the sand for pool play and bracket competition with over $500,000 in combined prize money on the line. Set on Southern California’s iconic golden sand near the Newport Beach Pier, it offers families a free, spectator-friendly way to watch world-class athletes up close.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY EXPERIENCES
Beyond the perks of Newport Beach Vacation Kids Club, the city is bursting with ways for families to “seas” the day. From the shoreline to the harbor, adventure is always close at hand.
Rent an Electric Boat
Exploring Newport Harbor by water is a must for visiting families. Several local companies offer comfortable, easy-to-drive boats that require no boating experience, including Duffy Electric Boats, Pacific Electric Boat Rentals, and Electric Boat Rentals. If you’re looking to elevate your experience, Sea Señorita Duffy, a stylish, female-run business, curates luxury outings with optional skippers, curated coastal bites and photo-worthy decor.
Visit the Balboa Fun Zone
For classic, multi-generational fun, the Balboa Fun Zone is a Newport Beach institution. Sitting right on the harbor, this beloved 90-year-old landmark features a Ferris wheel, arcade games, a small nautical museum, and plenty of dining and shopping. Grab a slice of pizza, explore the quirky shops, and soak up the lively waterfront atmosphere that has entertained generations of families.
Postcard-Perfect Beaches
Newport Beach’s beaches stretch for miles and are among the finest in Southern California, renowned for world-class surf, warm golden sand, and breathtaking sunsets. Whether families come to play in the waves, play beach volleyball, bodysurf along the shoreline, or simply soak in the sunshine, the Newport coastline sets the stage for a quintessential family outing.
Newport Harbor
As the largest recreational harbor in America, Newport Harbor is the heart of the city’s coastal identity. Families can paddleboard, kayak, take Duffy boat rides, watch gleaming yachts glide past, or simply stroll the waterfront and take in the scenery. The harbor pulses with energy and provides an ever-changing backdrop for adventure. Some of the best harbor views are captured from Marina Park and Lido Marina Village, which offers the Little Lido Kids Club every other Thursday with children’s book readings and live music.
WHERE TO STAY FOR FAMILIES
After a day of sun-drenched seaside adventures, Newport Beach’s diverse collection of elegant resorts and boutique hotels invites the whole family to relax and recharge in refined coastal style.
Newport Beach’s only waterfront resort is a haven for families. Balboa Bay Resort, a Forbes Four-Star and AAA Four-Diamond property, offers a playful onsite program that allows families to explore the property through an engaging imaginative search for treasure. Duke the Dolphin Scavenger Hunt invites kids to step into the role of “little explorers” across Balboa Bay Resort, completing a series of photo-based missions around the property. Families set out across the waterfront resort to pick up clues and snap photos at each stop before returning to the concierge desk to claim their treasures: a collectible Duke the Dolphin pin.
Boasting the only rooftop restaurant & bar in Newport Beach and rooms that capture an authentic beach-house feel, Lido House is a beloved family destination. Guests enjoy a suite of complimentary amenities including bikes, beach chairs, towels, and more designed to make every family’s coastal escape as effortless as possible.
Newport Beach Marriott Bayview
Overlooking the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Newport Beach Marriott Bayview keeps the whole family close to the water with its Family Stay and Play package, valid through September 7, 2026. Guests who book a minimum two-night stay receive a $50 food and beverage credit per night to use at Vista Restaurant or through in-room dining, along with a welcome food or beverage amenity of their choice upon arrival. The all-suite hotel’s spacious accommodations make it an easy home base for a family summer getaway along the coast.
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina
For a spring escape that blends relaxation and activity in equal measure, Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina is an exceptional choice for families. Set along the tranquil waters of Newport’s Back Bay, this expansive 100-acre retreat combines the flexibility of an RV adventure with the comfort of a full-service resort. Families can enjoy waterfront dining, lounge by the pool, paddleboard on the bay, or take a leisurely Duffy boat ride directly from the resort. Private cabanas and cozy cottages provide a comfortable, stylish home base for a memorable coastal getaway.
Sophisticated, stylish, and designed with families in mind, Pendry Newport Beach is an urban resort that goes above and beyond to keep children happy. The hotel’s signature children’s program, Paintbox, is an all-day children’s club where experienced social coordinators make every day an adventure to remember with locally-inspired arts and crafts, group games, outdoor adventures, and a kid-approved menu of meals and snacks. On Friday and Saturday evenings, parents can enjoy a night to themselves while children settle in at Paintbox for a chaperoned Children’s Night Out, complete with a kid-friendly movie, popcorn, dinner, crafts and more for $150 per child. Family travelers can also leave the heavy beach supplies at home, as Pendry Newport Beach offers round-trip private transportation to and from Corona del Mar’s beach access point along with beach chairs, umbrellas, Yeti coolers, and boogie boards all ready to go for the perfect day in the sun.
Perched above the coastline at the Bella Vista Pool, the Creative Kids Studio at The Resort at Pelican Hill gives children ages 5 to 12 a themed enrichment program of their own. Saturday afternoons bring Junior Artists & Architects, where little guests explore architecture, painting, birdhouse design and a modern art project, while Sunday mornings feature Clay & Creators, complete with a mini animal collection, a car design lesson, and additional stations for building, studio design, drawing, games and a cozy book nook. Each session includes craft supplies for one project per station, with a registration fee of $150 per child per day for registered Resort guests, drop-off as early as 9:00 a.m. and pickup by 12:15 p.m.
VEA Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa
A true social sanctuary with sweeping views of the golf course and Pacific beyond, VEA Newport Beach makes it easy for families to enjoy everything Newport Beach has to offer with beach chairs, toys, umbrellas and more at its “Play Chalet.” VEA’s house car, a Sprinter van, can chauffer families on the quick drive to Corona Del Mar State Beach in peak season or on demand in off season.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Families are invited to explore the full Newport Beach Vacation Club experience through the dedicated landing page featuring exclusive offers, curated Fall itineraries, originally merchandise, and insider recommendations for every age and interest. From beachcombing and paddleboarding to picnics, Balboa Bar stops, and charming local shops, there’s just one more vacation waiting around every corner.
For more information about Newport Beach Kids Vacation Club and to sign up, please visit VisitNewportBeach.com and follow Visit Newport Beach on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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ABOUT VISIT NEWPORT BEACH
Visit Newport Beach Inc. is the official Destination Marketing Organization for the City of Newport Beach, California, a storied coastal enclave renowned for its world-class harbor, pristine beaches, and elevated blend of outdoor adventure and sophisticated luxury. As a 501(c)6 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the destination and driving economic growth by attracting leisure and conference visitors, Visit Newport Beach partners with the tourism and hospitality industry to enhance visitor spending, ultimately contributing to the community’s quality of life. Through strategic sales, marketing, advertising, and public relations efforts, the organization positions Newport Beach as a premier travel and conference destination. For more information, please visit www.VisitNewportBeach.com.
Media Contact:
Caitlin Corbin, Director of Communications