Story originally appeared on Marriott Vacation Club.
What’s better than a vacation in Newport Beach, California? Racking up the Instagram likes and comments on all your drool-worthy vacation photos.
When you can tear yourself away from soaking up the sun and sand at the Marriott Newport Coast Villas, check out these Insta selfie-worthy spots around Newport Beach.
Lido Marina Village
One of the trendiest, walkable areas is Lido Marina Village, which is filled with boutiques, eateries and great photo backdrops for the social media influencers in us all. Jump start your day at Honor Coffee Roasters, not only for the perfect java, but also for the obligatory #coffeeart photo for your feed.
Fully caffeinated, you can wander through the whitewashed bungalows, stopping to take selfies by the village’s famous outdoor art, such as the mural proclaiming Let Your Dreams Take Sail or the large Lido grass sign perched above Cynthia Rowley’s shop.
Don’t miss the colorful blooms at the tiny French Buckets outdoor flower shop by Secret Alley and Via Oporto for a photo op that will pop. The design and decor at Serena & Lily’s offers perfectly curated Instagram vignettes at every turn, while Stone Cold Fox is the place to find an Insta-worthy outfit from OC designers who have nailed high-end boho.
Give your followers a peek at your brainy side posing with a classic title at Lido Village Books, an independent shop modeled after literary-minded shops of London and Paris. Or show the world what’s #onyourplate at Malibu Farm, an organic cafe that’s the perfect healthy lunch spot for influencers.
Sherman Library and Gardens
Influencers know everything looks better with a backdrop of flora and fauna, and you’ll have plenty to choose from at Sherman Library and Gardens. This 2.2-acre enclave of brick walkways, conservatories and gardens makes for stunning landscape images or the perfect backdrop for the California chic outfit you picked up at the Lido.
Balboa Fun Zone
The Balboa Fun Zone is one of Southern Californias last great coastal amusement parks and filled with iconic shots. Take a selfie on the colorful vintage Ferris wheel, grab a #throwbackthursday snap playing Pac-Man in the arcade, and keep your eyes peeled offshore, where there’s prime whale-sighting real estate.
Get your #sugarhigh on with such only-in-Newport sweet treats as the frozen banana on a stick (#foodporn) or the Balboa Bar at Cowafornia Ice Cream. Instagram fodder never tasted so good. Don’t miss getting in on the city’s own social campaign, #BalboaColor, celebrating new, local artist created murals on blank walls all around the historic village.
Duffy Boats
Newport Beach is 55 percent water and 45 percent land, so getting out on the water is a must. The best way to do this is on an iconic Newport Duffy Boat. These electric boats were invented in the OC and are a symbol of the area. Easy to pilot, you can rent a Duffy for you and up to 10 friends to grab great images of the coast, not to mention the party onboard.
If you’d rather leave the captaining to someone else, try a Duffy Boat tour. You’ll be able to get shots of Newport mansions, mega-yachts and the former homes of past Hollywood stars like John Wayne and Shirley Temple.
