Newport Beach
Christmas Boat Parade
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, or the Parade of Lights as it's also known, is one of the major Christmas events in the whole of Southern California.
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
All Photos (c) Newport Landing Cruises and www.christmasparadeboats.com
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, or the Parade of Lights as it's also known, is one of the major Xmas events in the whole of Southern California, and within easy reach of Los Angeles. As you can see from the photos, it's one of the most colorful parades you could find, and it's been going now for over 100 years. In fact The New York Times described it as “one of the top 10 holiday happenings in the nation."
Our Pick of the California Guides
Each holiday season Newport Harbor comes alive with Christmas lights and decorations, and these and the Boat Parade bring over a million people to this beach town less than an hour from downtown Los Angeles. Some of the boats in the parade spend over $50,000 decorating themselves, in the hope of winning a prize for the best boat in the parade.
Best Way to See the Boat Parade
The best way to see the boat parade is definitely up-close and personal. From December 1st five boats in Newport Harbor offer cruises around the harbor to see the lights, with three departures every night. The cruises offer visitors the best opportunity to see the boats in the Boat Parade. See below a link to the online booking form.
Where to Stay in Newport Beach
When to See the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
The Christmas lights start going up after Thanksgiving, and by December 1st Newport Harbor is lit up like… well, lit up like a Christmas tree!
Booking Online
You can book an evening tour of Newport Harbor to see the lights here:
http://www.christmasparadeboats.com/reservationrequestform.html.
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Other California coast pages
Historic and romantic Vagabond's House Inn Bed and Breakfast in Carmel is a great place to stay with free wine and cheese and generous breakfast.
Lonely Planet's Coastal California guidebook is the ideal travel guide for driving or cycling the Pacific Coast Highway from the Oregon border to Mexico.
A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.
Drive the Pacific Coast Highway and you have to cross Bixby Bridge in California, ten miles north of Big Sur and 30 minutes south of Monterey.
Encinitas is a beach city in Southern California, famous for surfing, and regularly chosen as one of the best places to live in both California and the USA.
Morro Bay is a delightful small town on the California coast roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles and noted for the huge Morro Rock.
Unique Inns on the Pacific Coast Highway include some of the best independently-owned boutique hotels, spas, and lodges in California, Oregon and Washington.
PCH Travel picks the best time to visit Mendocino, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.
Santa Cruz on the Pacific Coast Highway in California has its famous boardwalk, beaches, wine tastings, Surfing Museum, Mission, and Marine Discovery Center.
La Jolla in southern California is north of San Diego off the Pacific Coast Highway and has museums, restaurants, hotels, beaches, and the Birch Aquarium.
Carlsbad is a beach city north of San Diego in southern California famous for its flower fields, LEGOLAND resort and water park, surfing and SEA LIFE Aquarium.
There are lots of free things to do on the Pacific Coast Highway and here's our list of ten of them including wildlife, the best free views, and free museums.
Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends some of the top wildlife spots along the California coast.
The Pacific Coast Highway goes right through Laguna Beach, a relaxed artsy beach resort whose attractions include shopping, galleries, dining, and beaches.
Standing on the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Santa Barbara is an attractive resort with a historic downtown, sandy beaches, a mission, and good museums.
San Luis Obispo in California is half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, on the Pacific Coast Highway and with lots of things to do and see.
Bodega Bay is a small California coastal town on the borders of Marin County and Sonoma County, and the filming location for Alfred Hitchcock's the Birds.
The Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino on the California coast is an eco-resort with yoga classes and the award-winning Ravens Restaurant.
There are plenty of Santa Cruz downtown wine tastings including Beauregard Vineyards,Storrs Winery and Pelican Ranch Winery,all with tasting rooms.
For a Moss Beach hotel just off the Pacific Coast Highway, the Seal Cove Inn offers good accommodation north of Half Moon Bay, minutes from the ocean.
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to the most scenic spots on the Pacific Coast Highway in California with Big Sur, Bixby Bridge and Pfeiffer Beach.
Santa Monica Pier is just off the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica near Los Angeles, with an amusement park, an aquarium and many other attractions.
Dana Point in California is the official start or end of the Pacific Coast Highway, and its attractions include whale watching, and Doheny State Beach.
Newport Beach is a small city on the Pacific coast of southern California, right on the Pacific Coast Highway and noted for its beaches and surfing.
Monterey in California is off the Pacific Coast Highway and home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Monterey State Historic Park.
-
Dec 13, 25 10:34 AM
From Seattle to San Diego, a wide variety of attractions draws visitors to the Pacific Coast. Yet, this part of the United States also has some great small towns with excellent attributes. From pictur…
Read More
-
Dec 03, 25 09:38 AM
Several lanes of Pacific Coast Highway will be shut down in Malibu overnight this week due to construction work.
Read More
-
Dec 02, 25 09:42 AM
There are great road trips, and then there’s arguably one of the all-time finest, the Pacific Coast Highway, from San Francisco to San Diego, mile after mile of dramatic ocean views, rock formations a…
Read More