Looking to have a perfect day in Southern California? Whether you’re traveling along the Pacific coastline or live in the region and need something new to do, look no further than Newport Beach.

I recently went to Newport Beach with a group of friends, one of which grew up there, and together we curated a day of awesomeness sure to leave you wanting more. So simply follow these steps to a Perfect Day:

1) Breakfast at Wilma’s Patio

You’ve got a big day ahead of you and you’ll need a big breakfast to keep you fueled. For that, head to Wilma’s Patio, a casual breakfast joint with a huge menu right in the heart of Balboa Island’s main drag. The selection is a bit pricey but the portions are generous.

I had the egg and cheese breakfast sandwich with sausage (which was delicious and happened to be the least expensive item on the menu) but if you’re looking to splurge, go for a create-your-own omelet or one of their Eggs Benedict dishes. To stay on track for the rest of your day, I’d recommend being out the door by 10:30am, so plan your arrival accordingly.

2) Ferry to Balboa Peninsula

Leaving Wilma’s Patio, turn right and walk down Marine Avenue until you reach the water and the pedestrian path that runs along it. Turn right and walk 10 to 15 minutes until you reach the Balboa Island ferry. Along the way you’ll pass picture perfect houses neatly packed together, each with a dock, a few kayaks, and a sail boat. Seriously, this place looks like a postcard.

The small ferry will take you (along with two or three cars) from Balboa Island to Balboa Peninsula in just a few minutes. Ferries run back and forth continuously and cost $1 per person each way.

3) Stand Up Paddle Board Tour

Right next to the ferry drop off is Balboa Water Sports. It’s here that your 11am stand up paddle boarding (SUP) tour of Newport Harbor will depart. If you’ve never SUP’d before or just want a local’s knowledge along the way, this two hour tour is the way to go and only costs $10 more than renting boards for the same amount of time (rentals cost $25/per hour). While this SUP tour usually costs $60, you can often find SUP deals on the Los Angeles and Orange County sections of sites like Groupon, Zozi, and Living Social.

For beginners and pros alike, Newport Harbor is one of the best places to SUP in Southern California. There’s a lot to look at between the boats, homes, and other lucky people out on the water, and on top of that, it’s calm (no ocean waves). Just make sure to call in advance of your visit to reserve your spot on a tour or to reserve a board.

4) Rent Bikes

You’ve conquered the sea on your stand up paddle board, now it’s time to conquer the land on a bike (and by conquer I mean leisurely ride along the beach).

From Balboa Water Sports, walk on over to Seaside Bike Rental and rent yourself a beach cruiser for $5 per hour (locks and baskets included). From here, it’s just a matter of feet before you’re on the Newport Balboa Bike Trail, a smooth concrete path that runs along the beach. From Seaside Bike Rental, turn right and bike north (stopping along the way to relax at the beach if that’s your thing) until you reach 30th street. From here it’s just a few blocks to Bear Flag Fish Co. where you’ll be eating lunch.

5) Lunch at Bear Flag Fish Company

A favorite spot with Newport Beach locals, Bear Flag Fish Co. is a fish market and eatery that serves up killer fish tacos. Unlike most fish tacos which automatically come with some random white fish, you can choose the fish you want from a list that includes salmon, yellowfin, albacore, and more. I choose seared albacore tuna and added avocado. And for $3.95, I was incredibly pleased to get a taco loaded with huge chunks of fresh albacore and topped with a giant slice of avocado. You can eat inside, but I’d recommend taking your plate to the patch of artificial grass at the side of the building and sprawling out with the locals.

After eating your fill, it’s time to return your bikes and make your way to the Balboa Island Ferry.

6) Dad’s Donut and Pastry Shop (and Frozen Banana)

After taking the ferry back to Balboa Island, head to Marine Avenue. Just up the street from Wilma’s Patio is your reward for a day’s hard work - Dad’s Donut and Bakery Shop. You burned a lot of calories earlier SUPing and biking (plus fish taco’s are healthy, right?) so go crazy and order a few of their homemade donuts. I ordered an applesauce donut, a blueberry donut, and a glazed donut (don’t judge me, I shared them with my friends) and each one was better than the next. But Dad’s has more in store.

You can’t leave Balboa Island without trying one of Dad’s frozen bananas which the island is famous for. The frozen banana is dipped in chocolate, then dipped in a topping of your choosing (I chose cinnamon crunch and wasn’t disappointed).

As a very joyous sugar high sets in you’ll look around, reflect on your day, and realize you wish this Perfect Day: Newport Beach was Perfect Life: Newport Beach. This is a normal side effect of spending a day eating and playing in one of the most beautiful towns America has to offer. But don’t worry, you can always comes back and visit, or just move here and never leave.

View Perfect Day: Newport Beach in a larger map

Wilma’s Patio: 203 Marine Avenue - Newport Beach, CA 92662 - (949) 675-5542

Balboa Water Sports: 600 East Edgewater Avenue - Newport Beach, CA 92661 - (949) 723-5387

Seaside Bike Rental: 105 Main St # A - Newport Beach, CA 92661 - (949) 270-6911

Bear Flag Fish Company: 407 31st Street - Newport Beach, CA 92663 - (949) 673-3474

Dad’s Donut and Bakery Shop: 318 Marine Avenue - Newport Beach, CA 92662 - (949) 673-8686

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Photo credit: Bike rental photos provided by Seaside Bike Rental.