Newport beach is home to excellent surfing, paddleboarding, nightlife, and many other activities. A number of graduate students live year-round in Newport Beach and commute to UCI.

Newport pier is home to the closest nightlife near UCI, and is a great beginner surfing spot. Head to Balboa pier for Balboa fun zone and ample beach volleyball courts. The Newport Aquatic center is a great spot to rent Kayaks and Paddleboards for those interested.

Laguna Beach is home to the rich and famous, along with many beautiful pocket beaches and hikes. Downtown is fun too for nightlife and great food. Check out the Laguna Tidepools downtown for some local wildlife sightseeing. If you go during the right time in the spring, you could even possibly see whale migrations!

Crystal Cove is a historically significant beach located between Newport and Laguna. Get a sunset cocktail at the Beachcomber cafe, or a burger on the cliffs at the Crystal Cove Shake Shack. You can even rent the houses here for very reasonable prices, or rent a BBQ for a cheaper price.

Surf city USA! Huntington is famous for great surfing year round, and it's nightlife. Head to Pacific City for dinner, and have a bonfire on the beach for sunset/nighttime. The US Open of surfing is held here every summer, and is always a giant party.

Great protected beach with a large snackbar, beach volleyball courts, and overnight camping. Excellent beginning surfing spot with cheap wetsuit and board rentals available on site.

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