Newport Beach Pier: 12th longest ocean pier in California. Length is Open 6 a.m. to midnight. Length = 1,322 feet. Established in 1891.

Beach hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. - Pier open 5 a.m. till midnight.

Fishing is free. Wash basins, bench seats, periscopes, restaurant.

Newport Beach is shining star among its peers when it comes to piers. The Orange County (Southern California) beach city has two major piers--Newport Pier and Balboa Pier, and dozens of minor piers with no names. The are located at the end of streets and are larger than most boat docks.

The Newport Pier isn't just beautiful to see at sunset or in the daylight. It offers spectacular views of the surrounding coast on clear days, provides a great place to fish free like all California piers do, and even has a two story restaurant where visitors can eat burgers or sushi, drink cocktails, and watch the sun go down over the Pacific Ocean.

Newport Pier is a wooden structure protected from heavy surf through a series of rock jetties that line the beach. Originally known as McFadden's Wharf, to the left of the pier is the Newport Beach Lifeguard Headquarters and to the right is the historic Dory Fleet, founded in 1898. To this day the Dory Fishermen dock their dory boats and bring in their catch of the day, selling them to the public.

Newport Pier is the main attraction for several miles of beachfront housing (much of it rental vacation homes). Guests can always know how far away things are using the pier as a landmark as they ride their bicycles, jog, walk the dog, or roller blade along the paved strand that parallels the coastline.

On the pier is a restaurant with two floors for dining. The upper deck views offer spectacular ocean views.

Getting to Newport Pier: Take either Newport Blvd. or Balboa Blvd. from Pacific Coast Highway and when you reach the point where they intersect, turn right toward the beach. The pier is on your right.

What's cooking? You can grab a bite of food such as hot meals, sandwiches or snacks at the pier, Charlie's Chili, Sharkeez, Il Gelato, Il Farnio, TK Burger, Jane's Hotdogs, Perry's Pizza (a long time classic), Seaside Donuts, Rockin' Baja, and several more options. Grab a brew at Mutt Lynch's, Blackies, or The Beach Ball.

Dog policy: Dogs are permitted on the beach from 6 a.m. to 8:59 a.m. & 5:01 p.m. to 10 p.m.