Newport Harbor Nautical Museum afloat the Ruben E. Lee boat sat near the bridge passing over Pacific Coast Highway (pictured above). In 1983, Bettina Bents rallied Newport residents to organize a nautical museum in the city. Just three years later in 1986 the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum opened its doors on Balboa Boulevard. Dedicated to preserving and promoting the special heritage of the area and interpret its role locally, the small one room museum quickly outgrew its facility.   

In 1994 the museum moved quarters to the sternwheeler Reuben E. Lee, a landmark in the Newport Harbor. Built by Sturock and Associates, (architectural firm for the Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa,) it was modeled after a traditional Delta paddle wheeler. During its formative years, the Ruben E. Lee was a landmark restaurant in the Newport Bay owned by restaurateur and businessman John McIntosh, owner of Family Restaurants. Rechristened the Pride of Newport, the former restaurant measuring 13,000 square feet, was transformed into a museum with four galleries, a classroom, conference room, library, gift shop and a restaurant. 

 

Now disassembled and gone, the ship was sinking and could not be saved. The museum, however, moved its exhibit space to the Balboa Fun Zone.

Newport Ecological Reserve in the Newport Back Bay for bird watching.

Fashion Island shopping center with Atrium Court, offering all kinds of gourmet foods and live piano music. Upscale and chain department stores as well as fine boutiques offer everything a shopper needs. Fashion Island also includes a theater and numerous restaurants, including Hard Rock Cafe. Summers bring outdoor jazz concerts to the center. Next door, the Hyatt Newporter plays host to an annual line up of jazz artists in summer concerts and also hosts several tennis tournaments.