Newport Beach is often considered the most cosmopolitan of the coastal cities in Southern California. Once a sleepy fishing village surrounded by large tracts of farmland, and later a summer destination for weary Angelenos looking to escape the summer heat, Newport Beach is now one of the most desirable, expensive and secure addresses in the country. Large by comparison to other cities on this coast, Newport is actually a grouping of several distinct areas linked by their relationship to the harbor they surround. The namesake harbor – which is the largest purely pleasure harbor in the world – is dotted with islands between the coast and peninsula, which defines its seaward boundary. Along the peninsula, miles of beaches are among the more idyllic found in California. Coastal mesas and foothills on the other side of the harbor provide a stunning backdrop for ocean view neighborhoods. Newport Center, the financial center of the county, is also a world-class shopping and commerce destination. Easy access to all points is provided by main transportation corridors and John Wayne Airport, which sits at the eastern edge of town. Whether your desire is to own a surf shack on the sand, or an expansive ocean view estate behind gates, Newport Beach affords every type of coastal living experience one can envision.