The
hometown of Calgary Hitmen forward
Ryan Letts is not one you would
expect for a player in the Western Hockey League. Ryan is from
Newport Beach, California, which he claims is the “coolest city in
the world!” Newport Beach is a city of approximately 80,000
people that is located in sunny southern California near “Los
Angeles (which) is about an hour away”. Newport Beach harbour contains seven islands
and is bordered by the Balboa peninsula. Although most of Ryan’s
extended family lives in Newport Beach, Ryan has not lived in the
city for his entire life; he actually “grew up in Irvine, CA for 10
years and then moved to Newport.” When he’s away from home playing
for the Hitmen, Ryan says that he misses his “family and friends and
the beach” the most.
With nine miles of
beautiful sandy beaches and a climate that Ryan describes as “sunny
year round – beach weather” it is no surprise that most people in
Newport Beach spend a lot of time enjoying the sand and surf. Kids
growing up in Newport Beach spend much of their free time
“skateboard(ing) and
surf(ing)”. When he’s at home Ryan’s favourite
thing to do is simply to “go to the beach and
hang out with friends” and he suggests that tourists visiting
Newport should be sure to “visit the beach” as well. Some of these
beaches include Balboa Beach, Ca
rona
del Mar State Beach and Crystal Cove State Beach. If you’re
feeling adventurous (or have a death wish) be sure to visit “The
Wedge”, a renowned
surfing spot with some of the largest waves on the west coast. For
a quieter time you could instead take some time to explore the tide
pools of Crystal Cove Beach, which are full of lobsters, crabs, sea
urchins, sea anemones and other marine creatures, or simply take a
relaxing walk along the boardwalk between the Balboa and the Newport
Beach piers.
If you ever manage
to pull yourself away from the beach, there are plenty of other fun
things to see and do in Newport Beach. Some must-see attractions
include the Balboa Fun Zone, where you can ride the Ferris wheel or
play some games in
the
arcade, and the Balboa Pavilion, a Newport Beach landmark which
dates back to 1905. You could also take the Balboa Ferry, a
national historical landmark, to Balboa Island, which boasts many
charming boutiques, galleries and the
Balboa Island Museum and Historical Society.
Those who enjoy
shopping should be sure to check out Fashion Island, a huge open-air
retail centre with over 200 specialty shops. Newport Beach is also
home to many fantastic restaurants, including “the Arches” which has
been featured in the popular TV show, “The O.C.” which is set in
Newport Beach.
These are just a
few of the exciting attractions and activities that you can
visit and enjoy in the city of Newport Beach. Newport Beach is a
great city that reflects the true essence of Southern California
coastal living, making it a wonderful place whether you are just
visiting or whether you call it home.
Thank-you for reading about Ryan Letts’ hometown! If
you would like to learn more about Newport Beach, California check
out
www.newportbeach-cvb.com. Also, a big thanks to Ryan for taking
the time to tell us about his hometown and to the
Newport Beach Conference and Visitor’s Bureau for the
information and pictures used in this article
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"My Hometown"
