Living in Southern California from your luxury home base

Effortless living in Southern California

If living in Southern California is your goal, a week based in Newport Beach puts you within easy reach of Orange County’s art, surf and shopping, plus San Diego’s culture and coastline. The region’s sunny, mild weather makes outdoor time a given, and the 85 mile drive from Newport Beach to San Diego keeps day trips simple. Set your home base, then build in Duffy cruises, gallery hopping and oceanfront dinners with room to spare for spontaneous detours, all among the things to do in Southern California.

Your coastal home base in Newport Beach

Newport Beach blends an easy harbor lifestyle with upscale shopping and dining. Spend a morning along the Balboa Peninsula, take a spin on a Duffy in Newport Harbor, then browse Fashion Island before a seaside dinner. With one of the largest recreational harbors on the West Coast, the city invites you to get on the water and stay there.

The Balboa Fun Zone reflects Newport Beach’s playful side and sits minutes from Pacaso homes, perfect between harbor outings.

Bayside sits on Newport Island with private dock access, placing you minutes from Lido Marina Village and Fashion Island. The indoor outdoor flow, rooftop deck and water views make it ideal for aperitifs after a harbor cruise and effortless hosting between outings.

Bayside in Newport Beach offers a private dock and indoor outdoor living, an ideal base for harbor days and Fashion Island evenings.

From your home base at Bayside, here are Newport essentials for a perfect day in Southern California:

Morning Duffy cruise through Newport Harbor
Walk the Balboa Pier and Balboa Peninsula boardwalk
Lunch and shopping at Fashion Island
Golden hour at the Newport Beach Civic Center Sculpture Park
Upscale dinner in Lido Marina Village with panoramic views of the water

An aerial view of Main Beach showcases what makes it one of the best beaches for kids on the West Coast.

Orange County days art, surf, and shopping

Explore Laguna Beach’s gallery row and summer art festivals, then watch surfers at Huntington Beach and plan a whale watching outing from Dana Point. This stretch of coast mixes culture and ocean energy in a compact radius, so you can do more with less transit time.

Down the coast to San Diego culture and coastline

Plan a La Jolla morning by the coves and an afternoon in Balboa Park before dinner in the Gaslamp Quarter. With more than 70 miles of coastline, San Diego lets you alternate beach time with museums, dining and a laid back city pace.Marine Lair sits across from Windansea Beach in La Jolla, with a rooftop saltwater pool and expansive terraces. It is a refined base for coastal mornings, gallery stops in the Village and chef driven dinners downtown.

Marine Lair in La Jolla offers panoramic ocean views and a rooftop saltwater pool for effortless coastal living near San Diego’s top spots.

San Diego highlights to build into your plan:

Sunrise walk at La Jolla Cove
Museum time in Balboa Park
Late afternoon cocktail along the Embarcadero
Dinner in the Gaslamp Quarter

Paragliders over San Diego’s cliffs capture the coastal energy that pairs with a Pacaso home base for active days.

How living in Southern California feels effortless

Pacaso co ownership aligns with how you use a second home here, and supports living in Southern California part time. Own a true real estate interest in a high end home in a prime neighborhood, then simply arrive to a well prepared space on your dedicated stays. That means more time on the water and at dinner, and less time coordinating upkeep.Why a Pacaso base works for this itinerary:

Proximity to harbors, beaches, and shopping reduces drive time and maximizes your day.
Thoughtful indoor outdoor spaces for hosting before or after outings.
Consistent, familiar home setup each visit so you travel light.

Make this coast your second home rhythm

Ready to shape your version of living in Southern California. Explore Pacaso homes across Orange County and San Diego, then learn how co ownership works in our guide What is co ownership in real estate. Choose your base, and start planning your first week on the coast.Note: This article was generated with the help of an AI agent and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and clarity.