One of the most beautiful spots along the coast is the Newport Beach estuary—a place where fresh and salt water meet, as well as where a host of wildlife, including many endangered species, commingles and thrives throughout the year. From your kayak, get up close to the birds, fish and numerous critters quietly coasting along the reeds and taking in the bluffs. If you don't have your own mode of water transport, rent one from the nearby Southwind Kayak Center rental base. Its rates—as low as $50 per day for a single sit-on-top, $60 per day for a double— are well worth the price: The tranquility of gliding along as mullets jump out of the water and pelicans, terms and egrets fly by is a welcome respite from our high-density suburban bustle.