Newport Beach ranks No. 8 among posh resort towns

If you ask men — or visit AskMen.com, anyway — they’ll tell you Newport Beach is the eighth-best resort town in the United States.

The website cited Newport as one of the 10 best vacation spots in the country this week, and the second-best destination in California after Palm Springs.

AskMen reporter Terry Baldwin cited the Balboa Fun Zone, the Newport Beach Film Festival and the city’s many upscale restaurants among the highlights.

“For decades, multigenerational stars from Lauren Bacall to Kobe Bryant have headed home to this oceanside city of 70,000 inhabitants,” Baldwin wrote. “Visitors will definitely love the upscale activities it offers.”

Gary Sherwin, the president of the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, said in a news release he was honored to see his city included.

“Considering the many outstanding resort destinations in California and throughout the western U.S., we are extremely pleased,” he said. “This designation speaks directly to Newport Beach as an upscale luxury brand.”

— Michael Miller