Going south, after you cross the SA River, you could go down the penninsula to the ferry - but that's not really the problem.
Just after the Newport Harbor Bridge you can turn right on Bayside Drive and avoid PCH for awhile. Take a look at maps to pick the side streets you want to take off Bayside back to PCH. There is one (Cliff?) that is a steep short uphill that will take you above the beach for a nice ocean view as well. Eventually, you have to go back on PCH; but you can avoid most of it.