Balboa Island

California travel expert Veronica Hill of http://www.CaliforniaTravelExpert.com tours Balboa Island and Balboa Fun Zone in this episode of "California Travel Tips."

Home to the famous Balboa Bar and Balboa Fun Zone, Balboa is a great place for a California holiday or day trip.

The Balboa Fun Zone coastal amusement park, located in Newport Beach, is one of Southern California's oldest, dating back to 1936.

On During your Balboa Island vacation, you'll find a ton of things to do, from a great Ferris wheel and festive merry-go-round to the Kids at Heart bungee jumper. In the Bay Arcade, you can play a round of air hockey or skee ball.

For some great salt-water taffy, try the nostalgic Balboa Candy, or grab a gooey slice of New York pizza at Pizza Pete's, a favorite hangout since 1946.

Balboa Pavilion dates back to 1906. Today, it's a popular marine recreation center.

This is the place to pick up a whale watching cruise, go on a sportfishing tour from Davey's Locker, or take a morning ride to Catalina Island aboard the Catalina Flyer. Tours depart daily at 9 a.m. and return to Balboa Pavilion at 5:45 p.m.

The Fun Zone Boat Company offers hourly celebrity home tours through Newport Bay, or you can charter your own little duffy boat through Balboa Boat Rentals.

Balboa Pier is home to the very first Ruby's Diner, which opened in 1982. This is a great spot to chow down on crisp fish and chips or kobe beef sliders while enjoying gorgeous views of the Pacific. Of course, the milk shakes are great too!

Balboa Island, accessible by ferry from Balboa Peninsula or across the bridge from PCH near Newport Beach Fashion Island, is a quaint seaside community filled with dozens of fun boutiques.

While you're in town, take the time to sample some Balboa Island restaurants along Marine Avenue. A few good recommendations include Amelia's Ristorante, Wilma's Patio and The Village Inn. To pack your own lunch, visit Hershey's Market — a staple since 1929.

But its main claim to fame is the Balboa bar and frozen chocolate banana, invented around 1945. Practically every little snack shop sells these cool confections, but one of the most renowned is Sugar & Spice, which has the autographs of "The OC" cast members posted on its window.

Many Balboa Island homes are available for week-long stays. For Balboa Island rentals, check out Burr White Realty, one of the most popular companies in Newport Beach.

For more California travel videos, tips and advice, log on to CaliforniaTravelExpert.com

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Balboa
• Island
• Newport
• Beach
• California
• rentals
• rental
• vacation
• restaurants
• homes
• ca
• Fun
• Zone
• ferris
• wheel
• Catalina
• Flyer
• tour
• tours
• shops
• shopping
• fashion
• travel
• tips
• Veronica
• Hill
• The
• OC
• Orange
• County
• carousel
• yachts
• boats
• cruises
• cruise
• ferry
• sailing
• bay
• kayak

[TheReneeWest]

Unfortunately, it looks like there's no longer going to be the historic Fun Zone--I just read an article on the upcoming development of ExplorOcean by the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. It's crazy how many changes are going to be happening! reneewestblog. com / explorocean-the-latest-change-­to-the-balboa-peninsula

[CaliforniaTravelTips]

@TheReneeWest I know the carousel is moving, but I haven't heard of any other major changes aside from ExplorOcean.

[FloridaVilla4Bed]

Perfect place for a family vacation. Balboa Island will surely be a favorite amongst the little ones.

[CaliforniaTravelTips]

@FloridaVilla4Bed It definitely is great for families!

[Jonny7Juno]

Christy Miller got me here. (L)

[2unicorns1horn]

I grew up around this place, considering my grandpa works here. I love it. <3

[LizDickey08]

I miss my home!

[CaliforniaTravelTips]

@ncwdane Hi and thanks! Yes, I know what you're saying. I just wanted to include both spots because the ferry goes back and forth there. It explains what to do in that area. Cheers, V

[ncwdane]

@CaliforniaTravelTips No Problem

I watch a lotta your vids you make & enjoy them

HB & Newport plus Balboa have been my stomping grounds forever,

just a suggestion, I though most the video by far was the pennisula, maybe not :-) GBU

I also Love Bog Bear & the river, so cals awesome to live in :-)

[CaliforniaTravelTips]

@ncwdane This video includes both the peninsula and the island. Thanks...