CATCH AN ISLAND ATTITUDE!

To catch the true flavor of one of Southern California’s most endearing experiences, you have to slow down. It’s all about the sun, the water, the ocean breezes, a relaxed lifestyle and letting the day unfold. Balboa Island is the perfect place to catch a little of this Southern California magic. Located in Newport Beach, Balboa Island has a small town feel and offers the added pleasure of a community that has successfully kept its charm and character for nearly a century. From the moment you cross the bridge at the foot of Jamboree (and Bayside), you feel yourself relax, a smile creeps on your face and you’re starting to catch the Island Attitude. Trust me, you’ll be hooked.

Generations of Southern Californians remember family vacations on Balboa Island—long, lazy days in the water, bronzing on the sand, enjoying the sunset, barbeques, and warm relaxed evenings on the patio…traditions that still remain popular today. The earliest island bungalows date back to the early 1900s and were built when Balboa Island was literally a sand spit, unprotected from flooding and tides until the seawall was built in the 1930s (you’ll notice that bungalows built before WWII often proudly sport a historical plaque with the year
the house was built). Vacationers began discovering the area in July 1906, when the Pacific Electric Railway was extended to the nearby Balboa Peninsula. The red car trolley system tied many Southern California communities together until the advent of the freeways, and Los Angeles residents could be enjoying the pleasures of Balboa in an hour. Starting in 1910, a five minute ferry ride connected the Balboa Peninsula with Balboa Island—and it still does today.

There’s plenty to do for the day visitor or for those who’d like to make Balboa Island their base of operation for a few days. Start your day off by grabbing a cup of coffee and a pastry on Marine Avenue (the island’s three-block-long commercial street) and do a wake-up walk. It’s about three miles around both Big and Little Balboa Island (connected by a bridge over the Grand Canal) and there’s a flat walkway around the whole thing. You’ll feel the warm sun and breeze, hear the water lapping the shore and the call of the sea birds overhead, and enjoy the homes and boats in Newport Harbor, Southern California’s largest pleasure boat harbor. You might catch early morning outriggers and paddle boarders, or even a sea lion basking in the sun. If you’ve worked up an appetite, Wilma’s Patio is a favorite local spot for breakfast.

Shops on Marine Avenue (and a few more on Agate, near the ferry landing) generally open at 10:00 a.m. It’s compact, but there’s plenty to explore. There are surf and beachwear shops and clothing shops for men, women and children. The art galleries offer delightful paintings of the local scene and home décor shops offer a relaxed, coastal flavor. For lunch, pick one of the informal cafes that spill onto the sidewalk in the European style. Or pick up picnic supplies at Hershey’s Market. And don’t forget to sample a Balboa bar or a frozen banana—both Balboa Island specialties. If you’ve brought a towel and beach chair, pull up a piece of sand and enjoy the great people and boat-watching.

Remember, the day isn’t about how many things you can pack into it. But if you still need more ideas, you can hop the ferry to the Balboa Peninsula. The ferry can accommodate three cars at a time and plenty of pedestrians and bicycles. On the other side is the century-old, Victorian-style Balboa Pavilion, the historic Fun Zone and the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. There are boat rentals—Newport Harbor is a great place for day sailing or exploring via electric boat or kayak. This is also the place to catch a harbor cruise or the Catalina Flyer that whisks you off to Catalina Island (26 miles off the coast). Only two blocks beyond the Pavilion is a great path for walking and bicycling on the ocean side of the Balboa Peninsula.

Back on Balboa Island, a sunset stroll is a terrific option. At that hour, you’ll often catch sailboats racing in the bay, their sails silhouetted against the setting sun. A few more cozy restaurants open for the evening visitor, offering American, Mediterranean, Italian, Chinese and even Swiss cuisine, with options for every budget. If you’re staying on the island, sitting on the patio, watching the sunset with a glass of wine in hand is an ever-popular nightly tradition.

If you’ve caught the Island Attitude, by the end of the day, your face will have a healthy glow, you’ll be relaxed, and you’ll be saying “It’s all good!”

For more information on Balboa Island and the activities and lodging available in Newport Harbor, visit www.visitnewportbeach.com. The Balboa Island Museum & Historical Society (open Wednesday and Saturday, 10 am - 2 pm) offers a free map of the island’s historic homes. Newport At Your Feet also offers a two-hour walking tour of Balboa Island and the Balboa Historic Fun Zone from 10 am – noon on Saturdays. Reservations are required; call (949) 285-7558 or check www.newportatyourfeet.com for details. Special annual events include: The Balboa Art Walk in early May and the annual Christmas Boat Parade, which stretches over five nights in mid-December. The island is small and parking can get tight on a busy summer weekend; park once and walk everywhere. Summer and winter house rentals are handled by a number of local realtors. There are no hotels on the island, but a number of them are located within a 5 - 10 minute drive within the city of Newport Beach.