Balboa Island is located in Newport Harbor, CA near Newport Beach, California. Although the name denotes a singular island there are actually three artificial islands, making it a peninsula. The three islands include: Balboa Island the largest of the three, Little Balboa Island and Collins Island. The islands have the densest population in Orange County.
The area of Newport Harbor was once a thriving seaport because of the calm waters. This made it ideal for off loading trade items such as hay, tallow and hides. However, once San Pedro Harbor became Southern California's major seaport near the turn of the century Newport Harbor became less commercial. At this time people noticed that the calm waters and great climate made it a great place for recreation and vacation. Today there are two bridges and two three car ferry services. In the beginning only sailboats could reach Balboa Island.
A major thoroughfare of Balboa Island is Jamboree Road because it ends in Balboa Island, but begins in Orange, California. The road derives its name from the National Boy Scout Jamboree that took place in 1953. It was only the third international jamboree that was held outside of Mississippi so the Boy Scouts used this road to get to the jamboree and it was named in their honor. It is one of the busiest roads in Newport and Balboa Island.
Activities on Balboa Island include a day at the beach, a ferry tour of the islands, swimming, jet skiing, water skiing or boating. For guests that don't want to indulge in water sports they can bike, rollerblade, ride a Ferris Wheel, golf, shop or visit a museum. The island also holds the Balboa Island Parade and the Christmas Boat Parade. Shopping is a favorite pastime of guests and there are plenty of unique gift stores, clothing stores and specialty stores.
There are many hotels on Balboa Island which include: The Balboa Inn, Hyatt Hotel, Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa, Bay Shores Peninsula Hotel, Island Hotel Newport Beach, The Newport Beach Hotel, Balboa Bay Club and Resort, Balboa Island Hotel, Newport Beach Marriott Bayview and Little Inn by the Bay on Balboa Peninsula.
Many restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisines to choose from. Visitors with little girls would enjoy eating at the Teddy Bears & Tea Cups. Other restaurants to dine at are Amelia's Italian Restaurant, Balboa Berries, Balboa Candy, Basilic, Ciao, Cinnamon Roll Fair, Dad's Donut shop and Bakery, Giorgio's La Trattoria, Hershey's Market and Grog Shop, Island Grill, Island Market, Pain Du Monde, Park Avenue Caf,, Pas.tu Caf,, Picante Martin's, Shanghai Pine Garden, Starbuck's Coffee, Sugar `n' Spice, Village Inn Restaurant and Wilma's Patio.
The Balboa Island Ferry runs Sunday through Thursday from 6:30 am to 12:00 am, and Friday and Saturday from 6:30 am to 2:00 am. The fares are one dollar for adults, fifty cents for children ages 5-11 and children under five are free. Airports that are close to Balboa Island are John Wayne, Long Beach, LA Ontario and Los Angeles International.
