A local's loop around the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island: the ferris wheel, the ferry, and the frozen bananas, with a beach day on either end.
The Balboa Peninsula is one of our favorite stretches of Newport. Wide sand on the ocean side, calm bay water on the other, and a walkable run of old-school attractions in between. Make a morning of the beach, then wander the rest.
the balboa fun zone
Right on the bayfront, the Fun Zone has been a Newport fixture since 1936. The 45-foot ferris wheel is the landmark, but the boardwalk, the small rides, and the Cape Cod style shops and restaurants are the draw. It is also home to ExplorOcean, which teaches kids ocean literacy through hands-on exhibits, and it is the launch point for harbor cruises, whale-watching, and the day boat to Catalina.
balboa island
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Hop the ferry or walk the bridge to Balboa Island, a small grid of cottages and shops you can loop in an afternoon. Marine Avenue is the main stretch: coastal boutiques, a few good restaurants, and the two desserts the island is known for, the Balboa Bar and the frozen banana, both dipped in chocolate and rolled in whatever toppings you point at. They have been a local habit for about 75 years.
the balboa ferry
The Balboa Island Ferry has run continuously since 1919, carrying cars, bikes, and walk-ons across the short channel between the peninsula and the island. It is the scenic way over, and it saves the six-mile drive around by bridge. A few cars at a time, a few minutes across, and one of the more charming rides in Newport.
Bring the chair and a sand free towel for the ocean side first, then go explore. Tag us @sunyvibesig from the peninsula.
the gear behind the stories
built for the day, made from the ocean.
The chair, the towel, the umbrella. Made from recycled ocean bound plastic, designed in Newport Beach.
shop the kit
