9 Things To Do On Balboa Island in Newport Beach

9 fun things to do in Newport Beach on Balboa Island. Join me with co-host Jefferson Graham for a fun day's worth of activities in Newport Beach, California. Balboa Island is one of my favorite places to take visitors in Orange County, California. Balboa Island is an idyllic seaside neighborhood with a sidewalk that rings the island and amazing homes with private boat docks.
Check out Jefferson Graham's Photowalks Channel: / talkingtech
Watch Jefferson Graham's Photowalk on Balboa Island:
• Balboa Island Photowal...
1 - Walk around the island:
Walking around Balboa Island feels like a tour of the good life.
streets named after gemstones,
whimsical beach cottages that sell for millions of dollars
fly a flag for either USC or UCLA.
Consists of 3 man-made islands created in 1906.
2.7 miles around Balboa and Little Balboa
3000 Residents live on just 0.2 square miles (half a square kilometer). More dense than San Francsico.
1919, the mayor declared, "The island is a dump. It was sold by a lot of damn crooks to a lot of damn fools."
But don’t bike or skateboard
2 - Explore the shops on Marine Ave
Not your typical set of cookie cutter shopping mall stores.
Some of the most interesting shops:
Art for the soul -- visiting this store can be described a bit like falling down the rabbit hole
Balboa candy
Cinnamon Roll Store
Need some groceries -- Hersheys Market since 1949
Yes -- there’s a starbucks too!
3 - Balboa Island Museum
Learn more about the history of the Island at this museum
In a historic 1945 cottage
Wednesday-Sunday 10am-4pm
Or visit them online
4 - Eat the local deserts:
The Balboa Bar and Frozen Banana.
The local sweet tooth treasures have been mainstays for nearly 75 years,
But they were made famous through the TV show Arrested Development
The tasty treats are dipped in chocolate and covered with a variety of coatings from nuts and sprinkles to cookie crumbs.
5 - Get a drink:
Balboa Island has only one bar… and it’s the Village Inn, which has been at the end of Marine Ave for over 80 years
6 - Go fish
Balboa Island has several public docks that you can fish for free (4 on the main island, 1 on the little island). Buy your bait from JDs Big Game Tackle next to the Balboa Island Ferry pier.
7 - Ride the Balboa Island Ferry:
Since 1919, Balboa Island Ferry has provided continuous between Balboa Island and Balboa Peninsula.
Crossings approximate 800 feet.
Driving around is 6 miles.
6:30 a.m. until 12:00 a.m. Sundays to Thursdays. Until 2am Fridays and Saturdays
A car plus a driver is $2
A motorcycle plus rider is $1.50
A bike plus a rider is $1.25
A passenger is $1
Kids -- 50 cent discount
8 - Play at the Balboa Fun Zone
where a Ferris wheel, arcades and a nautical museum offers fun for the whole family
And just 3 more blocks and you’ll be at the ocean and the Balboa Pier.
You can take the “big” ferry to Catalina Island from here.
9 - Seasonal Activities
Christmas Lights & Boat Parade
Balboa Island has some of the most amazing Christmas lights displays
And even the boats join in… the boat parade is actually spread over 5 nights in mid December. This year, 2018 will be the boat parade’s 110th year.
Halloween
The best trick-or-treating and halloween displays
Summer
Have your own private beach
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You might enjoy watching some of these other videos:
Balboa Island Christmas Lights: • Best Christmas Lights ...
Balboa Island Halloween: • Halloween on Balboa Is...
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[@YellowProductions]

Watch our Photowalk together where we visit the best photo spots on Balboa Island: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oojOmpqfe92mptk And visit Jefferson Graham's channel for more Photo Walks: kzbin.info

[@kaitlinsophie1834]

DADS DONUTS FTW! i love dad’s, it’s literally the best and we go there often! i highly recommend buying desserts there because it is freshly made and it’s a family owned buisness. thank you for supporting them!

[@YellowProductions]

My pleasure Kaitlin!

[@robertgeiger9791]

I grew up surfing Newport Beach. I traveled by public bus from Orange. As a kid I thought we lived 2 hours from the ocean. Now I live on Long Island NY. Going on 35 years. Thanks for the memories good video.

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome Robert!

[@thebesthomeownertips583]

There are so many great places to shoot in Newport Beach!

[@DegenCash]

Halloween is amazing at balboa! I grew up spending much time at balboa back when arcades and pinball were hot. The good days

[@YellowProductions]

Very cool!

[@user-qu8fz6us6o]

I enjoyed the video😊❤

[@YellowProductions]

I'm so glad!

[@sunnybeachwalks4k2022]

Hi Chris, could you do a vide on Catalina Island? I would really love to see your tour of it! Thanks !!!!!

[@YellowProductions]

Hi j b.. not sure we'll be headed to Catalina anytime soon. Ocgirl gets seasick on the ferry ride there.

[@gofasters1]

Awesome thanks, we spent a day there last year now we're coming back next month for 4 days! 👍👍

[@YellowProductions]

Sweet!

[@cece82gemini27]

I will be here in late May for an 8 day Disneyland trip with my kids! Can't wait 😊

[@YellowProductions]

Very cool. Enjoy Cicely!

[@JohnDoe-xu2vx]

I LOVE the Village Inn....such a cool place to hang out

[@MoreBud-Angel]

Pineapple shirt guy looks like Derek Sherinian of Planet X. Great Video!

[@wildfoodietours]

Another great spot for a quick road trip from San Diego...even if only for the Balboa ice cream bar on a sweltering summer day.:)

[@scottman895]

Balboa Island looks really awesome! I definitely will have to check it out sometime!

[@YellowProductions]

Balboa Island is an amazing place for sure!

[@kylenelson4143]

I been many times amazing

[@alisonasmg]

Great video! However, the English teacher in me has to comment that dessert has 2 s’s, because you can eat 2 scoops for dessert. Eating a local desert sounds dry, lol. 😉 Thank you for sharing your tips! We hope to do this in June.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for the spelling correction! I'll remember how to spell dessert correctly now! :)

[@squirrelnibbler19]

FYI: dessert and desert have the same origin and the same meaning. Not too far off!

[@Howrider65]

I miss California high taxes made me move after I retired.

[@58kenstyle]

Jokeasterfe The OC is pretty conservative tho especially this Newport area.

[@michaelhoundus2457]

Jygutyfrrdse so many liberals protesting and destroying property it’s very tempting for me to move also

[@lttrhd]

There is nothing to miss.

[@aliramzani2924]

This is cool I love this video😘😘😘😘😜😜😜😜😘😘😘😘

[@tanishkbohara716]

Great video

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Tanishk!

[@clutchcargo666]

I'm surpised you didn't mention whale watching boat tours. We do that every time we go. Moderately priced considering everything else there.

[@kristikoz2777]

I came to this video to see if the original “Ruby’s on the Pier” at Newport was on this list!! ❤️🇨🇦

[@YellowProductions]

No. But thats only because its not on Balboa Island :)

[@robsmoviecollection3715]

Great vieo as always Chris! and great to know Jeff. I'll check out his channel soon. I used to go here a lot with my ex girlfriend. One of our favorite hangouts!

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome!

[@domingodeanda233]

Been there many times, my kids also love it

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome Domingo!

[@PhotowalksTV]

Chris, loved getting to meet you and Tanya (yes, and Topher too) and hangin' in Balboa! What a special place. Next time, we have to try the Cherry covered banana from Sugar N' Spice!

[@YellowProductions]

It was great hanging with you too Jeff! Cherry covered chocolate Banana... Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[@coordinator3039]

SoCal and the dream beach

[@acosta1827]

Your Hawaii Videos are great!🙏🏽 I’m going to Portland in a couple of months. If you ever make a video for Oregon that will be awesome! Keep it up!

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks.. been awhile since I've been to Oregon.. I'm probably due for a visit to Portland

[@MrDeadsurfer]

I liked it the sixties.

[@vinoblunto]

face and voice are a good match

[@BrianKitching-wv5nh]

Love this video Chris.As someone from the UK, is Balboa expensive for the everyday essentials like food and drink?Thanking You Brian in the UK

[@user-ho2iy4cg6q]

Great tour of the island, except when they discuss the ferry. They are standing in front of it so you never get a good look at it. It actually has a unique form about it since it's been around so long. Otherwise, great presentation. It took me back to my younger years when my Mom managed the dining room at the Village Inn.

[@sportsmansparadice42]

What happened to the Winchles donut just north of the ferris wheel?

[@EPSGplayer]

It’s a dream of mine to Visit the WEDGE

[@jamescox5626]

You guys are good together.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks James!

[@teenyverse7707]

You don't need a fishing permit in Balboa?

[@bobcraig3648]

Thought about moving here in the 80s but settled in Vero Beach, SoFlo instead.

[@churchgir1]

i go to balboa island every sunday

[@BrianKitching-wv5nh]

I am Dawn,i was going to come here on my visit to America when my mom and i went to L.A for 2 wks,sadly we never got round to visiting because we ran out of time.Love your video.Is this place really expensive as my friends are visiting L.A in 2wks,staying in Anaheim next to the Disneyland Hotel.I borrowed my dad's KZbin account here.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Dawn! To live on Balboa Island is really expensive. But to visit and walk around and get a Balboa Bar isn't too expensive 😀

[@jaysato]

hes got a yellow shirt on too!

[@YellowProductions]

He sure does! :)

[@fedupwthursht420]

Are you from Los Angeles or Las Vegas? Will you be attending the LA County fair?

[@YellowProductions]

I'm from Orange County... I don't usually attend the LA Fair -- it's so hot! :)

[@lindadechiazza2924]

LA fair is liken to a swap meet with an ice skating rink and horse track betting

[@chocolatcats]

WAIT......... you want a place to park? go on a weekday

[@ironicallymysterious]

I've never heard of Balboa Island or Newport Beach. Where are those places at?

[@YellowProductions]

In Orange County California. About 40 miles South of Downtown Los Angeles

[@kayleeaguilar507]

Lol! It’s funny they said dads. I live on the island and the best one is the original one that opened in 1945 selling the frozen banana and the balboa bar. Dads opened in the 60s as a bakery. The original place is called sugar n spice and honestly it’s better! Dads is famous for their hippo cookies but not the bananas or bars. They also pre dip them and sugar n spice has everything made from scratch!

[@comfeefort]

Right! They only say that, because, They all have no life, wake up at 4 a.m. and wonder around like Zombies untill DADS opens early. They hang there Coffee cups above the door. "Sugar and Spice" always kept regular hours and never sold nasty greasy doughnuts....PUKE!

[@kaitlinsophie1834]

dad’s donuts is wayy better. it’s impossible to pre-dip because you need to dip it right before it dries and you put toppings. check your facts before you post. also, the people at dad’s probably work harder than all of your family combined. they’re very sweet, kind, and care about their customers.

[@sportsmansparadice42]

Its not an island. It's a peninsula.

[@YellowProductions]

They are 2 different places. There is Balboa Peninsula AND Balboa Island

[@sportsmansparadice42]

@@YellowProductions Those are sand bars. Bay island, Lido island, Balboa all sand bars.

[@lindadechiazza2924]

@@sportsmansparadice42 and be cause of that people live there Rich people . .lol

[@mariadahl3715]

Not an island, a peninsula

[@YellowProductions]

Balboa Island is in fact an island. There is also a Balboa peninsula. But they are both two different things

[@diggingmystyle]

Good video but this place looks boring AF. No thanks.

[@lttrhd]

Dude, there is practically nothing to do on that island. Gosh, america is so dull!