Field Trip - Balboa Island

Today we took a trip to Balboa Island!  We brought scooters and rode around the island picking up some salt water taffy along the way!  Here's the scoop:

• First we parked at the beach parking at the Newport pier and walked across the street to the Balboa Island Ferry
• The Balboa Island Ferry has been running since 1919!  So it's a piece of history!
• Kids 5 and under are free; Kids 5-11 are $0.50 and Adults are $1.00 each way
• After arriving at the island we walked straight ahead and ran into a little playground!  It is very small but a perfect spot to stop for a water break and let the little guy stretch his legs.
• Then we walked straight across the island until we hit the walking path that goes around the island.  We turned right and stumbled upon a public beach right next to a public pier!

• Then we took a stroll down Marine Avenue where we found this gem!

• Balboa Candy had salt water taffies of every flavor imaginable!  You could buy them individually so it made for an inexpensive and unexpected fun treat!  They are only about $0.29 each!
• Then we finished our walk around the island and rode back to where we started.  It was a awesome way to spend the afternoon!

Enjoy!

Field Trip - Balboa

Today we visited Balboa Pier and Island and we had a blast!

We parked near Balboa Pier (to find it - you can google maps "Balboa Pier Newport Beach") where they have a rather large hour parking lot.  It is a quarter every 10 minutes ($1.50 an hour) to park there but well worth it. 

First Stop - The Beach!

The beach is right in front of the parking lot and it is a great beach!  It is a long beach filled with crushed shells that wow-ed my girls.  The pier is right there and is a wonderful distraction.  There is a Ruby's Diner at the end of the pier too.  We spent an hour playing with My Little Ponies, searching for sand crabs and of course looking for the prettiest shell on the beach! 

Next Up - The Ferry!

We walked to the other side of the Peninsula and then a little to the left and there is the ferry!  The kids just loved the ferry!  We took it across to Balboa Island and walked around a little but unfortunately had to head back early for another commitment.  If we had more time - we would have brought scooters and toured the island.

Ferry Prices:

• Car and Driver: $2.00;
• Motorcycles and Mopeds: $1.50;
• Adult with Bicycles: $1.25 cents;
• Children with bicycles $.75 cents
• Adults: 1.00 cents, Children 5-11 .50 cents; Children under 5: free.

 

On the Newport side of the ferry - there is the Balboa Fun Zone which has a small ferris wheel and an arcade.  There is also a Nautical Museum called the ExplorOcean (http://explorocean.org/) and from the outside it looked really neat!  If we had more time - this would have been on our list of things to explore!  Next time!