Our adventure this week takes us down PCH to Newport Harbor. Contrary to our past few adventures, there will not be much dirt on this trip. On this trip you will be on a peninsula – Balboa Peninsula to be specific.
There are many things to do in the Balboa area. At the start of the peninsula’s stretch lies Newport Harbor pier, which can be a good place to check out and explore.
The fun, however, lies farther down Balboa Avenue. About halfway down the peninsula is the Balboa Fun Zone. Bordering the harbor side, the Fun Zone is a grouping of shops, arcades, restaurants, museums, water rentals and carnival rides grouped conveniently together.
The area is fun to explore. The harbor is very scenic and there is a boardwalk that goes down most of the peninsula. Directly across from the Fun Zone is the Balboa Pier and peninsula coastline. If you or your partner love treats, there is a fantastic saltwater taffy shop to check out while walking across Palm Street to the pier. You can also take a few spins in the Ferris wheel overlooking the Harbor
There are a ton of restaurants and quick eats around the area. There are a few pizza places if you’re looking for a lunch snack or a cheap dinner. There are also some fancier restaurants, such as Newport Landing and Harborside Restaurant, which have daily specials which can help you save on the pricey menus.
After exploring Balboa Fun Zone and the beach, there’s another cool area to walk to on Balboa. At the end of the peninsula is the gateway to Newport Harbor. There is a park called Jetty View Park that overlooks the boats and yachts which enter and leave the harbor. This is a very scenic spot and provides relaxing moments and great pictures.
Because the peninsula is a skinny stretch of land, parking can be a challenge. There are three places to park, although only one is free before dusk. The two parking areas, located in front of the pier and across the street in front of the Fun Zone, cost money and require a parking pass. Secretly, you also can go towards the large housing track and park at the end of the peninsula where parking is free.
After a long fun day on the peninsula you may want to go for a cliche date to the movies. However at this movie theater, you will have to substitute cliche for classy.
Lido Theater, merely blocks from the Fun Zone, usually has only one to three movies playing. This is because Lido Theater is an old-style, one room theatre with a balcony top.
This adventure will require a lot of walking and a fair amount of money, although you can easily get by with spending nothing and just enjoy the sites of Balboa. As always, we hope that you and your partner or group, enjoy your time together.
Here are the directions to the hotspots from FVHS…
- The Balboa Fun Zone has some small carnival rides.
