Balboa Fun Zone

Balboa Island

Saturday, July 15 & Sunday, July 16, 2006

Ready to take on a healthy lifestyle, our first weekend in Newport Beach we ventured on a four mile walk to Balboa Island. Once we crossed the small bridge onto the Island we strolled by adorable gift shops, galleries and restaurants and enjoyed peeking into the windows of some of the exquisite waterfront homes.

From the tip of the island we hopped on the Balboa Ferry (for a whopping .50 cents Round Trip) which took us over to the Balboa Peninsula. There, we took in the Balboa Fun Zone, one of Southern California's oldest and last great coastal amusement areas. Attractions include the old horse carousel built in 1938, a 14-foot trampoline, an arcade, and a Ferris Wheel, one of Thea's favorite amusement rides. We learned that this will be the last summer for this charming amusement park as it will be torn down in the fall to make way for the expansion of the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum.

We passed the rest of the day on Balboa Pier watching surfers trying to catch the waves, while fishermen hauled in their daily catch.

It's rumored that Balboa Island is where the frozen chocolate banana—rolled in ground nuts or candy sprinkles, was first marketed. If you were ever a fan of the TV show "Arrested Development," which we were, the frozen chocolate banana stand owned by the Bluth family is inspired by ones on Balboa Island.

The following afternoon, our friend Sheri, from Manhattan Beach, spent the afternoon with us. Thea shared the new discovery of Balboa Island with her and then we all dined at Avila's El Ranchito Restaurant, an authentic little Mexican restaurant whose motto, Family Owned, Family Operated, Family Loved seems fitting. The Nachos Ranchitos were most worthy of our praise, as was the friendly service, and while the prices were low, the heat from the salsa was high...Just the way we like it!