Welcome To My Balboa Peninsula Information Page

The Balboa Peninsula (commonly referred to as “Balboa” by locals) is a subsection of the city of Newport Beach.  Approximately three miles long, the peninsula is primarily residential but it has some commercial areas as well.  The population of the peninsula is just under 8,000 residents living in an area that is 1.850 square miles in size.

Named after the Spanish explorer, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, this small beach town has been a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.  The peninsula acts as a jetty enclosing Newport Harbor and its islands.  You can reach Balboa Island by taking the old-fashioned, 3-vehicle Balboa Island Ferry which runs day & night between the island and the peninsula.

The ocean side of the peninsula offers a nice long and wide stretch of fine, soft sandy beach that provides plenty of space to spread out and take in all the sights and sounds of the coast.  Surfers, swimmers and sunbathers all enjoy the Mediterranean climate during winter and summer days.  Balboa Peninsula’s Beach was named one of the top ten urban beaches in the United States by Surfrider Magazine.

Newport Beach Pier is one of two piers located on the ocean side of the peninsula.  Near the base of the Newport Pier is the Dory Fishing Fleet which was founded in 1891.  The pier is one of the best places to watch surfers at sunrise and it offers stunning views to the north toward Huntington Beach, and looking to the south, you can see another well known structure, the Balboa Pier.  There is a designated bike route on the boardwalk that leads to many eateries around the pier.  Bike riding and skating along the boardwalk are  popular activities all year long year and a great way to check out  some of the most expensive ocean front real estate in Southern California.  The Balboa Pier is a cool place to take a leisurely stroll out to the end and grab a shake and some chili cheese fries at Ruby’s.  The vibe along this section of the peninsula is definitely youthful and fun.

On the harbor side of the peninsula you will find one of California's last surviving examples of the great waterfront recreational pavilions from the turn of the century.  Built in 1905 by the Newport Bay Investment Company, the Balboa Pavilion played a prominent role in the development of Newport Beach as a seaside recreation area.  In 1906, it became the southern terminus for the Pacific Electric Railway connecting the beach with downtown Los Angeles.  Next to the Pavilion is the Balboa Fun Zone, a mini waterfront amusement park with a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round.  The Newport Nautical Museum is located in the same area as well.  The nearby shops and numerous dining places make for some good times for people of all ages.  

The world famous Wedge, at the ocean-side tip of the Balboa Peninsula is an excellent place to watch some of the best body surfers and boogie boarders in the U.S. take on large, uniquely shaped waves that are created by swells hitting the man-made rock jetty that protects the Harbor's entrance.

The Balboa Peninsula is a very unique place when it comes to residential real estate, you have the ocean side residences with their sandy beach and the sound of crashing surf, and then you have the Newport Harbor side with charming bay front residences that feature boat docks and calmer protected waters.  The close proximity of both areas to one another (a short walking distance appart) is exactly why many locals would be quick to tell you that… “Balboa provides you with the best of both worlds!”.  There's no doubt that  Balboa truly is a unique coastal community that offers its residents a special lifestyle that simply cannot be found anywhere else.

The Balboa Peninsula is served by the Newport - Mesa Unified School District.  Click Balboa Peninsula School Info on the blue navigation sidebar for direct school links and more information.