A spectacular golden sun sets over the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach. Located in the heart of Newport Beach is the beloved Balboa Pier, one of two beautiful piers to grace this lucky city on the Pacific Ocean in Orange County California.

The pier is the landmark for Balboa Beach, a tourist-friendly beach destination with a sand lot with a kids playground, public restrooms, a pier with the popular 50's style Ruby's Diner serving tasty burgers, fries, salads, sandwiches and malts, and much to see and do.

The sunset doesn't just happen at one pier in Newport Beach. In addition to Balboa Pier, you can catch the action at the Newport Pier (McFadden's Wharf), as well. Double your pleasure in Newport Beach as you pick and choose your pier sunset action. Pretty cool! In fact, there are few cities in California offering double pier options. The few we can recall include San Diego, Newport Beach and Avila Beach.

For starters, the hotel sits just a few hundred yards from the Balboa Inn, a hotel right on the sand. You can't beat the location for a vacation. Also here is the historic Balboa Pavilion where orchestras such as Glenn Miller played during the golden days of jazz. Then there's the famous ferry boat ride nearby, and a boat that goes daily to Catalina Island. How lucky can the residents of Newport Beach be? Pretty lucky, if you ask me.

From great dining, bars and night clubs, to some tourist shops, Balboa Beach is in the heart of the action for good times and fun. Across the bay on a ferry boat you can shop and walk along Balboa Island, part of Newport Beach. Fishing boats leave Davy's Locker at the Pavilion and there used to be a fun zone, that will soon be renovated for the Newport Museum filled with nautical memorabilia.

At the beach you can surf, swim, sun, fish from the pier where no fishing license is required, rent surrey bikes to ride with the family, rent skates, blades, bikes, or even sit and read.

For the perfect vacation, get packing and head to Balboa Beach. Locals should take a drive down to the Balboa peninsula to take peak, too. It's really a great afternoon of entertainment, or perfect for an evening stroll. Newport retains its old-fashioned charm, while nearby cities have torn down the old, looking uniform, if not a bit boring.

Balboa Boulevard, at Balboa Pier. Metered street parking. 6 am to 10 pm. Facilities: Lifeguards, rest rooms, showers, picnic tables, and barbecue grills. Newport Beach Marine Department at 949-644-3044.