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Take a picture...one of Newport Beach's most photographed spots is the Newport
Harbor with the signs that say, "Welcome to Balboa" and Welcome to Balboa
Island".
In the photo above, the Newport Beach peninsula, known as Balboa to
some, features: the Balboa sign; dozens of Duffy boat rentals with the blue
surrey tops; orange, red, lime green and turquoise-colored kayaks stacked on
each other; a Ferris Wheel that you can ride; and people in line, waiting for
the Balboa Island ferry to arrive for the trip across the little bay.
Four Southern California
cities offer rides on ferries and boats across bays, and Newport Beach happens
to be one. The others are San Diego, Long Beach and a water taxi in the Channel
Island harbor in Oxnard.
The Newport bay is a gentle
area that was dredged and created in the early 1900's. A series of jetties built
along the ocean facing beaches, plus jetties entering into the harbor helped
create a bay that's been the location for movies, the home of film stars, rock
stars, executives, athletes and ordinary people (some whose families purchased
the property for a few thousand dollars.)
In the photo above, you'll
notice a series of buildings. The scene includes a nautical museum,
restaurants, shops, and kiosks where tickets for Newport Harbor rides are sold.
45 to 90 minute narrated cruises tell who lives in which houses, and lots of
scoop about this enchanted area.
To ride the harbor ferry, all
you have to do is enter on foot and have money (under $1 each way). The ferry
can carry around 4 or 5 cars, depending on size, and there's a very specific
manner to get in line to ride the ferry by car. It seems almost bizarre, but if
you don't follow it, angry people get out of their cars, yelling and screaming
or reporting you to the ferry captain, who will deny you entry in many cases.
Apparently there's a sign on Balboa Blvd. that requires you turn right at a
stoplight. You must then take a left at Palm, going through the stoplight on
Balboa, and that puts you in line. It can be quite confusing. But if you
manage to navigate the signage, you can get your turn. There is a fee
charged for this ride. The islands are otherwise connected by roads. Both
can be accessed from Pacific Coast Highway.
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