Balboa Island

Balboa Island is a distinctive community in the middle of Orange County’s Newport Harbor offering coastal living with a neighborly vibe. The community is joined to the mainland by a short two-lane bridge on the northeast of Balboa Island, and a privately-operated fleet of three, three-car ferry boats, which provide access across the harbor to the Balboa Peninsula, which lies to the south. The island is actually comprised of three artificial islands: Main Island, Little Balboa Island, and Collins Island. Together they have roughly 1,450 expensive and in-demand homes. The average lot size on Balboa Island is 35 feet x 85 feet; however, some of the lots have been combined together into 1.5 or 2.0-sized parcels for larger homes.

 

The entire perimeter of the island has a pedestrian walkway that stretches almost 2.5 miles. The boardwalk is full of activities from early-morning joggers, and dog walkers to couples taking an evening leisurely stroll enjoying the beautiful bay views. Featured along this boardwalk are 231 bayfront homes, most with their own private docks, and 80 homes along the inner Canal which divides the Main from the Little Island.

 

The island’s main drag, Marine Avenue, is lined with gift shops, ice cream parlors, restaurants, and art galleries and serves as the town square