AC and I visited Balboa Island one afternoon, and within minutes we were completely charmed. The island is small enough that you can walk around it in about an hour, and the whole place feels calm and almost village like, even though you are right in the middle of busy Orange County.
We started with a stroll along the waterfront path that circles the island. On one side you have Newport Harbor with sailboats and paddleboards drifting by, and on the other side a row of beautiful houses. None of the homes are particularly large, but many of them are incredibly pretty, with flower filled balconies, colorful doors, and little patios facing the water.
Quite a few of the houses have their own private docks. Imagine stepping out of your front door, walking down to the water, and heading out in your boat for a sunset ride around the harbor. Life on Balboa Island seems to revolve around the water in the nicest possible way.
Back on Marine Avenue, the island’s small main street, we passed cafés, ice cream shops, and a couple of real estate offices. Of course we had to stop and look at the listings in the windows. Just out of curiosity at first, but soon it turned into full on daydreaming.
Houses on Balboa Island are among the most expensive in Orange County, which becomes very clear the moment you see the prices. Still, after walking around the island for a while, it is easy to understand why people want to live here.
Balboa Island is absolutely adorable and one of the most picturesque places we saw during our trip.
I also have a mental list of places I would move to if I ever won the lottery. After that afternoon, Balboa Island definitely made the list.
