Walking Tour: Houses of Balboa Island

GrandCanal

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend!  I spent Thanksgiving Day at my family’s house on Balboa Island in Newport Beach.  Despite living in Los Angeles for many years, I was born and raised in Newport Beach, so it’s still that place I call home.  Our house on Balboa Island is located on what is called “Little Balboa Island.”  Balboa Island is an island in Newport Harbor comprised of a larger island and a smaller island separated by a canal and accessible by a bridge. On Thanksgiving Day, we took a walk around the perimeter of the smaller island (Little Balboa Island) and I took some pictures that I thought I would share with you.  So join me on my walking tour!

2

So here’s your map (um, using my iPhone map).  Our walk begins on the smaller of the island where you see “The Grand Canal” at the very top (of the larger waterway, Beacon Bay) – we are going to walk around the perimeter on the water side above where you see Crystal Avenue (the water side street is E Bay Front) and then down to S Bay Front, across S Bay Front and back up along side The Grand Canal (all the homes featured are water front houses).  Hope that’s not too confusing!  Don’t get lost!

3

One of my favorite houses, this house sits on a corner lot right at the edge of The Grand Canal (but wraps around a bit with rooms facing the canal) and faces Beacon Bay.  This house probably takes up about four lots.  I don’t know a lot of details about the house but my dad said it has been written about/published quite a bit.

4

A typical Balboa Island home, this house has a spacious front patio and a cute walkway.

5

An older more original island home, decorated for the holidays.

6

The architecture of this home is more southern, but still retains some traditional Balboa Island aesthetics.

7a

Another house that has a southern flair, reminds me of a house you might see in Florida.  (Part of the house both above and pictured below.)

7b

7c

The house sits on two lots, so it has a nice wide front water facing porch.

7d

And it’s currently staged and on the market for $10 million.

LampPost

So now we’ve come to the intersection of E Bay Front and Park Avenue.  Notice how even the lamp posts are decorated for the holidays! Let’s continue up E Bay Front…

8

An original 50’s era gem, love the front door!

WreathDock

In the spirit of the holidays, owners decorate their private docks too.

9

My dad loves this house, not so much me – but I do find the nautical shutters whimsical.

10a

Now we’re at the corner of E Bay Front and S Bay Front.  This house sits on a corner lot with dynamic views (the picture below is taken right at this corner).

10b

The house above enjoys this view…every day.

11

A newer Balboa home, lush with landscape.

BeachDay

A day at the beach:  Thanksgiving Day was 84 degrees, warm & sunny.  Next time bring your bathing suit!

12

Another Florida-esque style home.  This property was at one time available to rent.  Great location, situated on a corner lot.

Docks

Most all of the water facing homes come with their own docks, great if you are a boat owner.

13

We’re now at the corner of S Bay Front and The Grand Canal.  This house sits across the way on the larger island.

Cat

As we make our way up The Grand Canal, my dad stops to introduce us to a friend of his that he meets up with on his daily walk.

Bridge

We’ve now just passed the bridge that connects the larger island to Little Balboa Island as we continue to make our way back alongside The Grand Canal.

14

A house on the canal side, more traditional and modest in size, decked out for the holidays.

Walkway

Making our way back to where we started, this walkway leads up to our house.

Hope you’ve enjoyed your tour of Balboa Island! Come visit again soon!