Summer is almost here and that means going out and exploring. My kids are on a transportation kick and I wanted to share with you an excursion I posted about last summer that we will be repeating again this weekeend. Your kiddos will love it!!
I can’t remember what my daughter was watching last week that mentioned a ferry ride- I think it was Dora the Explorer, but I’m not to sure. As soon as the show was over she started asking me about ferries. I explained to her what a ferry was and told her that this weekend I would take her on a ferry ride. There are only two ferries (I’m not counting the Catalina ones) in operation in Southern California. One is the ferry that runs between Coronado Island and San Diego and the other is the one that connects Balboa Island and the Balboa Peninsula. It’s a fun five minute ride that you and your children will enjoy.
We always make a day trip out of it by exploring Balboa Island, one of my favorite places in Southern California. We usually take the ferry over from the Fun Zone in the Peninsula and head over to Balboa to walk around and have a frozen banana of course!! So yummie and a must when visiting. My kids can’t stop giggling every time we ride. Trust me on this the kiddos will love it. The ferry ride is fun and totally inexpensive. Adults are $1.oo , children 5-12 ,are 50 cents and cars with drivers are $2.oo(each passenger is additional) and children under 5 are free. You will love exploring Balboa Island. For additional info click here.Balboa Island FerryBalboa Peninsula Fun Zone area (follow the signs)
Hours: Ferries leave every few minutes
Sunday through Thursday: 6:30 a.m. to midnight,
Friday and Saturday nights until 6:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
SUMMER HOURS 6 am to 2 am Daily
Rates:
Car and Driver: $2.00;
Motorcycles and Mopeds: $1.50;
Adult with Bicycles: $1.25 cents;
Children with bicycles $.75 cents
Hours: Ferries leave every few minutes
Sunday through Thursday: 6:30 a.m. to midnight,
Friday and Saturday nights until 6:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
SUMMER HOURS 6 am to 2 am Daily
Rates:
Car and Driver: $2.00;
Motorcycles and Mopeds: $1.50;
Adult with Bicycles: $1.25 cents;
Children with bicycles $.75 cents
I swear I just looked up the Balboa Ferry today. We must be on the same wave length!
This is one of my favorite things to do in OC! Great photo too!
That's a great suggestion! We recently walked around the island and were disappointed to find out the kids couldn't ride their bikes around. Oh well, just as fun to walk.
Hey! Thanks for the tip. I'm planning a day trip down to that area soon, and I'll add it to the list! Any other gems in Newport Beach that we should hit on our day trip? Also, how much time should we plan to spend on Balboa? What is there to do when you get over there? Never been but can't wait, thanks for all the info.
Laura, I would plan on spending about an hour or two there. They have really cute shops and you must stop by and have a frozen banana from one of the two shops that sell them. They are delicious!!!
If I were heading to Newport- I would hit up the Balboa Peninsula and take one of their bay tours. They aren't too expensive and are around 45 minutes long. I also like to rent a family bike and take it for a stroll and also walk around the fun zone area. If you have any other questions just send me an email. Have a great time!!
we just did this last week. We park our car on balboa island, walk around those gorgeous houses, ride the ferry to the fun zone, have pizza dinner at BJ's where kids meals are only 4.95 including drink, and then ride the ferry back to the island where we end with a "balboa bar" before getting in the car. It was fantastic!