For once, Jack spent the day talking about boats instead of trucks. We drove to Newport Beach and took the small ferry over to Balboa Island. It was much easier than I thought it would be, though karma was definitely on our side. The long freeway (605 to 405) drive was practically traffic-free and we lucked upon a parking spot within a block of the ferry. The ferry is a sweet step back in time amid the condos and boutiques of Newport Beach (think “The O.C.”). We waited less than 10 minutes, hopped on with a handful of humans and 3 cars, and paid our $1 to the 2-person crew. It took no more than 6 minutes to cross the channel, but Jack loved it. There were lots of other boats sailing by us and we even saw a few seals bobbing about.
From the dock, you can walk to the pier and the beach, which is a good (though crowded) stretch of sand with nary a power plant or airport in sight.
Tip: The Ruby Tuesday’s at the end of the pier has rooftop seating with stellar ocean views. It was $10 very well spent.
