Laguna Beach is an affluent seaside resort city and artist community located in southern Orange County. It was the epicenter for southern California's alternative culture in the late 1960s and early 1970s and today is home to a large gay community.
Each summer the city hosts the Pageant of the Masters where recreations of artwork with people posing in various sets designed to look like the original artwork are featured. Before the program begins, patrons can stroll around admiring the works of various artists displayed on the grounds or sample the delectable dishes served by Tivoli Terrace or Gina's Alfresco. Some prefer to bring their own picnic baskets and bottled wine.
Other festivals such as the Sawdust Art Festival, Festival of the Arts and Art-A-Fair draw large crowds each summer making getting around the city and finding parking a challenge.
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| Photo courtesy of the Festival of Arts |
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| Photo courtesy of the Festival of Arts |
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| Photo courtesy of the Festival of Arts |
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| Photo courtesy of the Festival of Arts |
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| Photo courtesy of the Sawdust Festival |
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a affluent city in Orange County, California. Nestled on the Pacific Ocean, the city is a favorite amongst surfers and beach goers with over eight miles of wide beaches. There is a concrete boardwalk running along the beach from Balboa Pier to Newport Pier. Various restaurants and shops dot the city's two piers.
Balboa Island actually consists of three artificial islands in Newport Beach, California. The largest of these is referred to as Balboa Island followed by the smaller Little Balboa Island and to the east, the smallest island, Collins Island.
Originally, Balboa was simply a tidal flat surrounded by swampland until William S. Collins and C. A. Hanson saw Newport Bay’s resort and recreation potential and began to develop and promote the area. The island grew slowly at first, but in 1916, it became part of the City of Newport Beach.
Today, Balboa Island is one of the densest communities in Orange County. Approximately 3,000 residents live on just 0.2 square miles! Further, the island is one of the most expensive real estate markets in North America outside of Lower Manhattan. A two-bedroom house with a water view can cost around $3 million.
There is something to do for everyone on the island, everything from swimming, surfing and sunbathing at the beach to bicycling, rollerblading or walking along the oceanfront boardwalk and the Back Bay Ecological Reserve. The Balboa Fun Zone offers a Ferris wheel, bumper cars and carousel among other things. You can also just sit back and relax at the seafood restaurant at the Balboa Pavilion which offers sensational views of the harbor.
Unfortunately, if you expect a warm welcome from the Balboa Island locals, you may possibly be disappointed. During our travels there, we noticed that the locals who inhabit this unusually overcrowded tidal flat do not like sharing their space with tourists and are very demonstrative regarding their distaste of visitors almost to the point of being crude.
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