How to find houses for rent in Newport Beach Ca. You can also find homes for sale. Things to do on Balboa Peninsula

You can go to this site http://houses-for-rent-in-newport-beach.com/ If your relocating and would like to buy a home go here to see houses for sale on Balboa Peninsula http://www.houses-4-sale.ws/

Newport Beach is a great place to live and raise a family or enjoy all the activities locally

Go here to register your kids for school http://newportel.nmusd.us/

Living in Newport Beach is awesome. People here are very friendly and if you have kids there school is right on the beach (k-6). This school is for residents that live on Balboa Peninsula and Newport Shores.

Newport Elementary School is located directly on the beach in Newport Beach, California. The school is situated on Balboa Peninsula. The students enjoy their playtime on the sand. The playground is located directly on the beach and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. At times, students can spot dolphins playing while they are at play. Catalina Island can be seen from the playground. This is such a unique setting and only one other school in the nation shares this commonality.

Newport Elementary was originally referred to as Newport Beach Grammar School and was founded in 1894 as the first school in the school district. The original location was near the Newport Pier but the population of the school began to grow with no room for expansion. In 1912 the location was moved to the current address, 1327 West Balboa, due to the growth.

On March 10, 1933, a strong earthquake damaged the building and it was soon determined that the damage was extensive enough that the entire facility had to be demolished and rebuilt. The dedication of the new building was December 17, 1935.

The school is referred to locally as Newport El. The school is part of Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

The Newport Elementary School Foundation is a parent's organization that raises funds to enhance the educational experiences of all children at Newport El. One such program is "A.C.E." ACE was added as an after class enrichment program to support fine arts and was inspired by Deborah Garett who is the director of the A.C.E. program. It offers art conservatories including dance electives such as Jazz, Tap Dance, Ballet, and Hip-Hop. It also offers music and theatre, visual arts, world language, and even sports such as La Crosse, Tae-Kwon-Do, Cheerleading, Baton and Gymnastics. This after school program is known to inspire true artists, seek new talents, and help students speak and express themselves through art. The A.C.E Program also provides the annual school play and the Newport Elementary Talent Show.

The Balboa Fun Zone is a small amusement park located on the Balboa Peninsula in the city of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. However, little is left of the original park.

It was built in 1936 by Al Anderson, who initially leased the land. Mr. Anderson bought the property from the owner in 1948. In 1956 Bob Speth, a former employee, bought the Ferris wheel but sold it back in 1964. Jordan Wank rebuilt the entire park and re-opened it 1986. In 1988 Doo & Sons owned The Balboa Fun Zone.

In 1994 the Balboa Fun Zone was purchased by former employee Joe Tunstall .^[1] The Fun Zone consisted of an arcade and amusement park with shops, restaurants and rides on the Newport Harbor.

While the Ferris wheel and the merry-go-round remain as reminders of the park's past, you can also take harbor cruises and enjoy the arcades on the boardwalk. The Ferris wheel is a frequently photographed night landmark on the Balboa Peninsula. The Balboa Fun Zone was purchased in December, 2005 by the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum,.^[2] On September 30, 2006, most of the rides—the Drummer Boy, Bumper Cars, and Scary Dark Ride were closed and have been removed to make room for the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum.^{[citation needed]}

The current Ferris wheel is not the original from 1972, and it is not even in the same location that the original one was in.

On the corner was the original Balboa Beach Company and the Ferris wheel was behind that building in 1972

Lots of fun things to do on the Peninsula

1. Rent a boat, para-sailing or jet skiing http://www.balboaparasail.com/

2. Take the ferry to Balboa Island to go shopping http://www.balboa-island.net/tsa.htm

3. Go on the Ferris wheel and Merry-go-round. There are 2 arcades at the fun zone as well. http://www.thebalboafunzone.com/

4. Go to Ruby's Restaurant on the end of Balboa Pier. http://www.rubys.com/

5. Have cocktails at The Class of 47 John Waynes old haunt for drinks.https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40558802586

6. Go to the Wedge and see some huge waves(usually after storm in the south)

7. Charter a fishing trip or rent a Duffy cocktail boat http://boats4rent.com/newportbeach_boatrental.html

8. Rent a segway or go on segway tour http://www.segwayoctours.com/

Newport Harbor is a semi-artificial harbor that was formed by dredging an estuary during the early 1900s. Several artificial islands were built, which are now covered with private homes: Balboa Island, Little Balboa Island, Collins Island, Bay Island, Harbor Island, Lido Isle and Linda Isle.

Newport Harbor once supported maritime industries such as boatbuilding, shipbuilding, and commercial fishing, but today it is used mostly for recreation. Its shores are occupied mostly by private homes and private docks. Newport Harbor is the largest recreational boat harbor on the U.S. west coast, with approximately 10,000 boats. In 1927 a home was built at the mouth of the entrance of Newport Harbor that came to be know as the China House of China Cove. The home was built using the traditional Chinese architecture. It was a landmark in the Newport Beach Harbor until it was demolished in the 1980's. Some of the original roof can been seen on a home located in the China Cove.  It's a popular destination for all boating activities, including sailing, fishing, rowing, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

Commercial maritime operations today include the Catalina Flyer ferry to Catalina Island, harbor tours, sport fishing day trips and charters, and a few small commercial fishing boats.

Newport Bay is divided by the Pacific Coast Highway bridge, which is too low for most sailboats and very large boats to pass under. North of the bridge is referred to as Upper Newport Bay, or the Back Bay. South of the bridge is commonly called Lower Newport Bay, or Newport Harbor. However the Back Bay also has harbor facilities, especially the marina and launch ramp at The Dunes.

Upper Newport Bay is an estuary that was formed by a prehistoric flow of the Santa Ana River. Today it is fed by a small stream from San Diego Creek. Much of Upper Newport Bay is a protected natural area known as the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, established in 1975.

Opened in 1967 as part of Newport Center, the mall featured four department stores: Buffum's, J. W. Robinson's, The Broadway, and J.C. Penney. These four initial buildings were designed by architects William Pereira and Welton Becket, and were flanked by several smaller stores. The Spanish architectural theme which would later define the mall was evident in the Robinson's building. In the late 1970s, Bullocks Wilshire (which later became I. Magnin) and Neiman Marcus were added. In the early 1980s, J.C. Penney moved out, and the building it occupied was reconstructed and reopened as "Atrium Court", which contained numerous smaller shops and a food court on the lower level.

The southwest entrance to Robinson's features a bronze wind-chime sculpture by mural artist Tom Van Sant, installed in September 1967, that was recorded by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest wind chime. (Possibly supplanted by Eureka Springs, Ark. in 2007.)

In 1988, the center underwent a major expansion and renovation based on the design of Jon Jerde, adding the Island Terrace Food Court, an eight-screen movie theater, and three new avenues of shops, all of which converge in a circular courtyard with an animated fountain that shoots jets of water up to 30 feet (9.1 m) high. This fountain is known as the "Iris Fountain" because of the radial-leaves pattern of its marble lining coupled with the jets of water that suggests the iris plant.

In 1990, the Bullocks Wilshire store became an I. Magnin. Federated Department Stores, which owned I. Magnin closed the chain in the mid 1990s, and the store was replaced with a Bullock's Women's Store. When Federated shuttered the Bullock's chain, the store was replaced again by Macy's as a Macy's Women's Store. Buffum's closed in 1991, and its space was later subdivided into smaller stores. After the consolidation of J. W. Robinson's and May Company California, the Robinson's store became a Robinsons-May in 1993. The Broadway, whose parent company had been purchased by Federated was done away with in 1996, and was replaced by one of the first Bloomingdale's stores on the West Coast.

In the early 2000s the mall underwent additional minor renovations resulting in the alteration and replacement of landscape elements, building facades, outdoor furniture ,and floor materials to better reflect the Mediterranean theme. Included in this renovation was the installment of a carousel and a new wing with restaurants and shops, although the carousel was removed in January 2010 as part of major renovations of the center.^[1][2]

The Federated-May merger in 2006, greatly affected Fashion Island, resulting in the closure and demolition of the 80,000 square feet (7,400 m²) Macy's Women's Store and conversion of the former Robinsons-May into a full-line Macy's store.

On January 29, 2008, Nordstrom announced that it had signed a letter of intent to open a 138,000 sq ft (12,800 m²) store in 2010 in the former Macy's Women's Store location.^[3] On April 16, 2010 Nordstrom Fashion Island officially opened.

In 2009 the Irvine Company began a $100 million renovation of the mall and is changing the Spanish style to an Italian style

The island (formerly known as Balisle) was not always easily accessible. Newport Harbor was still largely undredged, and sailboat was often the only way to get around. Robert McFadden, an early Balboa Harbor developer had established a successful fishing wharf on the Balboa Peninsula and by 1906, the Pacific Electric line Red Cars began servicing the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Pavilion, and soon the Red Cars brought thousands of visitors from Los Angeles. ^[1]

In the late 1860s, the bay was used as a landing to load hides, tallow, hay and other goods for export. In September 1870, Captain Samuel S. Dunnells’ steamer Vaquero ventured into the bay to offload a cargo of lumber and shingles. Captain Dunnells soon established “Newport Landing” by constructing a small wharf and warehouse near the west end of the present Coast Highway/Newport Bay Bridge.^[2]

James McFadden and his younger brother Robert acquired the landing in 1875 and for the next 19 years operated a thriving commercial trade and shipping business. However, the bay was not yet a true harbor and sand bars and a treacherous bay entrance caused the McFadden brothers to move the shipping business to the oceanfront by constructing a large pier on the sand spit that would become the Balboa Peninsula. The site was ideal because a submarine canyon (Newport Submarine Canyon - a favorite breeding ground for the Great White Shark), carved along with Newport Bay by the ancient Santa Ana River, provided calm waters close to the shore. McFadden Wharf was completed in 1888 and was connected by rail to Santa Ana in 1891. For the next eight years, the McFadden Wharf area was a booming commercial and shipping center and a company town began to grow. However, in 1899, the Federal Government allocated funds for major improvements to a new harbor at San Pedro, which would become Southern California’s major seaport. The McFadden Wharf and railroad was sold to the Southern Pacific Railroad that same year, signaling the end of Newport Bay as a commercial shipping center. ^[2]

In 1902, James McFadden sold his Newport townsite and about half the Peninsula to William S. Collins, who saw Newport Bay’s resort and recreation potential. Collins took on Henry E. Huntington as a partner in the Newport Beach Company. Huntington had acquired the Pacific Electric railway system and used it to promote new communities outside of Los Angeles. In 1905, the Pacific Electric “Red Cars” were extended to Newport. Collins began dredging a channel on the north side of the bay and deposited the sand and silt on tidelands that would become Balboa Island. ^[1]

Between 1902 and 1907, many of Newport Beaches’ waterfront communities were subdivided, including West Newport, East Newport, Bay Island, Balboa, and Balboa Island. This established the grid system of small lots and narrow streets and alleys that still exists today. ^[2]

Within a few years, real estate promoters began sending salesmen to Pasadena and to Los Angeles (both connected by the Red Cars) to promote property in and around Newport Harbor. Much Balboa Island property was sold in Pasadena, one of the reasons that many longtime Island residents have family and contacts in the Pasadena area. One of these real estate promoters was William Collins. At the time, Balboa Island was little more than a sandbar, usually swallowed up by high tide. ^[1]

In 1908 and 1909, with permission of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Collins moved his small dredge to the eastern part of the Newport bay, a mud flat called "Snipe Island," and begin cutting a channel along the north side of the bay across from the Pavilion, piling the sand and silt up on the mud flat and thus Balboa Island was born. ^[2]

At this time, an advertising campaign was offering waterfront lots for $350.00 to $750.00. However, despite the advertisements, Collins originally sold lots on the Island for as little as $25.00, with promises that all streets, sewers and street lights would soon be installed and a bridge and ferry service to follow. Construction was begun for the ferry landing. Streets were staked out and lots were mapped. Even a few narrow sidewalks were built. A low 14-inch (360 mm) wooden bulkhead was built along the south side of the island and an impromptu sewer system was laid out with pipes draining onto the beaches at their low tide levels to keep the discharge out of sight.^[2]

The island grew slowly at first, but in 1916, it became part of the City of Newport Beach. In 1918 the Balboa Island Improvement Association was started (and is still going strong). The BIIA was a strong motivating force in working with the City on bulkhead repair, ferry service, a sewer system, water, gas, electricity, paved streets and sidewalks, and street lighting. ^[2]

In those early days (1919), water for the Island came from the famous "Wooden Water Tower" built on Agate St. (removed in 1929). In 1920, Park Avenue was the only paved road on the Island. People had outhouses behind their houses as there was no sewer, and some buried their trash in vacant lots. In 1920, a gas utility came to the Island providing heating, cooking, and lights. ^[2]

Joseph Allan Beek, while still a student at Pasadena City College, was enchanted with the area, and became one of Collins' salesmen. Joe Beek played a crucial role in the development of Balboa Island, and spent a lifetime devoted to it. In 1919, Joe got the first contract for a ferry between the Island and Balboa Peninsula. In 1920, the first car was pushed across the bay (for 10 cents). In 1922, Joe Beek got a 15-year franchise, using the ferry boat "Joker", which could hold two cars. That franchise has continued to this day, with three 64 ft (20 m) boats, named "Admiral," "Captain," and "Commodore," that can each carry three vehicles. Beek later became Secretary of the California State Senate, where he served until his death in 1968. ^[2]

By 1921, homes were beginning to fill in the Island and Balboa Peninsula. Roads to the Newport Harbor area were still largely undeveloped, and many people still arrived by rail to the peninsula and took the ferry over to the island. Although the first bridge from the mainland to the island's North Bay Front was built in 1912, it was not capable of carrying automobiles until 1929, when it was refurbished. ^[2]

The seawall was rebuilt in 1922. . The Grand Canal wooden bulkhead and walk were rebuilt in concrete in 1929. The present day Bay Front bulkhead, walks and public piers were completed in 1938. ^[2]

In 1924, the narrow bridge to Balboa Island was replaced with two lanes of wood. That bridge existed until 1928, when it was demolished to make way for a concrete bridge. Some of the wood from the old bridge was used to construct the building next to the "Jolly Roger" Restaurant (now Wilma's) on Marine Avenue. In 1929, a new concrete bridge was built and served for 51 years. The island's population grew from a little over 100 in 1929 to today's 4,500 in winter, and close to 10,000 summer renters. In 1981, the existing concrete bridge was replaced with a new, modern concrete structure with 9' wide walks. ^[2]

In 1941 Englishman William Maxwell purchased 15 lots, an investment that he still owns today.

The Newport Pier is one of two piers located within the city of Newport Beach, California, at the center of the Balboa Peninsula. It is 1,032 feet (314.6 m) long and registered as California Historical Landmark number 794.

Newport Pier, Newport Beach, CA

Located at Oceanfront Boulevard and 21st Place, it is popular for angling, strolling and dining. At the end of the pier sits a restaurant called the "Newport Pier Grill and Sushi." The restaurant has an outdoor patio called the William Wright Terrace which adds 288 square feet (26.8 m²) and can seat up to 28 with a view of the water. At the base of the pier is the Dory Fishing Fleet, a beachside fishing cooperative founded in 1891. Also at the base of the pier is the headquarters of the city fire department's Lifeguard division.

Life Guard Headquarters Life Guard Headquarters Newport Pier Grill and Sushi, Newport Beach, CA Dory Fleet, Newport Beach, CA

The original wharf at this site was called McFadden Wharf, named for local landowners James and Robert McFadden. It was completed in the winter of 1888-1889, then connected by railroad to the interior in the winter of 1890-1891. It served as a shipping and distribution point for Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties until 1907 and provided the nucleus from which developed the city of Newport Beach.

The Balboa Pier is one of two piers located in the city of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. It is located in a part of Newport Beach called the Balboa Peninsula.

The Balboa Pier was constructed in 1906 as a sister project of the Balboa Pavilion. The Newport Bay investment Company wanted to attract lot buyers to an undeveloped spit of sandy land now called the Balboa Peninsula. In order to do so, they built both the Balboa Pavilion and the Balboa Pier. These two structures were built to coincide with the opening of the southern terminus of the Pacific Electric Railway Red Car line from Long Beach to the Balboa Peninsula. The plan worked; multitudes of beachgoers flocked to Balboa and many purchased lots.

The pier is a popular fishing spot. The fish caught from the pier consist mostly of mackerel and flounder. Additionally, the pilings are home to a large population of starfish that feed on the large colonies of mussels growing there, and are easily spotted at low tide. Fishermen catching starfish by mistake are a relatively common sight.

In the 1980s, the first of Orange County's famous Ruby's Diner restaurants opened on the pier. The 1940s nostalgia-themed restaurant has since become a famous Orange County landmark.

The pier was heavily damaged in the severe El Niño storms of 1998, which also destroyed the famous diamond-shaped Aliso Pier in Laguna Beach. One of the pillars was damaged, causing a partial collapse of one corner. The wooden posts have since been reinforced with steel sheathing and braces to prevent further