Balboa Fun Zone
Known For
- •Ferris wheel ride
- •Ocean Motion ride
- •Harbor cruise for Christmas lights
- •Duffy boat rentals
- •Dive bar with jukebox and pool table
Insider Tips
Best Time
Late afternoon into sunset for Duffy boats, dolphin sightings and golden light; arrive early on summer weekends to secure parking; off-season hours are limited so check before you go.
Ideal For
Pro Tip
Avoid the fishy dock smell by walking out to East Bay Avenue; bring cash or small bills for individual rides and aim to arrive before midday on busy summer weekends.
Balboa Fun Zone is a stubborn little carnival parked on the bay, all chipped paint, neon bulbs and the smell of salt and fried dough. The Ferris wheel creaks against a seawind, giving five minutes of slow, perfect vertigo for about six dollars. Kids sprint between skee-ball and trampoline platforms while couples board short harbor cruises and Duffy rentals to chase sunset and, sometimes, dolphins. There is a scruffy bar tucked into the arcade row, a jukebox, a pool table and cold beer for locals who have been coming back for decades. It gets loud, it gets crowded, and the dock area can carry a strong fishy tang that you avoid by stepping out to East Bay Avenue. Bring patience, small bills, and time enough to watch the ferry blow its brief, old-fashioned horn.
Price Level
$
Website
www.balboafunzone.comContact
+1 949-662-0193
Outdoor Seating
Hours
- Sunday: 11AM - 7PM
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 12PM - 5PM
- Thursday: 12PM - 5PM
- Friday: 11AM - 7PM
- Saturday: 11AM - 7PM
Drifter Insights
Major destination with tourist appeal
Popular with friends, couples and families
Popular With
Tourist Awareness
TripAdvisor: #276 of 465 Places to Eat in Newport Beach
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