Of all Newport Beach’s man-made islands, Balboa Island is by far the folksiest. It also happens to feel more like a quaint East Coast harborfront village than the rest of Newport’s distinctly Southern Californian settlements. Wilma’s Patio is a breakfast time staple, or you can skip straight to dessert and get your hands on a frozen banana (both Sugar N Spice and Dad’s Donut & Bakery Shop claim to be the originators of the chocolate-covered treat). Outside of the mom-and-pop shops on Marine Avenue, a 1.6-mile boardwalk traces the small island’s perimeter of vacation homes. On the southwest side of the island, you’ll find find a handful of operators offering 8-to-12-person Duffy boat rentals to (booze) cruise around Newport Bay—a fantastic way to extend your visit to right around sunset. If there’s one downside, it’s the traffic getting onto the island. The small bridge at Marine Avenue is the most direct way in, but it routinely backs up on weekends and during the summer. Alternatively, you can take the pint-sized auto ferry from Balboa Peninsula, which might be the preferable option if you plan on riding the Ferris wheel or taking a whale watching tour by the Balboa Fun Zone.