Balboa Island/Peninsula

The playground on the beach at Balboa Peninsula

After breakfast with some friends in Newport, and at their suggestion, we made an impromptu trip to Balboa Peninsula and Island. We hadn't packed anything special for the trip, just our usual water, snacks, diapers and change of clothes, which turned out to be all we needed anyway. We started at the island on our way back from our breakfast in Crystal Cove State Park, drove through the little downtown, and took the car ferry ($3) over to the peninsula (you don't have to take the ferry over, but we didn't know this. Plus it was kinda fun).

We made our way over to the pier to park our car. Right smack on the beach is a great playground with slides and swings and a neat rope climbing structure next to bathrooms and beach showers. You can watch waves crash from there, or walk down the dune and dip your toes. Hubby and I took turns basking in the sun and splashing in the surf with our son. He couldn't get enough of the freezing water, and we eventually had him down to his shirt and diaper (who needs a swimsuit if you aren't swimming?) He also had a good time playing in the beach showers as he watched the boogie-boarders do so in awe. We had a snack in the sand (including some of said sand) and then took a stroll down the beach and then back through downtown, peeking into the multi-million dollar homes. Does anyone know the open container rules at the beach? There seem to be several places where you could procure an adult beverage...

enjoying a turkey corn dog at the original Ruby's on the pier
 (Ruby's shows the calories for each menu item,
and this was surprisingly one of the better options!
The kids' double chocolate milkshake I ordered was not...)

Then we ended our trip with lunch at Ruby's at the end of the pier. While we waited for our food, M pushed his stroller around the boardwalk and watched the folks fishing. If we only could have found a good place for nap time, we could have easily spent all day here having simple fun in the sun! Though as it was, our little guy sacked out in the car and we all had a good nap when we got home. Something about sun and salt air induces sleep!

taking the car ferry over for $3

watching the waves and the boogie boarders with Daddy

climbing back up the dune

we took turns wading with him in the surf.
 He LOVE the chilly water and sea foam  at his feet!

pushing his stroller around the pier

Ruby's Diner

a choo-choo speeding by!

Ruby's Diner is a Southern California chain (though there are locations across the country), with an 1940's diner feel, waitress uniforms and all. We have been meaning to try out a Ruby's location for a while and decided to go for it one sleepy Friday evening when no one felt like cooking. We weren't sure exactly what to expect, except that Ruby's is a diner... so probably good hamburgers? I was pleasantly surprised when the waitress's opening sentence was, "Can I start you with a milkshake?"

Our nearest location's theme was a train station (Orange, CA). We usually like to sit outside at dinner (given the kid's table manners and great SoCal weather), which turned out to be a front row seat for the choo-choos (and also where all the other families with young kids chose to be, so we felt right at home)!  We saw about 5 trains go by during our meal, both passenger and freight. Some seemed to scare M, but others he was thoroughly excited about. Each location has a local theme (including WWII aircraft, and surfing) so we will have to try them all in our travels!

enjoying a cereal bar appetizer

The food was yummy (hubby and I both enjoyed our burgers), and I was surprised that they even have many options for lower calorie or low carb fare (to offset the milkshakes, of course). I even felt good about sharing some of my sweet potato fries with M, and he happily ate his chicken-finger-and-apple-slices kids' meal, too!

Definitely a thumbs up for a family meal here.

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