Monday, June 3, 2013

Balboa Island and Beyond-Coastal Tour


Happy Monday folks! Welcome to another trip down the Sunset Coast. My aunt was visiting last week from San Jose. She lives in California, but she had never been to the cute touristy destination called Balboa Island. So, my mother and I took her on a little day tour that included lunch in Newport Beach, Balboa Island, a drive through Corona Del Mar and a stop at the fabulous Roger's Gardens.
Come along for the tour! It's picture heavy.. we saw so much we were pretty over stimulated with fantastic shopping and sites.
My mom, Joan and her 'baby' sister Aunt Vonnie
First stop was lunch at Alta Coffee in Newport Beach. This is a funky little place with outdoor seating, visiting art displays and yummy food! They have frequent entertainment, poetry readings and open mike nights. Nothing fancy, but fresh and tasty coffee, bakery goods and food is found here.
After visiting the local art gallery and lunch, we drove on to Balboa Island.
Balboa Island is in Newport Beach. It's an idyllic vacation and year round place. It has the requisite 'main street' lined with shops and restaurants. There are gorgeous waterfront homes on the harbor, huge yachts, as well as quaint old cottages. Have a look !
Photos weren't allowed in here, but my favorite shop is Art for the Soul.. full of painted furniture, artwork, jewelry and one of a kind creations.
Fantastic homes with inviting decks along the canals and streets beckon you to walk and gawk.



After a little tour of Balboa Island, we drove south to see Corona Del Mar, 'The Crown of the Sea'. The photo at the beginning of this post, above, is the ocean view.. ridiculously awesome!


 This is a really upscale Orange County neighborhood. Just a drive along the ocean front homes is amazing. I hadn't seen this home, below, before. I think it was constructed on 3 or 4 ocean front lots. I don't know who owns this, but you can only imagine what something like this would cost. The home looked like a movie set or something out of Fantasyland in Disneyland.





Handcrafted gate is great! A note about the banner. There is a current controversy about keeping the beach fire pits or not. People are complaining of the smoke and pollution they produce. Apparently, this home owner wants to save them!

 All these photos are of one home! All the rocks in the landscape were brought in and the home looks all hand constructed with huge timbers. I didn't do Corona Del Mar justice with photos, I got caught up with that one outrageous house.
Roger's Gardens wall of succulents~ Awesome aged planters!

 Next, one more stop on the sunset coasting tour, Roger's Gardens. Roger's is a retail nursery but so much more. We barely looked at plants because the shops are so wonderful! The shops are filled with home accessories, indoor plants, candles, pots and other unique items. More Photos!

Fuschia Filled Treescapes!

Lovely Orchids in many colors..
Flowers and pots and candles under a coveted wood shaded chandelier!
Capitivating flower displays beneath a twig Chandy!
Glass displays overlooking the outside gardens.
Patriotic tablescapes anyone?
An abundance of red, white and blue pillows!
Unique dishes! These are not glued together, they're made this way!
French inspired garden goodies!

All in all, it was a beautiful day to be a tourist along the Orange County coastline! Great sites, great company and good memories were made. Where do you like to take a day trip where you live?

Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you'll join my site !
Have a trippy day!
Cindy


 Sharing here---Designed Decor 
The Tablescaper

12 comments:

  1. Thank you for the great tour. It was a very fun day!! Loved it.
    Vonnie

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  2. What a beautiful tour! I love the house....and I agree that firepits should be saved!!!!

    Happy day to you!

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    1. Glad you like the tour! As for the firepits, I love them for parties but I live where I get the smoke nightly in the summer months. No one asked for my opinion, but I'd like to keep them. Happy day to you too! Cindy

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  3. Hi Cindy, what a great trip! It looks like a lot of fun, and definitely a feast for the eyes! Did you come away with any new treasures? Those dishes are crazy, I've never seen anything like them! Thanks for sharing your pictures. Have a great day. :)

    Debbie

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    1. Debbie, that's the amazing thing! I didn't buy anything. I'm sort of in the, 'get rid of stuff' mode. Anyways, I got inspiration and hope to find things more thrifty at other places, if you know what I mean. ;) Cindy

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  4. I love picture heavy posts, and this looks like a wonderful trip!

    I'm visiting today from Let's Connect Thursday, and I'm your latest follower. :)

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  5. Lovely photos of Balboa and Corona Del Mar. Love these areas of So. Cal. I drove by Rogers Gardens but couldn't stop last year...
    Glad you could be a tourist with your mom and aunt!

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  6. Great photos! That big house is amazing, love the roof lines and gate. And I also like the first house, with the deck that goes out over the canal - I'd never leave that deck. I'm in the middle of South Carolina, so we can take a day trip to the beach or the mountains, or Georgia, works out great! Thanks for sharing this. Take care - Dawn @ We Call It Junkin

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  7. The view of the ocean in that first picture is just breathtaking.

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  8. Have been to that area before and just love it, but have never been to Roger's Gardens. It's definitely going on the list for our next trip. Your pics are wonderful!

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  9. Wow! I would love to go. So much to see!

    Thanks for being a part of "Oh, the PLACES I've been!"

    - The Tablescaper

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Thank you for visiting the Sunset Coast! I really, really love your comments!