Summer 2023

T here’s a rarefied exclusive air to Newport Beach, along with an equally casual, welcoming vibe. This is a place where you can shop at upscale boutiques, dine at incredible restaurants, and also spend the day playing in the ocean and return to back to your hotel sandy and ready for a hot shower. Balboa Bay Resort offers an incredible waterfront location on 15 acres, award-winning service, and proximity to all the activities Orange County has to offer, from yachting to nearby amusement parks. According to Francine Slosser, director of marketing at Balboa Bay Resort, “Balboa Bay Resort is nestled along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, a coastline that is coined the ‘Orange County Riviera’ due to its picturesque setting that rivals the rivieras of Italy. It is the only waterfront resort in Newport Beach, a town that is steadily becoming the Hollywood of Orange County.” Slosser explains that in 1948, Kenneth T. Kendall, heir to a Manhattan real estate fortune and entrepreneur, started construction of Balboa Bay Club. The club changed hands multiple times, introduced apartments in the 1960s, and opened to the public as the Balboa Bay Resort and Club in 2003. A $65 million renovation was completed in 2016. Since its inception, celebrities have flocked to the pristine, sunny club on the bay, which is known for being one of the largest marinas in Southern California, complete with yacht slips, a private beach and a waterside swim- ming pool. “In addition to Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart and Bing Crosby, John Wayne was a regular at the members-only club in Newport BALBOA BAY RESORT Newpor t Beach , Ca l i for n i a B Y S A B R I NA S P E I DE L D E S T I N AT I O N S 208 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 3 Photos: Courtesy of Balboa Bay Resort