The Balboa Pavilion, on the bay side of the peninsula, was built in 1905 as a bath- and boathouse. Today it houses a restaurant and shops and it serves as a departure point for harbor and whale-watching cruises. Look for it on Main Street, off Balboa Boulevard. Adjacent to the pavilion is the three-car ferry that connects the peninsula to Balboa Island. In the blocks around the pavilion you'll find restaurants, beachside shops, and the small Fun Zone —a local kiddie hangout with a Ferris wheel and a nautical museum. On the other side of the narrow peninsula is Balboa Pier. On its end is the original branch of Ruby's, a 1940s-esque burger-and-shake joint.
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