On the harbor side of Balboa Peninsula, the Fun Zone has delighted locals and visitors since 1936. There’s a small Ferris wheel ($4 per ride, where Ryan and Marissa shared their first kiss on The OC ), arcade games, touristy shops and restaurants, and frozen banana stands (just like the one in the TV sit-com Arrested Development ). Nearby the landmark 1905 Balboa Pavilion is beautifully illuminated at night. The Fun Zone is also the place to catch a harbor cruise, fishing of whale-watching expedition, or the ferry to Balboa Island just across the channel.
