Classic beach house vibe. Sand out the front door. Spacious historic charm.

Old-school Balboa Pavilion-era home with roomy beach feel. Directly on the ocean front promenade. No street out front, just sand and ocean.
Six private bedrooms, each with a queen bed. Sleeps 12 comfortably. Master suite has outside deck with beach views.
Huge living space and entertainment areas inside and out.
Bring your toys or explore the offerings of Balboa Village and Balboa Island - within easy walking distance.
One month minimum rental.

This extended stay destination offers more space, more rooms, more beach, more air.
Get off the Island, off the highway, off the gridlock. Get time and place for yourself.

The sparkling Pacific Ocean is spread out across the horizon. You can touch it just a few hundred steps across the sand beach that starts only feet from the front door. No street . No hurry.

The shore is fine for walks at any time of day. The water is always refreshing. Relaxing at the house is ok too.

On most days exotic Catalina Island graces the distant line of ocean horizon and floats in silhouette at sunset.

The house is a treasure box of rooms and comfort. There are six private bedrooms. The master suite has a balcony overlooking the beach and beyond. Common rooms accommodate everyone in your group. The spacious living room looks out to the beach. The large dining room accommodates all occasions. The sunny entry porch is a fresh air hang-out. The front deck immerses you in the scene. The shaded yard is a respite.

Fresh air wafts in from the ocean, the rooms fill with light, and you are in the sweet spot - so settle in ... or set out on an adventure. The horizon and peace abound. The swimming is excellent in Summer - bath temperature. At any time the shore is perfect for wading and walks. Let loose your inner kid - you're at the beach. And indulge your kids too. This is the perfect place for them to enjoy. No street, just sand.

The Balboa Dunes House is your oasis. Don't worry about traffic. You will already be there, and in the cool mornings you have the place to yourselves. Stretch out in the spacious accommodations and greet the season in classic style.

At one with the elements, the house is drenched with sun and air-conditioned by sea breezes. The interior has the classic appeal of redwood, with rooms and furnishings from a past century that are grand enough to accommodate your group in comfort. There is room, and rooms, to socialize, stretch out, gaze, read, dine, or to find a private niche. And separate bedrooms.

Luxuriate on the front porch overlooking the beach and vast Pacific: sunrise over the dunes, sunsets over Catalina Island, starry nights overhead.

And mystery - can you find the Harry Potter bathroom, the bedroom of seven doors, the hallway of nine doors, the portrait gallery, the small library, the secret portal to relaxation ...

Inspired by Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel Dune - which is recommended reading for all, young and old, agnostic and fanatic; but un-equalled in film - The House at Balboa Dunes is a sanctuary on the sand planet of Balboa Beach. An adventure waiting to be explored and enjoyed.

The lowdown:

The Balboa Dunes House is a rare classic, a craftsman-style, all redwood treasure chest from Balboa’s grand beginnings. Before there were condos, when natural elements loomed large, and the houses were proportionately large. Poised like a ship at sea, the house features a spacious living room that looks out across the sand to the ocean, anchored by a massive stone fireplace, and joined by a large separate dining room.

Hang-out favorite spots are the welcoming sunroom and the bright front porch that like a boat’s prow practically projects onto the beach and into the tide of humanity that passes by on the boardwalk promenade in front.
The shady front yard offers a peaceful respite, and the second-floor deck offers privacy with stunning views over the beach and coastline.

The front door opens directly to the front porch, then the paved boardwalk promenade and the beach. No street. No cars, but frequent passers-by. Access for unloading is a back alley and gated side yard.

Surroundings:

The Pacific Ocean and wide Balboa beach are your view from the busy front porch and from the private upstairs deck off the master bedroom. Catalina Island lingers on the Western horizon, but within easy walking distance Eastward is the Balboa Pier, the historic Balboa commercial district with restaurants, shopping, and visitor attractions, including the Fun Zone, bay cruises, the Catalina Flyer catamaran, and the short ferry ride to Balboa Island. A longer walk in the other direction takes one to the beehive activity of the Newport Pier.

Just steps across the narrow peninsula are the calm waters of Newport Bay, where there’s swimming, a toddler beach, stand-up paddle-boarding and boating.

The ocean is a main attraction. It's a destination for beach walks, kite flying, sports, sand castle building, and of course, bathing.

A private hot-water outdoor shower near the back entrance to the house is your reward after many an outing.

Set-up:

Just as much as the outdoors beckons, the house itself welcomes you in. It puts its arms around its occupants with generous comfort, making them at home whatever the weather - be it the bright sun of Summer, the cool bluster of Autumn, the stirring sea breeze, or the cooling canopy of marine haze. There is room to stretch out, to gather together, or find a cozy nook. The grand living room has a wall of windows that take in the ocean beach vista, a working fireplace and several comfortable sitting areas. Opening off the living room is the large dining room, itself attached to the roomy, working kitchen.

Prepare meals on the wide kitchen countertops, and sit down at the easy eat-in table. Or be seated in the traditional dining room at a redwood slab table which seats 12 on chairs and wooden benches.

Bedrooms:

With six bedrooms upstairs - five private rooms arranged on either side of the upstairs hallway, and a wide master bedroom suite, the house comfortably sleeps 12 adults. The master suite has room for an airbed or a crib.
French doors open from the master suite onto the upper deck with its expansive views. The bedroom hallway is lined with books.

Bathrooms:

The master suite has a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, with walk-in shower, that it shares with the adjoining Queen bedroom. The other end of the suite shares a half bath with the Adventurer bedroom. At the far end of the hallway is a second full bath, with shower-over-tub and double sinks. All bedrooms and bathrooms have screened windows that open to the fresh sea breeze and sunlight. Downstairs there are three half-baths and two showers, as well as the outside hot-water shower, enclosed by a privacy fence.

Outside spaces:

The raised front deck is a go-to hang-out spot to greet the day, linger, socialize, and take in the expansive beach and ocean vistas. Bask in sunset glow. The empty Pacific horizon to the south makes for prime star-watching after dark.
A shaded front yard beyond the deck offers more seclusion and is a protected spot for toddlers and thinkers. Steps from the front deck down the side yard is a brick-paved area with a charcoal BBQ grill. There is outside storage space for bikes, boogie boards, beach chairs, etc.

The alley back door accesses a half bath with shower, the laundry room, and the kitchen. This is the entry for unloading from the back alley.

There is a dedicated parking space for one car in the alley behind the house. No garage. More parking on city streets.

No pets. No smoking. No loud or raucous parties.

City ordinances for the beach: No BBQs, smoking, glass, or alcohol.