This is a sponsored post, but as always, all opinions are 100% my own.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit some of the most beautiful beaches in Southern California: Venice Beach, El Matador Beach, Laguna Beach, La Jolla Cove, and this weekend I popped by Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California.

Balboa Island + Athleta + ww.thetravelpockets.com

It's a small man-made island with local craft shops, restaurants, bakeries, and it's filled with adorable island houses. The entire perimeter of this island is only 2.6 miles. Surprisingly, I have never heard of this island and I quickly learned that this island is the most densely populated district in California.

BALBOA ISLAND MAP x www.thetravelpockets.com

**AP MERCURY LITEKNIT SNEAKERS BY NATIVE**

When I arrived on the island I drove down Marine Avenue and could not find parking. Marine Avenue is where all the shops and restaurants are located, so I would have to be super lucky to find parking here. I ended up scoring a parking spot on Park Avenue in the residential area. I went on a Friday afternoon and I am assuming the weekends could be a bit tricky to find parking, so be prepared for the hunt!

I spent the afternoon exploring this quaint island in my favorite midi dresses from Athleta. This little island had that American Preppy type of style and I think my midi dresses perfectly matched the vibe.

STRIPE MIDI TANK DRESS // F21 GENUINE SUEDE FANNY PACK — **STRIPE MIDI TANK DRESS** // **F21 GENUINE SUEDE FANNY PACK**

SUNKISSED MIDI DRESS // CLUTCH // BRACELET — **SUNKISSED MIDI DRESS** // **CLUTCH** // **BRACELET**

My midi dress selections were on the casual side, which I needed since I knew I would be walking around quite a bit. Before I headed down the main street, I walked around looking at all the beautiful beach homes and cottages. A lot of them were vacant, so I was curious and looked up house rentals on Balboa Island and there were a ton of listings. Most of these homes are worth millions now, but the lots were originally sold for $250.00!

SCOOP MIDI DRESS // CAT EYE SUNGLASSES — **SCOOP MIDI DRESS** // **CAT EYE SUNGLASSES**

This island is tiny, but there are plenty of beaches nearby if you start experiencing island fever. I definitely want to go back and explore more of this unique location.

For styling tips on the midi dresses I am wearing in this post, check out my feature on Athleta’s CHI BLOG.

Refer a Friend & Get 20% Off at athleta.com. Online only. Restrictions apply. Ends 5/31.

A special thanks to Liang Ge for taking these amazing photos.

xo, Candy