Gilbert Island in Huntington Beach is perhaps best-known for its neighborhood beach with kid’s swings and a playground, several community parks and spectacular views of the upscale homes and condos that populate this residential area – a beautiful stretch of land that has become one of five Huntington Beach “islands.”
Bounded by waterways and boasting jaw-dropping channel views, Gilbert Island is the neighborhood for anyone seeking contemporary quiet and serene peace, with most of the “action” taking place on the side of the “street” residents don’t normally see – the waterways and channels. During the annual light decoration contest and “Cruise of Lights” boat tours open to the public, guests fully realize the beauty of Huntington Harbour with just one glance. Indeed, homes here – while designed and built to offer incredible curb appeal – are at their most gorgeous when viewed from the water, which is why real estate agents in the area often own boats and provide water tours for serious buyers looking to become a part of Huntington Harbour.
As the inner sanctum of two islands, Gilbert Island includes a common area (public park) with treatments that have been added courtesy of the Garden Club; these include the aforementioned playground with bear sculpture, swing and slide in a children’s play area that sits at the base of a small hill and lush green parkway. While the playground is, of course, ideal for children, adults tend to flock to the grainy sands of Sunset Beach, an unincorporated community with services maintained through the County of Orange that’s a mere walk from the Gilbert Island neighborhood. For the tourist, there are larger beaches with more activities for the whole family as compared to the smaller beach at Gilbert Island; this beach boasts unlimited parking in the summer, and has become renowned as a place to sit in the shade and watch the kids play.
As a bit of history, construction on the Huntington Harbour complex began in 1963, with two islands – Admiralty and Gilbert – included in the first phase of development. Today, Huntington Harbour boasts five manmade islands, offering a wide variety of home styles in both single-family and condominium structures. Every year, when the holiday season arrives, the Harbour residents dress up their boats with lights and decorations for a “parade” through the waters during the so-called and aforementioned “Cruise of Lights;” residents and visitors attend the nightly parades, which have become a tradition and quite the popular attraction.
As you pass through Admiralty Island, traveling over three sets of bridges to enter Gilbert Island, you may notice homes that are fairly similar to those in Admiralty – you will no doubt take note of the kayakers paddling the gentle waters, large yachts docked at homes and estates and a variety of landscaping and home décor…from simple, original homes to the rebuilt houses and properties designed in scale and fascia to appear like castles.
Surrounded by Admiralty Island to the west and the Main Channel to the east, Gilbert Island plays home to 100 property sites, two-thirds of which boast on-the-water locations.
For more information about the gorgeous waterfront realty here, contact the Malakai Sparks Group.
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