Bal Harbour has a reputation for being a Florida island, but in actual fact it is a village located on one of Florida's most famous barrier islands: Miami Beach. Bal Harbour is located at the northern tip of this island and as of the last census had fewer than 2,000 permanent households. Many of the structures in the village are holiday homes on Bal Harbour; these provide tourists to Florida with a chance to stay on a barrier island and enjoy the vibrant culture and nightlife associated with these vacation getaways.
The Atlantic Ocean is an inherent part of the lifestyle here; more than 40% of the area officially designated as Bal Harbour consists of water. Bal Harbour is a planned community with all that implies, including wide boulevards that provide good connections to other areas on Miami Beach. Interesting, Bal Harbour was early to the planned communities movement; it was the first such development in Florida to place utilities underground, a decision that has preserved the scenic beauty of its tropical beach areas.
Very visitor-friendly, Bal Harbour sponsors more than a hundred events scattered throughout the year so that both tourists and locals will always have plenty to do when they are not sunning themselves on the warm sand beaches near the village. Popular for both weddings and women's retreats, Bal Harbour also offers the casual tourist excellent shopping in over 120 fine outlets.