Crystal
Cove State Beachis one of the most beautiful
beaches in Southern California. There are three miles
of pristine beach plus over 2000 acres of park inland
from the beach. The main point of entry is the Crystal
Cove Historic District. Here you will find the Crystal
Cove Beach cottages which were built during the 1920's
.
The cottages were enjoyed for many years by lucky families
that leased the historic homes on the beach from the Irvine
company. In 1979, the State of California purchased the
land from the Irvine Company to form Crystal Cove State
Park. By 2001 the last Crystal Cove
dwellers
were moved out by the state of California.
The State of California has reconstructing many of the
cottages and is renting out the cottages for up to a week
at a time. Renting a cottage is next to impossible due
to the high demand but if you know a few insider
ticks it can be done.
The beach at Crystal Cove is one of the few places left
in Orange County where you can walk for miles along the
coastline and still see it in its natural state. The offshore
waters are designated as an underwater park with excellent
conditions for scuba and skin divers.
Crystal Cove beach looks much the same as it did fifty
years ago with the exception of new million dollar houses
that have been built across Pacific Coast Highway.
"Crystal Cove" was named in 1927 by Elizabeth
Wood "because the name seemed right for such a beautiful
place."
Visitors
to Crystal Cove State Beach can explore tide pools and sandy
coves or just kick back on the sand and take in the wonderful
scenery. There is about three miles of beach at Crystal
Cove with just about all of it completely sheltered from
Pacific Coast Highway.
Dining options are Ruby's Shake Shack which sits on the
bluff overlooking Crystal Cove or The Beachcomber Restaurant
which sits right on the beach. The Beachcomber Restaurant
is a wonderful place and has the best location in Orange
County.
Locals would like to keep the restaurant to themselves but
its just too nice a location to keep secret. Serving breakfast,
lunch and dinner the Beachcomber is always a busy place.
If you do have to wait they give you an electronic pager
and you can take a walk on the beach until your table is
ready.
The Cottages at Crystal Cove State Beach can be rented out
for up to one week at a time. Just imagine spending a week
at beautiful Crystal Cove in your own private cottage with
the beach as your front yard. Sounds great doesn't it ?
Well it sounds great to thousands of people and unfortunately
there are only a few cottages available for rent.
Its not impossible to rent a Crystal Cove Cottage but it
will take some time and a little luck. If you don't get
a cottage you can still enjoy one of Southern California's
best beaches for a day. Check out our guide
to renting a cottage at Crystal Cove State Park
Crystal
Cove State Park is located off Pacific Coast Highway between
Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. There
are three entance points to the beach: Reef Point, Pelican
Point and Los Trancos.
The main entrance and location of the cottages is at Crystal
Cove-Los Trancos major intersection, the first traffic light
south of Newport Coast Drive. Turn right toward the ocean
at Crystal Cove to enter the park.
Parking is at Los Trancos lot and cost $15.00 for the day.
If you are going to dine at The
Beachcomber Restaurant park at Los
Trancos parking on the east side of Pacific Coast Highway.
The Beachcomber has a Shuttle with pick up at the picnic
bench and umbrella adjacent to the park’s office building.
The Beachcomber will validate parking ticket with a purchase
of $10.00 or more.
