CRYSTAL COVE – Since 13 renovated yet rustic cottages opened June 26,
2006, thousands of people have stayed in the historic Crystal Cove State
Beach, which holds about
140 people per night, according to Rich Rozzelle, State Parks district superintendent.
Cottages average about $150 a night, but a meal at the restaurant next door,
The Beachcomber Café, offers the same view and tasty food for $10 - 15. Opened Aug. 2,
2006 the restaurant served over 50,000 meals in less than six months.
Ruby’s Diner was awarded the concessions for the restaurant and the Shake
Shack (formerly Date Shack) up the hill from The Beachcomber, bringing their
popular menu of sandwiches, salads, breakfast specials and desserts to this
beach café that's taking the area by storm.
The
Beachcomber at Crystal Cove has received popular reviews, with the exception
of a few who find the food OK. The most popular meal is breakfast, serving
up delicious eggs, corned beef hash, omelets, French toast, waffles and hot
coffee or cocoa.
Open daily
from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., the restaurant offers both patio seating, and great
views of the beach at indoor dining.
Getting
there: Park at the lot across Pacific Coast Highway at Los Trancos, which is
one street south of Newport Coast Drive. It normally costs $10, paid on the way out,
but the restaurant validates if you spend over $10 on food. A shuttle
runs from the parking lot to the restaurant every few minutes and costs $1 each way per person. Alternately, you can
walk down for free in a tunnel that goes underneath the highway and comes
out the other side right behind the restaurant.
Newport Beach beaches
and points of interest
Crystal Cove State Park - On north side of Laguna Beach, at
the end of Crescent Bay Drive. Free street parking. Open: 6
am to 10 pm. Facilities: Lifeguards and rest rooms.
Corona Del Mar State Beach
- The beach can be reached via an access road near the intersection of
Iris Street and Ocean Boulevard in Corona del Mar. Lifeguards,
restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and fire pits.
Inspiration Point Park in
Corona del Mar at Ocean Blvd. at Orchid
Little Corona del Mar Beach in Corona
del Mar, at Ocean Boulevard and Poppy Avenue. Free street parking.
Open: 6 am to 10 pm.
Lookout Point Park is
open to the public and features vistas of the Corona del Mar Main Beach and
the Pacific Ocean. It can accommodate small weddings of 20 people or less.
Related Links
Crystal Cove Shake Shack
Pet Friendly Newport Beach
policies permit dogs on beaches between 5:01 p.m. and 8:59 a.m.
Shake Shack Crystal Cove
