If you know about Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, then you may also have
heard about
Corona del Mar,
a region of Newport Beach. Its hidden coves have been used in show such as
Gilligan’s Island, and it once claimed fame as the surfing capital of
Southern California (before they build jetties).
Today, you can wander down to those coves and watch teens having a
picnic, complete with guitar strumming and a basket of goodies. An
entertaining element of the coves are the rock climbers,
practicing their moves before they head for the nearby mountains.
On a sunny day, you can enter from the Corona del Mar beach parking lot,
or park on the hill above and wander down the stairs, or a steep paved path
at Inspiration Point. In just a few minutes time, you’ll feel like you
escaped L.A. on a trip to some far away place. It really is a gem, at
minimum, but I like to think of it is the crown jewel of Orange County
beaches.