SUNDAY - Today our travels will be just under 100-miles, with the last 13-miles on the very scenic CA Route 1 (a.k.a. Pacific Coast Highway [PCH]).
At our first coastal California stop we arrived a full 4-hours before check-in time and understandably were turned away at the gate. We were then told to come back at 2:00PM to check-in properly.
Today we once again arrived early. We stayed on our site as long as we could (until 11:30AM when check-out is at noon), but with a relatively short drive today we arrived at 2:10PM, when check-in isn't until 3:00PM.
We were turned away and told to come back later at 3:00PM, but the attendant did officially check us in. By giving us a window receipt, we could go across the street to the State Park owned beach parking lot and avoid paying the $15 day-use fee.
TRAVEL DAY PHOTOS
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This is our exit as we begin our long trek north up the Pacific Coast Highway.
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We'll be seeing a lot of these California 1 North signs over the next 10-weeks.
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A 1961 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible, similiar to the one President Kennedy had. Check out the license plate. Do you think that was intentional?
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The first town we drove through on the PCH was Dana Point and there wasn't a single place to park on this sunny SoCal Sunday afternoon.
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Less than a mile now before we reach our next destination on the PCH.
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I believe that could be Catalina Island we're looking at out there offshore.
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This is the tidepool area of Crystal Cove State Park. You can bet we'll be out there at least once during low tide this visit.
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The view from our campsite out the front door of THE POD.
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Guess where we'll be watching sunset from for the next few nights?
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There's plenty of room on our site if we wanted to have a party.
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Sunset on our first night here is not shaping up too well.
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Now that's more like it!
MONDAY - Crystal Cove State Park encompasses nearly 4-miles of shoreline here in Orange County, CA.
Located near the center of that shoreline is a small Historic District where some 40 small cottages from the 1920-30s are available for nightly rentals.
There is also The Beachcomber Restaurant which serves breakast, lunch and dinner. We'll be sure to check that out too while we are here.
CRYSTAL COVE HISTORIC DISTRICT
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The cottages of the Historic District are separated north/south by this stream that flows down out of the Los Trancos Canyon and into the Pacific Ocean.
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South of the stream it's a little less developed and quieter without the tourist traffic.
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The cottages on this side are just as nice. I liked the second floor balcony of this one.
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The last cottage on this side has been turned into a small museum operated by volunteers.
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This is the main dining room of the Beachcomber Restaurant. It's the only place to eat on the beach boardwalk.
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The bulk of the cottages are located on the north side of the stream.
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There is a long elevated boardwalk down the front of the cottages.
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The northside has some of the larger and nicely refurbished cottages.
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The nightly rate to rent these cottages ranges between $250 and $350.
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The higher priced units sleep 6-8 people, the others only 4 at a time.
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Each unit is named, numbered and dated with a round placard.
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My favorite one was this 2nd floor unit with a balcony right over the boardwalk.
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This cottage has been removed entirely.
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Others up on the second level are currently being refurbished.
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This one with the oars displayed on the front was Tricia's favorite.
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At 11:30AM the Beachcomber Restaurant began serving lunch. Tricia ordered the Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos with Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Cabbage, Cilantro Crema, Pickled Onions and Lime on Flour Tortillas with Cole Slaw on the side. My selection was the House Beer Battered Alaskan Cod Fish & Chips with French Fries, plus I added a cup of the Rich & Creamy New England Style Clam Chowder.
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The food was delicious and the atmosphere superb. We were lucky to obtain one of the beachside tables and avoided the inside dining room.
TUESDAY - This morning we're headed down to the Shake Shack for a lunch overlooking the Historic District we visited yesterday.
After lunch we're headed to the far north end of Crystal Cove State Park to hike a 1/2-mile trail out to the Little Treasure Cove Observation Point.
LUNCH AND A HIKE
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From seated at the Shake Shack you can look down into the Historic Distric below. Those blue umbrellas on the far right are where we ate lunch yesterday.
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You can't eat at the Shake Shack and not order shakes can you? Mine (left) was a Chocolate Banana and Tricia's (right) was a Chocolate Turtle.
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At the Shake Shack you order your food, find a table and wait for your number to be called.
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Now that we've had lunch it's time to hike out to the Little Treasure Cove Observation Point.
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They've built a little round stone structure so no one falls over the cliff.
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They've also constructed a rounded overhead fence so you don't get hit by an errant golf shot.
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The view from the Observation Point is pretty spectacular.
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As far as you can see is all part of the Crystal Cove State Park.
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Looking north towards the jetty of Newport Harbor.
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Tricia decided to take a stroll down to the beach on the way back to the parking lot.
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Little did we know there were three huge sea caves under the Observation Point.
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Tricia just had to go into one and check it out.
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The shoreline along this stretch of beach is very rocky.
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Those are the stairs leading down to the beach where we will be tidepooling later today.
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A string of Sea Kelp had washed up on the beach here.
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Can you believe people actually eat this stuff raw in Asian cuisine.
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We ran across this young astist on our way back to the parking lot. We must have spent 15-minutes talking to him about his growing up here in Orange County.
Low tide is at 3:18PM today, so you know what that means? It's time to go...
TIDEPOOLING AT PELICAN POINT IN CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK
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It's a 1/4-mile hike from the parking lot down to the tidepool area on the beach. We ran across this guy on the wooden boardwalk section of the trail.
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The Vista Viewpoint was reserved for what looked like a wedding!
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This is the view of the tidepool from up on the cliff.
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From the amount of mussels on this rock it must be submerged during high tide.
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There were plenty of mussels and barnacles on the rock.
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Looks like the tide createed this collection at the bottom of a depression in the sand, but it's actually another disguised Sea Anemone.
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One of several different shells we spotted in the tidepools.
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There were many colorful Sea Anemones to be found among the rocks.
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We spotted another one of those "Woolly Tidepool Sculpin" fish.
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In the next two videos you'll see just how skilled this egret is at finding lunch.
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This egret walked to within 3-feet of where Tricia was standing like she wasn't even there.
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Did you notice how he shakes his toes in the sand and weeds to scare the fish out of hiding?
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See the orange spec towards the top middle of the cliff walkway?
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That's me patiently waiting for Tricia to finish her photography.
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We spent a little over 2-hours searching among the rocks.
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Hey look who is up here painting, our newest friend Quentin.
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Here's the inspiration behind this new painting.
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Another sunset over the Moro Campground here at Crystal Cove State Park.
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We've got one more sunset here and then it will be time to move on up the coast.
Looking for our Visited States Map and Data? How about our State by State Bucket Lists or Visited Campgrounds List? If so, click on the sign below to be taken to our other website.
This is our exit as we begin our long trek north up the Pacific Coast Highway.
We'll be seeing a lot of these California 1 North signs over the next 10-weeks.
A 1961 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible, similiar to the one President Kennedy had.
The first town we drove through on the PCH was Dana Point
Less than a mile now before we reach our next destination on the PCH.
I believe that could be Catalina Island we're looking at out there offshore.
This is the tidepool area of Crystal Cove State Park.
The view from our campsite out the front door of THE POD.
Guess where we'll be watching sunset from for the next few nights?
There's plenty of room on our site if we wanted to have a party.
Sunset on our first night here is not shaping up too well.
Now that's more like it!
The cottages of the Historic District are separated north/south
South of the stream it's a little less developed and quieter without the tourist traffic.
The cottages on this side are just as nice. I liked the second floor balcony of this one.
The last cottage on this side has been turned into a small museum operated by volunteers.
This is the main dining room of the Beachcomber Restaurant.
The bulk of the cottages are located on the north side of the stream.
There is a long elevated boardwalk down the front of the cottages.
The northside has some of the larger and nicely refurbished cottages.
The nightly rate to rent these cottages ranges between $250 and $350.
The higher priced units sleep 6-8 people, the others only 4 at a time.
Each unit is named, numbered and dated with a round placard.
My favorite one was this 2nd floor unit with a balcony right over the boardwalk.
This cottage has been removed entirely.
Others up on the second level are currently being refurbished.
This one with the oars displayed on the front was Tricia's favorite.
At 11:30AM the Beachcomber Restaurant began serving lunch.
The food was delicious and the atmosphere superb.
From seated at the Shake Shack you can look down into the Historic Distric below.
You can't eat at the Shake Shack and not order shakes can you?
At the Shake Shack you order your food, find a table and wait for your number to be called.
Now that we've had lunch it's time to hike out to the Little Treasure Cove Observation Point.
They've built a little round stone structure so no one falls over the cliff.
They've also constructed a rounded overhead fence so you don't get hit by an errant golf shot.
The view from the Observation Point is pretty spectacular.
As far as you can see is all part of the Crystal Cove State Park.
Looking north towards the jetty of Newport Harbor.
Little did we know there were three huge sea caves under the Observation Point.
Tricia just had to go into one and check it out.
The shoreline along this stretch of beach is very rocky.
Those are the stairs leading down to the beach where we will be tidepooling later today.
A string of Sea Kelp had washed up on the beach here.
Can you believe people actually eat this stuff raw in Asian cuisine.
We ran across this young astist on our way back to the parking lot.
It's a 1/4-mile hike from the parking lot down to the tidepool area on the beach.
The Vista Viewpoint was reserved for what looked like a wedding!
This is the view of the tidepool from up on the cliff.
From the amount of mussels on this rock it must be submerged during high tide.
There were plenty of mussels and barnacles on the rock.
Looks like the tide createed this collection at the bottom of a depression in the sand,
One of several different shells we spotted in the tidepools.
There were many colorful Sea Anemones to be found among the rocks.
In the next two videos you'll see just how skilled this egret is at finding lunch.
See the orange spec towards the top middle of the cliff walkway?
That's me patiently waiting for Tricia to finish her photography.
We spent a little over 2-hours searching among the rocks.
Hey look who is up here painting, our newest friend Quentin.
Here's the inspiration behind this new painting.
Another sunset over the Moro Campground here at Crystal Cove State Park.
We've got one more sunset here and then it will be time to move on up the coast.
