Mar 15, 2019
Crystal Cove State Park’s beaches are constantly changing. As long stretches of soft sand in the summer turn into rocky, sea-glass sprinkled shores following winter waves, regular visitors know that these changes can happen very quickly. Now, Orange County high school students are working with Crystal Cove Conservancy to not only understand the normal […]
Mar 15, 2019
What is it about the beauty of nature that we find so inspiring? The curve of a wave, the sound of the wind, sunflowers on the bluffs, a pelican soaring overhead, all evoke such strong emotional connections to our senses. It’s no wonder that a place as beautiful as Crystal Cove has brought so many […]
Mar 15, 2019
This winter season may have been full of rainy days, flooded streets, and closed backcountry trails, but if we wait out the storms and let our trails recover, our patience will be rewarded with some spectacular scenery. The consistent rainfall coming to Southern California this winter is a positive sign that a wildflower bloom […]
Mar 15, 2019
Cottage #14 began as a simple palm-frond hut hastily built during The Great Depression. Over the years, the once tiny hut evolved into a spacious light-filled cottage available for overnight lodging. Known now as “South Beach Suite” for its South Beach location and views, and as “McCloskey Cottage” for the family who lived there […]
Feb 8, 2019
When you think about Crystal Cove, the word love will always come up. Love for the cottages, love for the whales and dolphins, love for the incredible sunsets, love for the peace and tranquility, and most importantly, love for the one you get to share it with. It’s no secret that Crystal Cove is the […]
Feb 7, 2019
This Valentine’s Day many people will be enjoying the love songs by Marvin Gaye, or John Legend, but in the animal kingdom some species enjoy a different tune. Many native Crystal Cove species use songs to attract their mates and find love. The use of vocalization is very common in bird species and is often […]
Feb 7, 2019
Despite the heavy downpours of rain in January and February, work on the north beach cottages continues to stay on track. Our two construction companies, RockForce and Spectra have been working diligently stabilizing the north beach road in preparation for heavy machinery to maneuver down closer to the cottages. You may notice that a few […]
Feb 7, 2019
“Bless that darling old house!” wrote one longtime occupant of Cottage #12, the white two-story cottage that has watched over the North Beach for ninety years. Tucked into the hillside at a slight tilt, Cottage #12 is a familiar feature of the iconic North Beach silhouette. Captured by photographers and artists for nearly a century, […]
Jan 17, 2019
Here in Crystal Cove State Park, we are lucky enough to have front row seats to the longest mammal migration on the planet. Gray whales travel up to 12,000 miles round trip every year between the Bering and Chukchi Seas in Alaska down to lagoons on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. They stick close to shore for […]
Jan 17, 2019
Crystal Cove Historic Cottage #7 still stands fenced off among the other North Beach cottages preparing for renovation, but the memories spent within them are still alive for Dale Carter, grandson of the original Carter family that built the cottage. Dale was kind enough to share some of his early experiences spent at Cottage #7 […]
