Jan 17, 2019
On a beautiful autumn day in early November of 2018, the California State Parks dive team convened on a boat offshore of Crystal Cove State Park, ready to take a plunge. The visibility was excellent that day, and would make for a fascinating survey. The mission? To conduct a condition assessment for a very precious […]
Jan 17, 2019
Rainy days at the Cove are some of the best. The dark and stormy sea is breathtaking. It’s so quiet, you can hear the frogs croaking and the pitter patter of rain on the historic cottage rooftops. Although the tunnel under PCH is often closed in the rain, it reminds us how swift and strong […]
Dec 14, 2018
The north beach at Crystal Cove is a buzz of activity! You may have noticed the new construction fencing or the workers donning yellow vests and hard hats darting around the 17 unrestored cottages. That’s our careful and passionate construction crews that have begun the infrastructure work. RockForce Construction from Lake Forest is responsible for […]
Dec 14, 2018
Gathering for shared meals has a long history at Crystal Cove. Potlucks on the sand, around campfires, or in cozy cottages made any day at the Cove a celebration of community and place. Food, stories, and recipes were shared over the seasons and years, and eventually, some of these recipes were gathered in a community cookbook called […]
Dec 14, 2018
At any given location, the sea level rises and falls twice each day as the moon orbits the earth, pulling the world’s oceans along with it. But not all tides are created equally. When the sun, moon, and earth align with the shortest distance between them, the increased gravitational pull on the ocean causes the […]
Nov 14, 2018
Every year, the historic seaside bungalow now known as The Beachcomber Cafe gathers more than 150,000 people for casual ocean-front dining. This follows a long and happy tradition of sharing memories and meals at Crystal Cove. The Beachcomber is closed on Thanksgiving Day, but at one time Cottage #15 hosted as many as 75 people […]
Nov 14, 2018
A visit to Crystal Cove has made lasting impressions on all of us and the Crystal Cove classroom has inspired thousands of students to become its protector. In 2018, 63% of scholarship funding raised went to under-served schools, giving thousands of students’ access to our inspirational outdoor experiences. During the school year, 100% of […]
Nov 14, 2018
The Conservancy and our cooperating partner California State Parks have been providing fantastic high-quality educational programs to local schools, utilizing Crystal Cove State Park’s precious natural and cultural resources to teach and inspire the next generation. Similar to The Conservancy’s own efforts to reach underserved schools, State Parks has been developing a solution to reach […]
Oct 18, 2018
Crystal Cove is known for its one-of-a-kind vernacular architecture as well as its celebrations and traditions, and one historic cottage combined these concepts in its annual Costume and Charades party. The party, held during the 1950s and 1960s by the Browning family of Cottage #26, incorporated a ¨no-store-bought¨ element of vernacular design with the […]
Oct 18, 2018
If you venture out onto any of Crystal Cove’s backcountry trails this month, be on the lookout for creepy crawlies, because spider season is here! Several spider species are much more conspicuous this time of year as they’re out and about looking for mates. As you hike through the park, you may spot a tarantula […]
