A Good Morning Leads to a Great Day

Exploring the tidepools—or a simple barefoot stroll along the pristine shoreline—is a great way to start the day. (After all, this beach is part of the Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation area.) Right after eating fresh, warm beignets right on the sand at the Beachcomber Café nestled among the cottages, that is. 

But first you have to get there. Park in the Los Trancos lot in Crystal Cove State Park. To access the Crystal Cove Historic District and most of the meeting spots for various hikes and walks offered by the state park, head through a fun tunnel that passes under Pacific Coast Highway; going through the tunnel is actually a treat, as it’s lined with beautiful environmental-themed artworks reminding us all to protect nature. Kids have been known to run screaming gleefully through this tunnel, so be warned! Save the $2 parking lot shuttle for the ride home, when everyone’s worn out.

You can save even more by visiting your local library in advance, because most California public libraries offer vehicle day-use passes for checkout to anyone with a valid library card, usually for two weeks at a time. Just hang the pass, known as the California State Library Parks Pass, from your rear-view mirror, and parking at Crystal Cove’s Los Trancos lot (and at many other lots in many other state parks) will be free—instead of $20. 

 
Take in the beauty of the coast from Crystal Cove. 

Crystal Cove State Park: Lay of the Land

The Crystal Cove Historic District is made up of 38 rentable cottages, some right on the sand, plus other converted cottages including a cultural center with museum-quality exhibits and a cute gift shop.

The Crystal Cove Conservancy (which saved the cottages from being bulldozed to make room for new development) offers all sorts of activities: educational and fun science hikes, Stewardship Saturdays (where volunteers can help restore the natural habitat), nighttime grunion run events (you can watch the tiny fish slither onto the sand to spawn, and enjoy hot chocolate and stargazing before and after), and even movies on the beach in summertime. Some activities require reservations. 

Crystal Cove State Park surrounds the historic district and, like most state parks, offers loads of activities: guided tidepool explorations (look for skittering hermit crabs), wildflower walks, beach cleanups, backcountry hikes, bird walks, coastal geography tours, and more. 

If none of the official activities work with your schedule, you can always make your own fun. The stunning 3.5 miles of coastline features caves, tidepools, ocean-worn rock formations, and occasional bottlenose dolphin sightings. The best tidepool spots include Reef Point, Pelican Point, and Rocky Bight. Be sure to time your exploration for low tide, and wear shoes that grip (no flip-flops!). Walk gently, and fight the temptation to pick up shells, rocks, or any living creatures. 

Rise and Shine

Two compelling reasons to get an early start: You can take advantage of kids’ supercharged morning energy, and you won’t have to wait an hour for an outdoor seat at the Beachcomber! Order a platter of those sugar-dusted beignets for the table plus some nice strong coffee, and a frittata or breakfast burrito.

After you fuel up, you can choose your own adventure: Simply walking on the beach and exploring the cottages and the little gift shop might make you feel as if you’ve stepped back into an old-time movie set of a tropical island where a shipwreck washed up on shore. And there really was a shipwreck here in the 1930s, when a shipload of lumber washed up on the beach, and much of it was used to fortify the hastily constructed beach shacks that became today's cottages.

The fast-paced historic district walking tour includes fun facts like these, as well as striking photos and artifacts from the area’s colorful past. The tour I went on had three kids along, and they were engaged almost the whole time with what the tour guide was saying and showing us. Mini history lessons that feature pirate-movie shoots and even shipwrecks will do that.

Later in the Day 

Kids love showy time-honored rituals—like the Hawaiian resort practice of colorfully dressed native Hawaiians blowing an impressively large conch shell and then running from torch to torch, spectacularly lighting each one—and they’ll enjoy the daily 5pm bugle blast at the Beachcomber, followed by the ceremonial raising of the black-and-white Martini flag to mark the beginning of cocktail hour. No alcohol consumption is required. 

It’s fun just to watch this time-honored ritual that’s been part of life at Crystal Cove since the early days here, when the now restored cottages were modest summer beach shacks for a few fortunate families to return to every year. Epic beach parties and luaus were a regular fact of life back then.

RELATED: The Best Tide Pools for Kids To Explore in and around LA and OC

 
Enjoy beach eats at Crystal Cove Shake Shack. Photo by Amy Steinberg

After the flag has been hoisted, as sunset approaches, be sure to climb the long flight of weathered wooden stairs up to the lemon-yellow Crystal Cove Shake Shack (not part of the Shake Shack empire). Its big wooden deck offers stunning ocean views, and untold numbers of Instagram posts feature one of the famous shakes with its fat red-and-white-striped paper straw resting on the railing, just enjoying the scenery. (Families look good in photos taken there too.)

Try a salted caramel malt (or any of the 20-plus milkshake options) and a cheeseburger or some ahi tacos. Lattes and cappuccinos are available too, for any tired adults who may need to recharge. The food, music, and charming vintage signage there may just transport you back to the golden beach days of your own childhood, especially around sunset.

After sundown, you can rent a firepit for making s’mores, watch a movie on the beach, or take a guided moonlight hike. And this summer, the nighttime grunion run events combine lessons on coastal conservation with the magical sight of thousands of small silvery fish surfing and wiggling their way onto the sand.

Beyond Beach Food

A Crystal Cove staffer shared that as much as she loves her favorite Shake Shack combo of a chocolate peanut butter malt plus a seared ahi sandwich, she also recommends Parakeet Café, Z Pizza (you can order by the slice), and Bear Flag Fish Company as great family-friendly restaurant options at the Crystal Cove Shopping Center less than a mile down PCH. At the same center, Trader Joe’s sells everything you’ll need for a quick snack or an elaborate beach picnic. Clusters of Adirondack chairs and tables at the edge of the parking lot there overlook the ocean, a perfect spot to chill for a few minutes.

You needn’t be a hotel guest to reserve a table at the Resort at Pelican Hill’s Coliseum Pool and Grill, and you can dangle your feet in the huge Coliseum Pool (one of the world’s largest round pools) while you wait. Enjoy ocean views and a nice kids menu that includes quesadillas, PBJ’s, cheeseburgers, and fresh fruit bowls. The fancier Pelican Grill at the same hotel serves kids everything from fried chicken strips to petite filet mignon on an ocean-view terrace.

RELATED: Best Glamping Near Los Angeles for Family Fun 

 
Watch the sunset and turn Crystal Cove into an overnight adventure. 

Stay a Little Longer 

Your beach day can transform into an overnight stay if you scored an online cottage reservation, but they book up quickly, so don’t despair if you can’t book online; just show up at Cottage Number 35 (the cottages’ front desk) any morning right before 11am to check on cancellations. Still no luck? You have options.

Adventurous sorts with camping gear in the trunk can sleep at the rustic Moro Campground within Crystal Cove State Park; restrooms and showers are provided.

The closest hotels to Crystal Cove are the expensive but luxurious Resort at Pelican Hill (which offers an hourly shuttle to the Historic District during the summer) Marriott's Newport Coast Villas, and Casa Loma Beach Hotel. Balboa Inn and Hyatt Regency Newport Beach both have pools and feature more family-friendly pricing, and in the other direction, the somewhat modest Crescent Bay Inn Laguna Beach, just about 3 miles south of Crystal Cove, lacks a pool but does offer some rooms with ocean views.  

All photos are courtesy of California State Parks 2025 unless otherwise noted.

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