Crystal Cove Beach Cottages - Part 1

about the cottages

The charm and allure of Crystal Cove is one that has appealed to me at many stages of life: single, married, and married with children. The breakfast at the Beachcomber Cafe is great (nothing super chef-y, but a quality breakfast with a great vibe every time), but the true appeal lies in the area and the journey it takes to get there. If you’re looking for a long walk through a state park where you can see Pelicans, tidepools, wildlife and picturesque cliffside California coastline, you’re in the right spot! If you need to walk off the beignets or steak chilaquiles you just had, you’re in luck. This is the place you go when you’re looking for a breakfast that will take up the whole morning; one that lets you walk off your meal and takes you to your next favorite weekend activity - a nap! It makes you work for it a little bit, which makes you appreciate it that much more.

When a good friend of mine suggested doing something with our kids as an end of summer celebration about 5 years ago, this place immediately came to mind. It’s in our backyard, so it would be easy with children, and it was a reasonably priced adventure that few people get to do. You see, the cottages are cheap, but very difficult to book. They require planning in advance or a cancellation (six months to be exact), flexibility (you can’t pick the exact cottage you want), and even when you do get one it’s “roughing it.” Still, this felt like something attainable for me; I’m nothing if not persistent and I love nothing more than a unique, location-specific experience. So I did a little bit of research, made a few phone calls, and managed to book us the best cottage for a one night staycation! I was thrilled and since then I’ve stayed in the cottages 4 more times. Over the next three days I will be posting about (below), how to secure one, and what to do/bring when you get there.