Location, Location, Location

Located in the heart of California's Golden Coast, there are 21 beach cottages frozen in time. The Crystal Cove cottages were originally built by Hollywood film makers in the 1920s and inhabit a sandy strip of beach between Newport and Laguna Beach in Orange County, Calif.

One for All & All for One

When the state decided to lease the land to a private developer to turn the historic cottages into a luxury resort, Laura Davick, a third-generation resident of the Cove, resisted. She formed the Crystal Cove Alliance which successfully rescued the cottages and now focuses on preserving them for the public to enjoy.

The beachfront cottages, listed on the National Historic Register, have been restored to their true original quirkiness and are available to rent. A slice of quintessential California ranges from $125 - $190 per night. And after spending a day in the sun, scoot the family into the commons area where you can play classic board games like Yahtzee, Candyland or Monopoly, or dive into a 1930s Agatha Christie novel.

One of the Crystal Cove cottages houses a marine research facility that studies ecosystem health, climate change, and water and air quality. In addition, the Crystal Cove Alliance offers educational exhibits and encourages the public to get involved with a variety of research projects including tracking dolphin movements in the park.