The Crystal Cove Historic District is a 12.3-acre coastal portion of the 2,791-acre Crystal Cove State Park. The federally listed Historic District is an enclave of 46 vintage rustic coastal cottages originally built in the 1920?s and 1930?s nestled around the mouth of Los Trancos Creek. It is one of the last remaining examples of early 20th century Southern California coastal development.

California State Parks has completed Phase I of the restoration of the Historic District, which provides cottages for visitor services, educational and community programs, a restaurant, and 13 cottages for overnight use by the public.

Cottages available for overnight rental include studios, one- and two-bedroom houses, and hostel-style dormitories. Prices for overnight rentals have been kept as low as possible to provide this fabulous beach experience to as many Californians as possible.

The cottages opened for overnight lodging beginning June 26, 2006. Reservations for stays up to seven months in advance will be taken through the California State Parks reservations contractor, ReserveAmerica.

Also open this summer at the Historic District is the Beachcomber Cafe, a restored beachfront cottage, offering a relaxed dining atmosphere with spectacular ocean views and a quality menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Beachcomber Cafe will join the Crystal Cove Shake Shack, located on Highway 1 overlooking the Historic District, in providing food service to park visitors.

Photo: View of ocean and coastline by air, over Crystal Cove State Park

In addition to the Historic District, Crystal Cove State Park has 3.5 miles of beach and undeveloped woodland, which is popular for hiking and horseback riding. The offshore waters are designated as an underwater park. Crystal Cove is used by mountain bikers inland and scuba and skin divers underwater. The beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. Visitors can explore tidepools and sandy coves. Crystal Cove offers sand and surf, rocky reefs, ridges and canyons - plus recreational opportunities - that appeal to everybody. State Park Rangers conduct nature hikes in the winter.

The park features three miles of Pacific coastline, plus wooded canyons, open bluffs, and offshore waters designated as an underwater park. Crystal Cove is not just used by people who enjoy water related activities, such as swimming, surfing, sunbathing, scuba and skin diving, but also people who like to fish, mountain bike and hike.

The great expanse upland, north and east of the Pacific Coast Highway is for hikers, who can follow hillside and canyon trails to campsites that allow visitors to feel they are "away from it all," despite being near one of the greatest population centers in the United States.

In February 2003, the Preservation and Public Use Plan was adopted by the State Parks and Recreation Commission, which provides long-range recommendations on public access, historic preservation, interpretation, and use of this unique coastal area.