Crystal Cove Cottages

I usually blog about daytrips , outings and events. Today I wanted to blog about a place some of you may or may not know about- Crystal Cove Cottages in Crystal Cove, Newport Beach. The cottages are state owned and offer you an opportunity to stay in a beachfront bungalow at a very reasonable rate from one to seven nights. available on Saugatuck Michigan rentals Think of it as camping on the beach in style. In fact to reserve a spot in Crystal Cove you must use the reservation system used by all California campgrounds and parks- Reserve America.
The cottages are extremely popular and you can rent them on the first day of the month at 8am. You can sign on to the system and start trying at 7:50. If you want to make sure to snag one a night or two make sure to browse through the website for the cottages and let the agent know the one you are interested in. You can also call and see if there are cancellations for perhaps a last minute outing or book a cancellation online through Reserve America. You make a reservation 6 months in advanced. For example if you were to book a cottage on Mar 1st , you would be booking for your stay in September.
The Cottages are newly restored and are either Individual or Dorm-style Cottages Crystal Cove Beach Cottages offer gorgeous ocean views, charming historic details, and a glimpse of a uniquely Southern Californian beach community from a bygone era. Located in the heart of Crystal Cove State Park’s 3.5 miles of pristine coastline, the Historic District first developed as a South Seas movie set due to its seclusion and tropical aura. The community thrived and became beloved for its relaxed, friendly atmosphere and picturesque landscape, and in 1979, the Crystal Cove Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
You can stay in one of 11 Individual or 3 Dorm-style Cottages. Located directly on the beach or overlooking it from a bluff top, each cottage has been painstakingly restored and furnished to recreate Crystal Cove’s unique historic beach culture and ambiance. Reservations are available year-round.
I know that we are facing some tough economic times and the thought of renting a beach home or vacation sounds like a far fetched dream for many- but thanks to Crystal Cove you can afford a beachfront retreat for around the same price as spending a night at your local Marriott. Rentals are around $180.00 for a flat rate of 4 people. This does not include children 4 and under. There is an additional charge for more than 4 people over the age of 4.
I’m planning on renting a little cottage for one night.. I hope you can also and spend an unforgettable day or days at the beach.
For additional information click here and for reservations click here
Reserve America
Reservations 1-800-444-7275
Customer Service 1-800-695-2269

Target Free for Families- Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA)


The Orange County Museum of Art is offering free admission on the second Sunday of the month thanks to a generous contribution from Target.
The Target Free Second Sunday of the month is a great way for families to explore art together. The Target Free Sunday’s will offer all day family friendly activities and offer a unique opportunity to spend time as a family.

Here is a calendar of the upcoming family events.

TARGET FREE SECOND SUNDAYS 2009 CALENDAR

Sunday, March 8, 2009
11-4 pm
California Dreaming
View contemporary artwork by California artists and create hands-on projects that explore the symbols and images of California culture. Stay and enjoy live entertainment by Razzle Bam Boom – a musical performance that teaches children how the art form of Rock n’ Roll has developed and changed through the decades. Free tours of the of the 2008 California Biennial will also be available.

Sunday, April 12, 2009
11-4 pm
Art in Motion
Experience art through motion! Activities include kinetic sculptures, action art, and live performances. Stay for family-friendly entertainment and free tours of Moving Images: Scan to Screen, Pixel to Projection.

Sunday, May 10, 2009
11-4 pm
Color, Form & Flora
Create expressive and colorful representations of the natural world inspired by works in the exhibition Illumination: The Paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe, Agnes Pelton, Agnes Martin, and Florence Miller Pierce. Stay for live entertainment and free guided tours of the current exhibitions. This event is held in conjunction with the annual Orange County Imagination Celebration.

Sunday, June 14, 2009
11-4 pm
Art & Animation
Discover the world of animation as you build your own kinetic sculptures, create simple animation and more! Entertainment includes animated children’s films and free tours of the exhibition Moving Images: Scan to Screen, Pixel to Projection.

Sunday, July 12, 2009
11-4 pm
Fun with Flowers
Create abstract and colorful floral representations inspired by works in the Illumination exhibition. Stay for family-friendly entertainment and free tours of Illumination: The Paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe, Agnes Pelton, Agnes Martin, and Florence Miller Pierce.

Sunday, August 9, 2009
11-4 pm
Sizzling Summer Fun!
Create cool projects inspired by the summer heat. Take a free guided tour of Illumination: The Paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe, Agnes Pelton, Agnes Martin, and Florence Miller Pierce and stay for the live entertainment.

Sunday, September 13, 2009
11-4 pm
The Learning Curve
Make fun and funky projects just in time to get back into the school groove! Create unique journals, bookmarks and other academically-inspired art. Don’t miss the free guided tours of Moving Images: Scan to Screen, Pixel to Projection.


Target Free Second Sundays is generously sponsored by Target.

This is an excellent way to spend a Sunday and the best part is that you can enjoy all of it for free. For additional inf0rmation click here

Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA)
Museum Hours & Information 850 San Clemente Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660

Phone | 949-759-1122
Admissions Desk: ext. 243

Fax | 949-759-5623

info@ocma.net

Orange County’s Greak Park Ice Skating Rink- and Yes it’s Free!!

I received a great tip from reader Gina about Orange County’s Great Park Ice Skating Rink. To celebrate the Grand Opening of the ice skating facilities from Feb 14-Mar 15 the ice skating rink will offer free admission and rentals. The rink will be open on Fridays,Saturdays and Sundays.

SKATE SESSION TIMES
11:00 am � 10:00 pm (sessions begin at the start of every hour)
80 skaters per hourly session

PRICE AND SKATE EQUIPMENT
Admission and skate rentals are FREE to the public.
Helmets are available upon request at no charge.
Guests are welcome to bring their own skates and helmets.

ADVANCED TICKETING POLICY
To accommodate the requests of our many visitors, the Orange County Great Park will be providing a limited number of advanced tickets on a first come, first serve basis for each weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).

A stand-by line will be available for the remaining skate session tickets, on a first come, first serve basis.

Visitors may request a maximum of 6 advanced tickets per weekend.

Request for advanced tickets can only be made for the current weekend session (Friday � Sunday) and must be done in person at the ice rink ticket counter.

If skater is not present at the start of the hourly skate session, advanced tickets may not be honored at the discretion of the ice rink staff.


This is too good to pass up!!

The ice skating rink is located in Orange County’s Great Park which is located at the former El Toro Marine Station in Irvine.
For driving directions click here.

Hope you all have a great weekend!!