What’s the deal with Crystal Cove Newport Beach, anyway? Why does it seem to be on everyone’s list of must-have homes? It couldn’t just be the beach. There are other places in California that offer similar attractions. It couldn’t just be the shopping, either. Other neighborhoods have that too. What is it about Crystal Cove Newport Beach, then, that calls to the heart? Well, one striking feature does come to mind: It’s the high life amidst a nurturing and safe community. You could find luxury homes all over California. But try finding one in an environment that fosters the spirit of togetherness and family fun and you’ll understand why Newport Beach is really the high life. And that’s because this sunny stretch of land in Southern California is not for everyone. In 2009, housing prices here have ranked eighth highest in the country and that hasn’t changed much until today. Crystal Cove Newport Beach has retained its air of exclusivity that has truly made it that special enclave of the worthy few.

What are the Facilities in Crystal Cove Newport Beach?

Newport Beach residents enjoy the facilities of a full-service city. These include police, fire, water, sewer services, trash collection, libraries, street maintenance, traffic management and parks. The U.S. Postal Service has five office locations in Newport Beach. There are elementary and high schools in the city and institutions of higher education are a short drive away. The Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian services the health needs of its residents. There are also two cable companies that serve the city. What’s more, the Recreation and Senior Services Department also holds recreation classes for both the young and old. Truly, Crystal Cove Newport Beach is the place for excellent living and year round fun in the sun!

What are the Leisure Areas in and Around Crystal Cove Newport Beach?

Fun, relaxation and lavish lifestyle is what Crystal Cove Newport Beach is known for. Visitors near and far come to the city to swim, snorkel, dive or just laze around in its beaches. City beaches from the Santa Ana River to the tip of the Balboa Peninsula, Corona del Mar State Beach and of course, the lovely beaches at Crystal Cove State Park are perfect places for these. There are also restored cottages for rent at the Historic District in the Crystal Cove State Park as well as trails for hiking and spaces for camping. For the more active, The Wedge in the tip of the Balboa Peninsula offers bodyboarding and bodysurfing enthusiasts the thrill of their lives. Fishing, rowing, sailing and kayaking are just some of the activities that recreational boaters will find at the Newport Harbor.

Year round family fun can be had at the Balboa Island where kids can enjoy the rides at the Balboa Fun Zone. Shops and restaurants also line the quaint Marine Avenue. If you want a round of golf, the Pelican Hill offers two world class golf courses.
There are also museums and galleries around to indulge your quieter and culturally-inclined side. The Orange County Museum of Art, the Muth Wetlands Interpretive Center and the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum are just some of these.

When is the Best Time to Buy a Home in Crystal Cove Newport Beach?

Now is the best time to get a piece of luxury that a home in Crystal Cove Newport Beach has to offer. You have a great variety of choices in which to choose from since there is still a considerable inventory of condos or large estates for sale in the area. And while you probably may not need to, you can always take advantage of the attractive mortgage rates and good deals that are plentiful at this time.

Where Do You Start Your Search for a Crystal Cove Newport Beach Home?

If you already have a real estate agent who knows the Crystal Cove Newport Beach areas, then you’re already at an advantage. He or she can take you to the best properties that will suit your taste and budget. However, if you are a true neophyte in your search and will have to start from scratch without the help of a Crystal Cove Newport Beach real estate agent, then search Internet listings first. This will give you a general idea of the price-ranges and styles currently available in the market.

How Do You Choose the Crystal Cove Newport Beach Home that’s Right for You?

Once you have already previewed some Crystal Cove Newport Beach homes that you like, then you can call a real estate agent and schedule a tour of the homes. That’s going to take a lot of physical and mental energy so you can remember the features of each house you are going to visit, so be sure to eat a hearty breakfast before you set out. Research has shown that carbohydrates and proteins will help you remember things more vividly, so be sure to fuel up before your tour.

Wear comfortable clothing since you are going to be doing a lot of walking and touring. Have a bottle of water handy since all the exertion is sure to make you thirsty. Also, be sure to bring a camera with you if you have one and a little notebook and pen so you can take pictures and notes of each house you visit. This will ultimately prove handy when you review your choices later on. You can’t trust your memory alone to remember specific details of the seven or eight houses that you visit in a day. A camera and some serious note-taking can do that for you.

After you’ve done your home tours, you can start the process of narrowing down your search. Go through all the pictures, your notes and of course what you remembered from each property. Get the top three from your list and then give your agent a call to schedule a final tour on each before you make your choice. Be more conscious of the specifics of the house and its surroundings areas. You should be more active in your inspection of the home this time. Don’t forget to ask a full Disclosure from your real estate agent about the defects of the house so you know exactly what you are buying. If you like house and the defects don’t deter you from buying the property, then you can go ahead and make an offer on it. The earlier you are done with all the legalities, the sooner you can move and enjoy your Crystal Cove Newport Beach home.

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Choosing a place to live or where to raise a family is an all important decision. There are many things to take into consideration. First of all, you have to think about its proximity to your place of work, shopping and recreational areas and educational centers. You will also have to ensure that the area is safe and has all the basic amenities for decent living. Needless to say, you will also want to choose a place that reflects your status in the community. All these are not easy decisions.

Crystal cove newport beach, however, meets all your needs for safety and luxurious living. Whether you want a single family home, condo or a large estate with great Pacific Ocean views, crystal cove newport beach has it all. You will have to be able to afford the mortgage as mean prices of homes in the area can average over a $1 million. But that’s definitely money well-spent.

Here are some reasons why you should live in Crystal Cove:

  1. It has all the amenities of city living. As Newport Beach is a full-service city, it has all the necessary public services that include police, fire, water, sewer service, trash collection, libraries, street maintenance, traffic management, parks, and marine safety.
  2. It has stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and vast protected green spaces. Crystal Cove State Park is within easy reach and has over 3 miles of sea and sand for strolling, sunbathing, snorkeling and diving. It also has wilderness trails for those who like to hike or camp. There are other beaches in Newport Beach, such as those in Corona del Mar, that residents can also enjoy.
  3. It is close to schools. Served by the Laguna Beach Unified School District and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, you don’t have to worry about where to send your kids to preschool, elementary school or high school.
  4. It is very near tourist attractions. The villages of Newport Beach such as the Balboa Peninsula, Balboa Island, Lido Marina Village, Mariner’s Mile and Newport Center offer great areas for shopping, dining and all sorts of recreational activities. Newport Harbor is the largest recreational boat harbor in the country’s west coast and is popularly frequented for its sailing, fishing, rowing and paddleboarding activities.
  5. It has many golf areas for golfing enthusiasts. The North and South Ocean courses of the Pelican Hill Golf Resort are 18-hole championship courses designed by Tom Fazio. It offers great ocean views in nearly every hole and is perfect for a relaxing round of golf anytime of the year.
  6. The culture and nightlife are simply fascinating. Museums and art galleries as well as nighttime destinations abound.
  7. You get tax breaks when you purchase real estate as per California laws.
  8. 8. Best of all, living in crystal cove newport beach is a mark of success. Newport Beach is considered one of the richest cities in the U.S. When you live here, you belong to a very privileged circle.

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If you live in the exclusive community of crystal cove newport beach, you get to experience the best that life in the great outdoors has to offer. That’s because you are right smack in the middle of Crystal Cove State Park which features 3.2 miles of the Pacific Ocean coastline and 2,400 acres of undeveloped woodland trails. Located north of Laguna Beach between the Pacific Coast Highway and the Pacific Ocean, this is the place for swimmers, scuba divers, snorkelers, kayakers, mountain bikers, hikers, horseback riders and campers alike. Residents of crystal cove newport beach who love the underwater world can explore the protected sea life from Cameo Shores to Abalone Point up to 120’ depth of the underwater park. You can expect to find all kinds of fish, lobsters, octopuses, bat rays and anemones, among others, when you snorkel or scuba dive at Reef Point and Scotchman’s Cove, Cameo Cove or Crystal Cove.

Other water activities include kayaking, seeing the tide pools at Reef Point or Pelican Point, fishing and surfing.

Those who prefer the woodlands can park at the Moro Canyon parking area and take on any of the 17 miles of wilderness and backcountry hiking trails. Beginners can take the easy trails, marked green on the map, beginning at No Dogs and the connecting with Poles, the end of which puts you in a junction with Lower Moro Canyon, Upper Moro, March 1 and West Cut Across. The Lower Moro trail gets you back to the parking lot. The red routes are moderate hikes that start at the Ranger Station and on to the Big Fat Incline. Continue the trek up to Moro Ridge where you’ll enjoy breathtaking Pacific Ocean vistas. Follow the trail until you get to East Cut Across which will take you to the Lower Moro Trail and back to your starting point at the Ranger Station. The blue route is for those who want to stop and see the life and views of the park. Going clockwise, you can begin at No Dogs which connects with No Name Trail. You will come at the junction of West Cut Across or Mach One. Take this if you decide not to continue with the perimeter hike. If you do, however, take the second junction on No Name that leads to Deer Canyon Trail. There’s a lovely campsite here where you can rest and cool off. Climb out of it into the Boundary Trail following a southerly direction, pass East and West Loop Trails until you connect with Upper Moro Ridge Trail. Emerald Canyon will be to your left. There will be other campsites to your right as well as more caves and canyons. From the picnic area, it’s an easy hike down to the parking lots.

Aside from hiking, you can also follow the equestrian trails if you want to go horseback riding (you have to bring your own horse, though). Cyclists can also enjoy biking through dirt roads and single track routes of the Park.

The outdoors is indeed right at home if you live in crystal cove newport beach.

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Balboa Island and the Balboa Peninsula is a place where crystal cove newport beach residents come for fun and relaxation. It’s basically a play place and is most visited by nearby residents and tourists alike who enjoy the original frozen chocolate banana that’s said to have been invented here. But frozen banana dipped in chocolate sauce and dredged with nuts and candy sprinkles isn’t the only attraction here– although some surely keep on coming back because of it.

Balboa Island isn’t actually just made up of one island but three artificial islands: Balboa Island, which happens to be the biggest; Little Balboa Island, a bit smaller (obviously) and Collins Island which is the smallest. It is easily accessed from mainland Newport Beach by a two-lane bridge or on sea via the Balboa Ferry.

Shopping and dining are the main attractions in Balboa Island. The “mixed-use” buildings on Marine Avenue and Agate Avenue give a decidedly European feel to these commercial districts. There are around a hundred shops and restaurants on Marine Avenue that you can explore and eat in. The itinerant shopper can easily spend one whole day just walking down the length of this avenue and getting trinkets and things with only a Balboa bar and saltwater taffy for strength. By the way, a Balboa bar is similar to a frozen chocolate banana but this time, vanilla ice cream is what’s on the stick.

For families with children, Balboa Peninsula on the southern end, has Balboa Fun Zone, a small amusement park that has a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and arcades. The Balboa Pavilion is also located in the Peninsula and is a landmark worthy of a look see. It also functions as a marine recreational facility where you can rent boats, ride the Catalina Flyer to Catalina Island, whale watch or dine in the restaurant. If you want to go fishing, the Balboa Pier is a great spot for mackerel and flounder, although it’s relatively easy to get starfish that feed on mussels in the area. The boardwalk is also a great spot to just bike, stroll or skate in.

For those into surfing, The Wedge at the tip of the Balboa Peninsula is a popular spot among those who seek to ride the waves. The adrenaline-pumping but highly dangerous waves produced here rival even that of Australia or Hawaii. This is not a place for leisurely swimming, however, as beach breaks catching inexperienced swimmers can cause spinal cord injuries. Some have ended up being quadriplegics because of it.

Nevertheless, the attractions of Balboa are right up the alley of crystal cove newport beach residents. The whole family can definitely enjoy a day or a weekend here anytime of the year. Being so near attractions that tourists from afar seek to go to is one of the perks of living in crystal cove newport beach.

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Crown of the Sea. That’s the literal translation of Corona del Mar, one of the neighborhoods close to crystal cove newport beach. Known for its beaches, tide pools and charming village stores, it is located at the base of San Joaquin Hills and offers scenic ocean views. Originally planned as a summer resort destination, the inherent beauty of Corona del Mar obviously wasn’t just made for one season but all four as people visited and chose to remain.

Corona del Mar used to be a popular surfing destination. In fact, it hosted the Pacific Coast Surfboard Championship in 1928 with such surfing greats as Duke Kahanamoku and Tom Blade of Redondo in attendance. However, when the jetty of Newport Harbor was extended, the “Killer Break” which had made surfing popular in Corona del Mar before the 1930s gave way to the development of The Wedge on the western tip of the Balboa Peninsula.

Even with the demise of surfing, the beaches of Corona del Mar remain as popular for sunbathers, swimmer, snorkelers and strollers alike. They also remain ever popular with movies and films requiring beach and ocean views. Living in crystal cove newport beach puts you in close access to the stretch of sand and sea that make the beaches of Corona del Mar a paradise on earth.

Walk down the steps on Ocean Boulevard at Fernleaf Street and you’ll get to China Cove Beach. This little beach offers cool views of the jetty, The Wedge and Catalina Island. There are no restrooms here but the beach is open everyday from 6 in the morning to 10 in the evening. Little Corona del Mar is another beach that has no facilities but make a great spot for kids to frolic and build sandcastles in. It’s accessible from Ocean Boulevard and Poppy Avenue and is also open from 6 am to 10 pm. Popular among locals and tourists alike even without facilities, Rocky Point is another place for adults and children alike.

If you want a beach picnic complete with all amenities–picnic tables, fire pits, showers and restrooms– then Corona del Mar State Beach is your place under the sun. Cliffs and a rock jetty frame the half-mile stretch of sand in this beach which draws swimmers, surfers and divers all throughout the year. Lifeguards make the beach safer, too. You can access this beach via the intersection of Iris Street and Ocean Boulevard. Compared to the other undeveloped beaches, Corona del Mar State Beach opens at 8 am and closes at 8 pm.

The beaches of Corona del Mar indeed transport you to another time and place. Living in crystal cove newport beach puts these sandy stretches within close reach everyday.

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Living in crystal cove newport beach is synonymous to unparalleled luxury. Set amidst more than 3 miles of beach and miles upon miles of protected green spaces, the scenery itself is beyond beautiful. Its climate, classified as Mediterranean, is greatly moderated by the Pacific Ocean and as such, winters are never freezing but pleasantly cool while summers are not as hot as they are in other areas. It’s no wonder that it has become the residential area of choice for the rich. It was ranked as wealthiest city in the United States in 2010 by Portfolio.com.

The lifestyle in crystal cove newport beach is tailored for the discriminating tastes of the exclusive few. World-class shopping is so close that the urge to splurge is easily addressed. For the ultimate in outdoor shopping, Fashion Island has Neiman Marcus and 200 other specialty stores. South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa is only 15 minutes away. If only diamonds can lift up the blues, Winston Island Jewelers on Balboa Island is at your disposal. Of course, you can always get fresh produce straight from the farmers every Saturday from 9 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon at Corona del Mar Farmer’s Markets.

Restaurants abound that cater to all your gastronomic needs. Whether they’re in shopping centers, in Newport Coast, Balboa Island or in Corona del Mar, or in the hotels in these places, there’s Southern California, Italian, Asian, American or Fusion cuisine that’s sure to whet your appetite.

Golf enthusiasts will definitely find the game more exciting and inspiring at the Ocean North and Ocean South Golf Courses at Pelican Hill located between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. Both are 18-home championship golf courses designed by Tom Fazio. With stunning views of the Pacific in almost every hole, the golf courses at Pelican Hill have forecaddies, a Golf Clubhouse with lounges and a golf shop, a café, a restaurant and a Golf Academy for those who want to improve their stance, drives and swings.

Nature and the beach are well within easy reach of the residents. The Back Bay Loop Trail, the Mountains to Sea Trail and the Jeffrey Open Space Trail are just some of the challenging nature spots that nature lovers and trekkers will certainly love exploring. The itinerant beach lover can stroll, sunbathe, swim, dive, snorkel or do water sports like kayaking or paddle boarding in any of the beaches that belong to the Crystal Cove State Park. Surfers will love The Wedge at the tip of the Balboa Penisula whose waves can go as high as 30 feet, rivaling that of Tahiti or Hawaii.

Laid-back, adventure-filled, fun– all these describe the lifestyle at crystal cove newport beach.

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