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🌿 RelaxedWeekend · from Los Angeles, CA

Tide Pools, Cliffs & Sandy Shores

Discover tide pools teeming with marine life, unwind at oceanside spas, and sink your toes into pristine sandy beaches just hours from LA.

Day 1 — Crystal Cove State ParkDay 2 — Cottonwood Beach
Day 1 — Crystal Cove State Park

Day 1 — Crystal Cove State Park

🚗 1 hr 41 min driving📍 5 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Los Angeles, CA → Crystal Cove State Park
1 hr
Crystal Cove State Park
Crystal Cove State Park
★ Reviews →
Park has 3.2-mile beach with sandy coves & tide pools, plus 2,400 acres of land for hiking & biking.
🍽️
Lunch
🍽️ Lunch~1 hr
JOEY Newport Beach
JOEY Newport Beach
An upscale casual restaurant on Newport Harbor with strong cocktails and a menu balancing seafood, steak, and shareables. The patio over the water is one of Orange County's better dining spots.
2 options · tap to switch
☀️
Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Crystal Cove State Park → I Spa
26 min
I Spa
Newport Coast's most-reviewed day spa offers deep-tissue massages, facial treatments, and body wraps in a serene modern setting — a well-earned recovery stop after a morning of coastal trail hiking and tide pooling.
🌙
Evening
🚗
Drive
I Spa → The IRV Bar
15 min
🍽️ Dinner~1 hr
The IRV Bar
The IRV Bar
Escape to this laid-back desert oasis where craft cocktails and live music create the perfect weekend retreat from LA's hustle.
2 options · tap to switch
🛏️
Crystal Cove Beach Cottages
The state park's 46 historic 1930s and 1940s beach cottages sit directly on the sand between Crystal Cove and Laguna Beach — the most atmospheric and requested lodging on the Orange County coast. Reservations open six months in advance and go quickly; the vintage tile bathrooms and the beachfront location are unchanged from the original resort.
Day 2 — Cottonwood Beach

Day 2 — Cottonwood Beach

🚗 3 hr 30 min driving📍 3 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Crystal Cove State Park → Cottonwood Beach
1 hr 14 min
Cottonwood Beach
Cottonwood Beach
★ Reviews →
Escape to this serene coastal gem where pristine sandy shores and gentle waves create the perfect backdrop for unwinding away from the hustle of the city.
🍽️
Lunch
DC3 Gifts & Grill
DC3 Gifts & Grill
★ Reviews →
A grill adjacent to the Blackbird Air Park near Palmdale with flight-themed décor and American standards — a fun stop on any aviation-adjacent day trip.
☀️
Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Cottonwood Beach → Catalina Sea Spa
55 min
Catalina Sea Spa
Catalina Sea Spa
★ Reviews →
Float in warm saltwater soaking pools overlooking the ocean, then drift through eucalyptus-infused steam rooms. Indulge in seaweed wraps and seaside massages with gentle waves as your soundtrack.
🌙
Evening
🚗
Drive
Harbor Reef Restaurant & Bar → Los Angeles, CA
1 hr 21 min
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