Newport Coast tip for 62+

[Bill4728]

If you're 62+ and visiting Newport Coast Villa, NCV , a great tip is to get the Golden Bear State Park pass. Fo $20 you get an annual pass for most CA parks including Crystal Cove.
You need to apply at the main ranger station behind the El Morro Canyon school, pay the $20 and they will give you the pass right then. You then get free access to the state parks in CA.

 

[melissy123]

Limited Use Golden Bear passes are not valid for use during the peak season, which is the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day at most state parks.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

If you're 62+ and visiting Newport Coast Villa, NCV , a great tip is to get the Golden Bear State Park pass. Fo $20 you get an annual pass for most CA parks including Crystal Cove.
You need to apply at the main ranger station behind the El Morro Canyon school, pay the $20 and they will give you the pass right then. You then get free access to the state parks in CA.

We go to Newport Coast, NCV, at least once a year and always go to Crystal Cove (the Beachcomber plus I go hiking along the bluffs and on the sand). When we go to the restaurant, we take the Marriott Shuttle and when I hike I leave from NCV and walk.) I do this without a pass and without having to pay any $. At Crystal Cove (by the Beachcomber) they have 5 or 6 handicapped parking spaces, but even with a Ca. handicap placard, I would still have to pay something like $8 for parking. Forgive my ignorance, but I'm wondering how the Golden Bear State Park pass would benefit me at Crystal Cove.

 

[Werner Weiss]

If you're 62+ and visiting Newport Coast Villa, NCV , a great tip is to get the Golden Bear State Park pass. Fo $20 you get an annual pass for most CA parks including Crystal Cove.
You need to apply at the main ranger station behind the El Morro Canyon school, pay the $20 and they will give you the pass right then. You then get free access to the state parks in CA.

Excellent advice! I did not know about this pass before I saw this post.

Website for Limited Use Golden Bear Pass: https://www.parks.ca.gov/30961

According to the website, the Limited Use Golden Bear Pass can also be purchased ahead of time (online or by mail). That would save valuable vacation time.

In addition to Crystal Cove State Beach, some other nearby places to use the pass are Corona del Mar State Beach, Doheny State Beach, Huntington State Beach, and San Clemente State Beach. For someone making day trips to Los Angeles County, Riverside County, or San Diego County, there are also California State Parks and State Historic Parks that aren't beaches. And if Newport Coast is part of a larger California vacation, there are all sorts of great places to visit with the pass.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm wondering how the Golden Bear State Park pass would benefit me at Crystal Cove.

For Crystal Cove State Beach, sometimes we take the shuttle, sometimes we walk from NCV, sometimes we park and have our parking validated at The Beachcomber, and sometimes we pay for parking. It all depends on what we're doing at Crystal Cove, where we're going before or after Crystal Cove, and how the shuttle schedule works with our plans.

With the Limited Use Golden Bear Pass, we will have the freedom to park whenever it's the most convenient option, without having to consider the Senior Day Use Parking fee of $14 each time. (Fee for those who are not seniors is $15.)

Also, we can visit places like Torrey Pines State Park in San Diego County without having to pay.

You might not benefit, but a think my wife and I will benefit. This seems like a good use of $20.

 

[SmithOp]

I live in the area, I buy the Explorer Pass every year for CA State Beach Parks. It's good all year, no date restrictions.

California State Parks

California State Parks, State of California

www.parks.ca.gov