Note the lifeguard access road that connects our home to the Beach!
Location: Laguna Beach, Orange County, California, USA (20 minutes to John Wayne [Orange County/SNA] Int'l. Airport) View Map
Accommodations: Apartment, 2 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 2 Baths (Sleeps 5-8)
This "Apartment" is close to 1800 Square Feet with a private 1,000 Square Foot deck that overlooks the ocean....
LET THE GENTLE SOUNDS OF SEALS AND WAVES LULL YOU TO SLEEP AT NIGHT! This property is only "a 30 second walk to DA beach" called Crescent Bay, listed as one of the top 5 beaches in all of Southern California by the LA Times. The beach is great for bodysurfing, boogie boarding, skim boarding, swiming and diving, tide pooling, you name it! Additionally, there is very little sea-weed that comes in here from the rocks to attract flies like many of the other beaches in Laguna.
DA BEACH: Crescent Bay is virtually ALL SAND except for the points on each side (see the picture below). This means that there are no permanent ROCKS on the shore or in the water to stubb your toe on! My wife likes the beach because it has a bathroom and an outside shower that the public can use! The 2nd best beach in Laguna according to this owner (who has lifeguarded every beach in Laguna so he should know!) is Shaws Cove. Shaws is the next beach south of Crescent Bay! Shaws cove is absolutely beautiful with generally smaller waves.
SAND: A word about sand. The sand at Crescent is perfect. It is clean (no dirt in it), it can easily be brushed off and it is not too course to walk in (some beaches have sand mixed with shells that can be tough on the feet). The Hideaway has a hand-shower, hose, tub, and separate entrances to the bathrooms to insure that the sand does not enter your living area.
PARKING: Because of the popularity of Crescent Bay & Shaws Cove, parking is a problem for everyone, except our guests. We have private parking on the property! That means two things. #1 You ALWAYS have a place to park when you are our guests. #2 If you decide on another place, further from the beach you had better count the costs of how long it will take to find a parking space and whether or not the hassle is worth it (whether you drove or walked to the beach) once you go home with the sunburn of your life (people stay at the beach too long and get burned when confronted with the daunting task of either walking home..uphill, or finding their car that you parked..uphill, literally blocks from the beach!)
(Folks, the Sun is HOT here in the summer and can burn you when you are not used to it. Because we are so close to the beach, you can have a morning and afternoon session! In between, walk up to the house, nap the kids if they are young, get out of the hot mid-day sun, avoid that burn and have lunch without sand in your food. Sunburned kids or parents can ruin your perfect vacation!!!)
YOUR DECK: It's GREAT! It is an all year deck with weather that allows you to sit out there barefoot almost every day of the year! Additionally, the malibu lighting in the evening makes for a great place to sip a drink of your choice while listening for the waves and seals. If it is cool, fire up the heat lamp and relax. If you have young children, the deck can be quickly made secure and yet allow them an area to play.
We provide a blow-up pool suitable for small children for your deck. The sun heats up the water giving the kids hours of splash fun while you kick back and read a book! (It also doubles as a warm place to get the sand off of them after a long day of digging for sand crabs!) Please give advance notice of small children coming! The place is semi child-proof with places like the gas fireplace screened off with an unmovable grate and under sink areas that have chemicals are also childproofed).
You hardly need a car here. You are walking distance to the village and that walk takes you down the most beautiful part of Laguna: Cliff Drive! And you are living right on it! Just walk down the street to town (or catch the city tram), either way, you will get to see the most beautiful beaches in Laguna along the way!
The "Crescent Bay Hideaway" boasts that it is the largest 2bd/2ba apartment so close to the beach. 1800 Square Feet allows quite a bit of room to relax and even has an eat-in kitchen whose table can expand to seat 10-12!. When you add the outside deck to this which is close to 1,000 SF (which acts really as a room almost all year long with the type of climate that we have here), you won't be stumbling over those you care about enough to have with you on your vacation.
Your own entrance, kitchen, laundry, deck, storage, two bathrooms, room enough to sleep eight, (maybe more), lots of comfortable seating (large couch, TWO Reclining chairs, 6 dining room chairs & 8 folding chairs.. frankly, all you will really need to bring are your own personal items, like a swim suit!
NO SMOKING!!!!!!!!!
!!! WE HAVE THREE LINKS LISTED BELOW THAT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER!!!:
1. Guest comments link to our Guest Book to see comments from past vacationers! (We have more than any other Vacation Rental in Laguna)
2. Our own personal "Crescent Bay Hideaway" website that has more pictures of the place and area. Additionally, it has an interactive floor plan that allows you to examine the inside of the "Hideaway" in detail.
3. A link to map the location of the Crescent Bay Hideaway here in Laguna.
4. A calendar link to show you our availablity.
Thank you very much for considering our wonderful vacation rental for your family &/or friends. Don't wait long to book. With the exception of ONE week, we were booked solid from Jan 1st to Nov 3rd, 2008. We expect to be in that position again in 2009. If you are curious to see what those comments are, just click the teal colored "comments" below this line and read them!
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking: The area is very crowded because we are so close to the beach. However, we do provide ONE private parking space on our private property. With advance warning that could be modified to include more.
- Gas Fireplace: Has a protective grill for children and pets
- Beds
- Queen Bed: Two Queens, one in each bedroom.
- Twin/Single Bed: Two twins, one is a trundle under a daybed. We also have a roll-away if required.
- Convertible Bed: Double converts from hide-a-bed sofa.
- Crib: Port a Crib
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV: One TV in Family Room, One in Kitchen
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library: Various "G" rated videos. Many for children.
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided: Guests say that we have everything they have at home.
- Refrigerator: w/ice maker
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill: Propane Grill
- Deck/Patio: Large enough to accomodate lounge chairs, table w/6 chairs, large umbrella, and quite a number of people... Enjoy the view of the ocean, the sound of wave and listen to the Seals bark in the evening on this deck! (and while you sleep!).
- View/Location
- Ocean View: Our unit is two homes from the sea. The deck looks right down the Lifeguard access road to the beach. At times, you may see the waves breaking. You can always hear the waves and Seals (when they are barking).
- Communications
- Telephone: Local calls only, includes an answering machine.
- Computer
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Gas Fireplace (w/protective grid), DVD/CDRom Turntable, 2 queen beds, 1 double sofabed, two twins, one roll-away, Ceiling Fans in both Bedrooms, Wireless/wired Internet Connectivity w/desktop computer, in-bound phone line with answering machine, even a Piano (so long as you don't play too loud!), Deck Heat Lamp w/Malibu lighting, even a HIGH CHAIR and a CRIB. TWO comfortable leather recliners with numberous chairs will make you feel right at home (so much so that you may go to sleep in them!). Two bathrooms, both with showers. The master has a tub/shower as well as the separate traditional shower... and a Stackable Washer/Gas Dryer. NO SMOKING!!! Will Consider well behaved Pets
- Suitability
- Kid Friendly: Protected cabinets, Gate to secure deck area, Kiddie Pool provided, the whole place is pretty much child-proof.
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Theme Park (Amusement Park)
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Snorkeling/Diving
- Surfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Basketball Court
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Miniature golf
- Other Activities
- Art, Festival of Arts, Sawdust Festival, The Pageant of the Masters (live recreations of past & present Art Master-Piece's), Theatre (local), Wet Suit locker, Masks Snorkels Fins.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Jul/Aug .. $14,000/mo (all quotes include utilities)
Jun....... $11,000/mo .. Sept .. $8,500/mo
Oct or May.. $6,000/mo for Single mo occupancy, Incl Utilities.
Nov-April(L Seas) $5,000/mo, discounts for multiple mo occupancy, incl utilities.
Weekly high season rates... $2,750 to $3,500/based on seasonality.
Low Season wk rates: $1,500 to 2,500 holidays excluded *subject to Occup rules
We were 100% booked for the last 5 Summers.
About 70% of our Vacationers are REPEAT VACATIONERS!
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Crescent Bay Hideaway: 30 Sec's to Da Beach, Spc Off-Seas Rate
Year Purchased: 2002
Why the Owner Chose Laguna Beach
My Grandma & Grandpa bought this property in the 1920's with money from a farm that Grandma inherited. At the time, LAGUNA BEACH was NOTHING. Only dirt roads led to town... and none at all to Crescent Bay. They walked up and down this area before selecting the lot they wanted in a new subdivision called McNight, who used to work for the Irvine Company and received his compensation in land... which his heirs then sold to my Grandparents.
In the summer, people would "pitch their tents" all over Laguna, but especially here at Crescent Bay. The lure of the sounds of waves, Seals and clear cool water inspired mass migration from Los Angeles's heat back then as it does today. In fact, the Indians, recognizing the beauty of this area, used to use the north point of Crescent Bay as a burial ground. Today a portion of that burial ground is a spectacular public park.
When I had the opportunity to purchase this property, I could not believe my fortune. I never purchased it as a vacation rental. I purchased it because that was the only way that I could insure that our family could live here and use it.
If you have read the comments of our past guests (of which we have more that ANY other property in Laguna) you will find that our guests cannot believe their fortune in finding the Hideaway.
The Unique Benefits at this Apartment
We get to listen to the seals as they bark us to sleep in the evening. When the surf is large, the boom of the breakers is as welcoming to the human ear while sleeping as is those seals barks! Sometimes, when we cannot sleep, we will get up and see a huge silvery moon dancing over the shimmering, silvery water. Occasionally, we will run down the the water, spear fish for dinner or grab Lobster for the following days dinner.
To see my children or our vacationers' children, water still running down their legs from wet trunks, coming home to get something to eat so that they can run back to the beach reminds me of my own childhood and how much I love it!
The CBH is very peaceful and spectacular, morning, noon and night. Yet, we are only 7 to 8 blocks from the center of town. So it is easy to walk to town and have dinner and either catch the free trolley home (summers only) or simply walk home.
Because we are at the North end of Laguna, we are away from all of the tourist hotel noise. Leaving town is easy as we do not have to drive through Laguna. A Grocery store is less than 4 blocks from our house. Many of our vacationers simply park their car and never move it again until they leave to go home. Some day, I might just sell my car and get a three wheeled bicycle with a cushy seat and a large payload area and ride it back and forth to the store.
Frankly, I have traveled the world and found no place that I like better than right here at Crescent Bay. If you end up here, I think that you just might agree with me and want to come back year after year. You might say: there is a lot of "sales smoke" that comes from this guy.
But I will give you proof: Just look at our "Guest Comments" and our calendar.
A major resturant with a "landmark" location overlooking the city of Laguna Beach and the Main Beach area of Laguna! This resturant sits right on the same street that our home is on!
Owner's Map of Laguna Beach
I was raised here in Laguna Beach, and graduated from LB High School. However, I found that Laguna was a small pond for someone who wanted to expand his horizons. My travels took me to South America, Europe, the Middle East, most of North America and to HAWAII many times. I eventually settled in Northern California on the ocean for 23 years. It was so cold there that I could not grow a red tomato. As I became older and the water seemed colder, my wife and I decided to move to a warmer place.
My wife wanted to go to the East Bay, but I knew a better place. LAGUNA BEACH, a town in which I had been raised. It took 10 years for me to talk her into it...but now that she lives here, we both love it! We have a crop of RED Tomatoes every year. The Fig Tree, Orange tree and Lemon tree all produce... as well as our garden with squash, beats, onions...!
Now that we have moved back to Laguna, I have realized that this is truly a Paradise. When you finally grow up, you realize just what Dorothy said on the Wizard of Oz: "There is no place like home!" Home is "Laguna Beach".
Property Photos
- Note the lifeguard access road that connects our home to the Beach! - Laguna Beach Vacation Rental
- The "Red Spot" is ours, the rest is yours while at the CB Hideaway! - Laguna Beach Vacation Rental
- View of beach from top of lifeguard access road. When there is foam, SURFS UP! - Laguna Beach Vacation Rental
- Deck view towards beach (note: Lifeguard access road gate accross street)!
- Choose: Have a party on your deck, or jockey for parking w/the masses!
- Enjoy your deck! Even the little ones have a pool! Summer trolley in background.
- C Bay! Note the people on the beach. They drove here & PARKED, not you!
- This Crescent Bay Thriller beats ALL RIDES at DISNEYLAND !!!!!!
- Immaculate large, eat-in kitchen w/all the amenities (dishes, pans, etc)!
- View towards kitchen through fam rm. TV, Cable, DVD, VCR, Stereo, Intrnet
- Back Bedroom, Ceil Fan, Queen bd. (Lots of room) Note crib in background.
- Front Bedroom w/ceil fan, Comfortable Queen bed and clean as a pin.
- 2nd Bathroom. Note both Shower & Shower/Tub. Both bathrooms exit to deck!
- Our vacationers & I Night Diving w/a Horned Shark we caught w/our HANDS!
- You won't believe what we find in the water off of Laguna!! (my son last winter)
- Crescent Bay! Seals bark from slanted rock! Catalina Island in background!
Guest Comments (49)
First (10) of (49). View all comments
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #70216
There have been 37185 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2006.
This listing was first published here in 2005.
Date last modified - November 24, 2009
Positive Rating
Kathleen and Mike Lane , MIddleton MA, USA
Homeowner Response:
When conditions are right, I go skin diving with my vacationers! This is the 4th vacationer that I have shown a halibut in the sand... but in each case, they could not see it until I scared it up. Halibut are preditors who hide UNDER the sand and have their eyes poking out of the sand looking for prey. Their ability to change the color of their skin to that of the sand or rocks makes them nearly invisible except to the trained eye. As such, they are one of the few large fish that can still live here in Laguna Beach. I am thinking that I might have to give a prize to my first vacationer who spots the Halibut!
Positive Rating
Carol and Bob Berlin , Palm Desert, CA
Homeowner Response:
Carol's daughter was coming in from the east coast and planned to stay in Laguna for a 4 or 5 days and then head to Palm Desert to be with Mom. Palm desert was about 100 degrees F at the time and I suggested that Mom might want to come to Laguna too! It turns out that Mom had been here at crescent Bay back about the time I was weaned. She love it then... and still loves it now. We have many multi-generation families come here to the hideaway... but then we also have smaller parties as well. The point is, the CBH fits the bill for multiple generations!
Positive Rating
Homeowner Response:
When an IT professional arrives with his family as well as a boyhood friend (and his family from England for a total of 9 people) with a surfboard in hand... I know what he really wants to do: GO SURFING!!! Since we act as a bit of a concierge when guests arrive at our home, we went surfing at "San Onofre", a location that years ago was used to film "Gidget Goes to Hawaii"! Now, I cannot do this for everyone, but if the surf is right, the tide is right and the group is up to it, we will actually put together a "surfing safari" to go explore the safe surf spots in our area!" Folks, it is not easy to "surf", especially if you are not used to it. What surprised me about this vacationer, was that he jumped right up on his board and rode two wave all the way to shore, STANDING UP!!!
Positive Rating
The Smith/Lunde clan , Berkeley CA, and Drammen, Norway
Homeowner Response:
Thank you, Cindy for your feedback for our future guests! This "clan" is split between Berkeley, Ca and Drammen, Norway. They needed a place that would accomodate 5 adults: Grandma, Grandpa, Mom & Dad, two Grand Children, Second Adult Son and one additional Grand Child for a total of eight people. It was difficult for this "clan" to find a suitable location (right NEAR the Beach) that could meet the multigenerational needs... within their budget. Because of the large deck, the multiple activities (such as the trolley to get them downtown), proximity of the beach for the little ones, Disneyland only 20 or so minutes away (because we are at the North end of Laguna) this "clan" was able to do everything they wanted with the least possible waste of time! Tusen Takk as well, Earle
Positive Rating
Todd , South Jordan Utah
Homeowner Response:
Thank you Todd for such a concise and to the point recommendation of the Hideaway. What is interesting about Todd was that he frequented Crescent Bay when he was young. After coming up from the beach the first day, Todd said: "Now I remember how beautiful this beach is and why I always wanted to come here!" But, to make sure that his kids are all in agreement (after all, when you drive TWO DAYS to get here requires everyone's cooperation) Todd explored a number of beaches from North Laguna down to Salt Creek. His kids agreed: "Dad, you just can't beat CRESCENT BAY", they said. On that point, we all agree!!!!!
Positive Rating
Homeowner Response:
To come all the way from the East Coast to arrive at a place you have never seen with a family of 6 is not easy... unless your destination is the CRESCENT BAY HIDEAWAY! We DO try to make every guest feel comfortable while they are on vacation at the CBH. We look forward to having the Safford's come back some day to make even more memories for their family in Laguna Beach!
Positive Rating
Cathy T and family , Sacramento, CA
Homeowner Response:
Thank you Kathy for your comments. For those reading, this group (two families combined) of NINE (9) people, 3 parents and 6 full sized children enjoyed our "two bedroom apartment" that is obviously MUCH LARGER than a typical two bedroom apartment.. and had a great time. In order to really have a great and economical vacation during this recession, you will be needing to look a properties like this that offer affordability as a result of economies of scale!
Positive Rating
Tammy , Lake Mathews, CA
Homeowner Response:
It was a pleasure to have you down and they will be welcomed back!
Positive Rating
Michelle & Wayne Virkler , Vernon, Ct
Homeowner Response:
This family had a lot of needs: Children from 8 to 17, Adults in their late 30's early 40's and an Aunt and Uncle in their 60's. They wanted quite a bit out of a vacation rental, but they wanted a place that met the needs of all of them: 1. They wanted a nice beach close by without rocks. They passed on a number of ocean front places... that upon careful study, you could see that there were or could be rocks in the water. 2. They were concerned that the way down to the beach would be sooo steeep that all ages could not navigate their way easily to the beach. 3. They wanted to be able to see the water from the deck, boats, dolphins... and since it might rain, a southern exposure. Yes, the CRESCENT BAY HIDEAWAY met all of their needs... and then some!
Positive Rating
Ken & Anita Laaker , Quincy, IL 62301
Homeowner Response:
You know what? These old pioneer families from Illinois must have it in their genes to "GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING"!!!! I heard that Anita would be out there on the deck at 5:30AM! It was DARK at that time! I decided to check it out. Sure enough, I saw movement in the dark and it was no spirit. There she was, in the flesh, coffee cup in hand to greet each new day for a MONTH!!!!