Corona Del Mar is part of the city of Newport Beach, but is a well known residential and recreation area in its own right. It generally consists of all land on the seaward face of the San Joaquin Hills south of Avocado Street to the city limits, as well as the development of Irvine Terrace, just north of Avocado.
Settled early in the 20th century, the older area of Corona del Mar consists mostly of closely-spaced, free-standing, detached single family houses of varying architecture, concentrated along Pacific Coast Highway (also known as "PCH" or State Route 1).
Newer developments in Harbor View Hills consist of California ranch style houses, many with expansive ocean views. The original lots are 30 feet wide and 120 feet deep, and the residents' association places a limit of three stories on a house. As a result, custom-home builders not lucky enough to stumble upon a double lot have to use some ingenuity to carve out enough useable land.
Corona del Mar is a walkers' community. Beaches are within easy strolling distance, and the community has a number of restaurants and cafes along Pacific Coast Highway, where residents can sit with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. Streets, although narrow, are pretty, with a variety of housing styles (and the occasional ramshackle cottage, though these have become rare) and shady trees.
Corona del Mar houses are often one of a kind and extravagantly priced. Many houses have ocean views, but land is a rare commodity, and most homes have small yards.
While politically part of Newport Beach, it has its own zip code and post office, and there is a separate Corona Del Mar Chamber of Commerce.
Corona del Mar has long been known for its beaches: Crystal Cove State Park (“Little Corona”) has 3 and-a-half miles of beach and 2,000 acres of undeveloped woodland, which is popular for hiking and horseback riding. The offshore waters are designated as an underwater park. Crystal Cove is used by mountain bikers inland and scuba and skin divers underwater.
The beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. Visitors can explore tidepools. Corona del Mar State Beach (“Big Corona”) is popular with swimmers. The half-mile long sandy beach is framed by cliffs and a rock jetty that forms the east entrance to Newport Harbor. (The jetty is featured in the opening credits of the TV show “Gilligan’s Island”.) The beach is also popular with surfers and divers and volleyball players.
A unique attraction in Corona Del Mar is the Sherman Library and Gardens –a 2-acre botanical garden and a library that has become the depository of several important historical collections. Another Corona del Mar landmark for over 40 years, is the Five Crowns, a recreation of an authentic English inn from the 1300’s serving prime rib and other 5-star cuisine.
Corona del Mar is in the Newport Mesa Unified School District. Corona Del Mar High School is in the area. Corona del Mar is reached from Pacific Coast Highway, alternately known as “PCH” or Highway One. There is little public transit, but Orange County’s John Wayne Airport is only 4 miles away.
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Corona Del Mar is part of the city of Newport Beach, but is a well known residential and recreation area in its own right. It generally consists of all land on the seaward face of the San Joaquin Hills south of Avocado Street to the city limits, as well as the development of Irvine Terrace, just north of Avocado.
