Neighborhood Highlights
Stand at Lookout Point
Situated in Corona Del Mar, this park offers stunning views of Pirate’s Cove at State Beach and the Balboa Peninsula. Some people book this site for small wedding ceremonies. Enjoy the sight of waves crashing on the wall. Regardless of the season or the weather, the views obtained from this spot are unmatched and absolutely magical.
Sherman Library & Gardens
A gorgeous destination spanning over 2.2 acres (0.89 hectares) of horticultural land. The well-manicured gardens feature patios as well as a conservatory. The gardens are always filled with seasonal flowers and decorated elegantly with fountains all throughout. There is also a museum that contains a variety of living plants. Bring your readers, there are more than 15,000 volumes in this library.
Little Corona Beach
Just down the coast from Corona del Mar State Beach is Little Corona Beach—a smaller, more secluded beach that’s popular with locals. To get to this beach you’ll head to the end of Poppy Avenue where you’ll find a footpath that leads down to the beach. Along the shore, you’ll find little pools for sea creatures like little fish, starfish, sea urchins, crabs, and sea anemones. Head out at low tide for the best opportunities to explore and take photos!
Corona Del Mar
What is known today as Corona del Mar was originally part of a Spanish land grant and eventually ended up being sold to James Irvine as part of 108,000 acres he bought in 1875 for $150,000. When Irvine passed away in 1886, the Irvine Ranch went into a trust for James II to receive on his 25th birthday.
At the turn of the century, the Irvine Ranch was primarily a farm, and the region suffered several years of drought conditions, receiving less than half the rain it had been getting a decade earlier. Seeing the coastal property as having little value and in need of cash, in 1904 Irvine agreed to sell George E. Hart 700 acres of what is now Corona del Mar.
