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San Clemente sits at the southern tip of Orange County, on bluffs and hills above the Pacific halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. It was founded in 1925 by Ole Hanson, a former Seattle mayor, who planned a Spanish village by the sea and required buildings to have white walls and red tile roofs. That vision still gives the city its charm, and it was incorporated in 1928.
San Clemente calls itself the Spanish Village by the Sea. Its historic downtown along Avenida Del Mar is lined with Spanish Colonial Revival buildings, shops and restaurants, and Casa Romantica, Ole Hanson's former home, is now a cultural center with gardens overlooking the ocean.
The San Clemente Pier is the heart of the beach scene, and the coast here is famous for surfing, especially at Trestles in San Onofre State Beach. The San Clemente Beach Trail runs along the shore, and San Clemente State Beach has bluff-top camping above the waves.
The wooden San Clemente Pier stretches about 1,300 feet into the Pacific from the Pier Bowl, with anglers, surfers on both sides and a restaurant near its base. The Amtrak and Metrolink station sits right beside it. Walk out at sunset, and bring a jacket since it gets windy at the end.
The Ole Hanson Beach Club is a historic 1928 Spanish-style beach club built by the town's founder and now run by the city. It has a public heated swimming pool beside the ocean and event rooms used for weddings. Check the city recreation schedule for open swim hours before visiting.
San Clemente State Beach is a mile-long sandy shore below bluffs at the south end of town, with a campground on the clifftop, picnic areas and a steep trail down to the water. It is good for bodysurfing and tide watching. Campsites book out months ahead in summer, so reserve early.
Trestles is a world-famous surf break inside San Onofre State Beach, just south of San Clemente, named for the railroad trestle over San Mateo Creek. It hosts pro surf contests on its cobblestone points. Reach it by a walking trail of about 1.5 miles from Cristianitos Road, and pay the state park parking fee.
Calafia Beach Park is a small city beach at the end of Avenida Calafia, next to San Clemente State Beach, with a paid parking lot, restrooms, a snack shop and easy access to the sand. It is a convenient start for walks along the beach trail. Arrive early on summer weekends because the lot fills fast.
The San Clemente Beach Trail is a mostly flat path of about 2.3 miles that follows the railroad tracks along the shore from North Beach to Calafia Beach, passing the pier and several bridges. It is popular with walkers, runners and families. Bikes are not allowed on most of it, and trains pass very close, so stay on the path.
Casa Romantica is the 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival home of San Clemente founder Ole Hanson, set on a bluff above the pier. Today it is a cultural center with ocean-view gardens, rotating art exhibits, concerts and lectures. Allow an hour for the house and gardens, and check opening days before you go.
La Casa Pacifica is the oceanfront estate in southern San Clemente where President Richard Nixon spent much time in office, known as the Western White House. It is a private home and not open to visitors. You can glimpse its grounds from the beach near Cotton's Point while walking south toward Trestles.
Avenida Del Mar is the main street of downtown San Clemente, lined with Spanish-style buildings holding surf shops, boutiques, cafes, wine bars and restaurants. It slopes gently toward the ocean views. A farmers market fills the street on Sunday mornings, and free street parking is easiest early in the day.
The Outlets at San Clemente is an open-air outlet center off Interstate 5 near Avenida Pico, with brand-name clothing, outdoor and home stores plus a few places to eat. It has ocean breezes and some views from its upper areas. Weekday mornings are quietest, and parking in the lot is free.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
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