Small town charm and warmth is yours in San Clemente
Pretty San Clemente sits half way between San Diego and Los Angeles. Locals call it 'The Spanish Village by the Sea' and its many attractions include an absolutely magnificent coastline and truly beautiful beaches. The weather is perpetually sunny. The waves are perfect, a proper surfer’s paradise. This is your ideal base-camp for endless hiking opportunities, swimming, bodyboarding, volleyball, whale watching, fishing, surfing, scuba diving and more.
San Clemente’s geographical isolation helped protect its small-town charm from homogeneous urban sprawl.
What about the nightlife? It's all lovely and low key here, far from the hustle and bustle of bigger resort towns and cities. Here are 3 fun things to do
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Relax, get mellow and chill out at one of the town's lovely public parks
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Stroll down Avenida Del Mar for excellent local shopping
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Visit Catalina Island for fine dining, scenic cycling, shopping, sightseeing, camping, snorkelling, scuba diving, parasailing...
Learn to surf thanks to the Endless Summer Surf Camp. Venture out of town for premium shopping outlets in Carlsbad. Or head to the amazing Carlsbad Museum of Music.
Avenida Del Mar offers countless restaurants, bars and cafés, art galleries, parks and an attractive old fishing pier. It's scenic, pretty, full of Californian character. For a great art gallery and awesome ocean views, treat yourself to a trip to Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens. Or give one of these classic San Clemente attractions a go...
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Mosey your way along the magnificent San Clemente Coastal Trail for epic ocean vistas
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Hit one of the area's three excellent golf courses, all with superb sea views
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Visit the Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center
Take in all three and you'll be well on your way to escaping from the gritty city vibe and getting to grips with the delights of this lovely little California seaside town.
With its glorious state beaches, no wonder the magic of San Clemente is so potent. Try San Clemente state beach, San Onofre state beach and San Clemente North Beach, each unique.
Join an Art Walk on historic Avenida Del Mar – also called Del Mar Street by locals - on the final Thursday of each month, meeting local artists in person. Experience the deliciously pretty Mission San Juan Capistrano, just down the road, with its Spanish architecture, lush gardens and tinkling fountains. Or visit the local live music spots Sunsets, Iva Lee’s, OC Tavern, the Beachfire Bar and Grill and The Coach House. Want a taste of local colour? Sample the live action at the Cabrillo Playhouse, on the go since 1953. It's run by volunteers and housed in a fantastic old house in downtown San Clemente, a weeny 66 seater of a theatre that's won numerous rave reviews for its innovative, inspirational productions.
This is where you'll find President Nixon’s very own 'Western White House', a seven bedroom home sited above Trestles, one of the area's best surf spots. Nixon stayed here when he wasn't living at the real White House. Built in 1928, the San Clemente Pier is a 1,200 foot marvel. What about the area's best beaches? Try the glorious T Street Beach, Riviera Beach and Calefia Beach, or head for Laguna to explore the 1,000 Steps Beach... which actually has fewer than 300 steps to beach level but delivers some of the most beautiful ocean and beachside views in town.