San Clemente is California's “Spanish Village by the Sea”
One of California's special places is the small city of San Clemente located just south of Los Angeles and north of San Diego. One minute you can be stuck in traffic on Interstate 5 heading out of Orange County, but just minutes later after driving down out of the mountains and passing through a picturesque downtown, you look out on the San Clemente Pier and the Pacific Ocean. Instantly, you want to relax in a cafe or take a walk on the pier or along the shoreline to feel the cool breeze. There are many reasons to include a day trip or short stay in San Clemente when traveling to Southern California.
Brief History of San Clemente
Some areas around San Clemente were inhabited by small settlements of Native American peoples prior to the arrival of Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino at San Clemente Island in 1602. Although a Spanish mission was founded in the area around 1776, the present- city emerged from land under Mexican and United States control developed in the 19th century as part of a privately owned ranch called Rancho Boca de la Playa.
In the 1920s, a Seattle-based real estate developer named Ole Hanson conceived the idea of creating one of the nation's first planned communities there in the hills overlooking the San Clemente coastline. His vision was to create a Mediterranean style resort community with Spanish haciendas on a 2000-acre tract overlooking five miles of California beaches. Hanson's vision was partially realized when hundreds of homes were built there prior to the Great Depression. The impact of the economic calamity on the city was severe and lasted decades. However, by the 1960s, the city’s charming historic residences combined with excellent surfing conditions and the opening of many quaint shops and restaurants led to a renaissance among vacationers, retirees, and people seeking a relaxing lifestyle.
Several unique factors enabled the city to preserve its unique housing and culture. One was the town's ability to avoid the construction of high-rise condominiums, hotels, and apartments along the shoreline. Another was the construction of the original Pier in 1928, and dedication of large areas of the shoreline as public beaches, walkways, and trails that made it accessible to residents and day trippers. A third factor was the cache the area received when President Nixon restored one mansion into his Western White House during the years of his presidency and held meetings with world leaders at the location.
San Clemente has grown from a small town with two thousand residents in 1950 into an affluent community of 64,000 residents. Many people work at the USMC Camp Pendleton base to the south, for medical device companies and retailers located in the area, or for tourism providers. With an average annual temperature of 71° and close to three hundred days of sunshine annually, San Clemente has one of the best climates in the country.
Things to Do in San Clemente
The Pier- The San Clemente Pier can be reached by walking across Avenida Victoria and then going beneath the Amtrak train tracks onto a steel pier and boardwalk that stretches out into the ocean for 1100 feet. Unlike commercial piers with arcades and amusements, the San Clemente Pier has been designed principally for people. It allows them to take in views of the ocean, surfers, and the hillside, go fishing, grab a snack or a meal at The Fisherman restaurant, or just enjoy life together. Originally constructed in 1928 and rebuilt in 1939 and 1983, the pier is maintained by the city with help from a private group of benefactors. The San Clemente Pier shows how communities can find a balance between attracting visitors and providing places residents can still enjoy. There are public amenities across the street from the pier including nice cafes, small shops, restrooms, and a trolley system. The three open air trolleys which are free to city residents run from Memorial Day to Labor Day and stop at designated locations every 15 minutes with connections to the downtown and shopping outlets.
Shopping - Another major attraction in San Clemente are the boutiques that line Avenida del Mar and adjoining streets in the downtown. In addition to clothing stores and gift shops, San Clemente has specialty stores such as Power Plant Records, Beach Town Books, and quality thrift stores with designer fashions. Another popular shopping destination known for its Spanish architecture stores is the Outlets at San Clemente.
Water Activities- San Clemente is all about the ocean as well. The area has a longstanding history as a surfing destination which is on display at the Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center and publicized in three different surfing magazines based in San Clemente. Some of the popular local surfing locations include Trestles, Cottons Point, and Lost Winds. Marine life including dolphins, whales and sharks can also be viewed off Dana Point Coast by taking a boating trip to those nearby waters. Families and casual swimmers enjoy the T Street Beach and the San Clemente State Beach
Land Activities - Enjoying outdoor life is a fundamental part of the experience of San Clemente. Residents and visitors to the community enjoy over twenty acres of beautiful beaches, twenty-five parks, 2.3 miles of coastal trails, 6.8 miles of ridge land trails and several championship golf courses. The San Clemente Beach Trail, the city's most popular pathway, runs from North Beach to the Calafia State Beach. It provides views of the ocean from different locations and can be accessed from multiple parking spots. Designed to accommodate walkers, joggers, dog walkers and cyclists it will help you work up an appetite for stopping at one of the coffee shops, ice cream and gelato shops, and bars located nearby.
Casa Romantica- The 1927, Olay Hanson built a family home in his village by the sea on the hillside above the pier. That historic residence, known as Casa Romantica, has been maintained by the city as a cultural center. It includes scenic spaces that can be rented for cultural and private events, a landscaped garden, and an art gallery with works by local artists. Rain and landslides recently caused damage to a portion of the hillside behind the casa so repairs to stabilize the area have been initiated.