San Clemente is a quaint boutique town in-between Orange County and San Diego.

It is about an hour drive from either location and is nestled between the mountain slopes and the Pacific Ocean. Since it's so close and a relatively easy drive it is the perfect destination for a Sunday drive or a weekend getaway!

Looking onto San Clemente from the highway the buildings look like the ones in Croatia with white walls and red roofs and I naturally took an interest and began to wonder - what is it like over there?

When you first drive into town you turn down the main road "Avenida Del Mar" which is where you can shop lots of local boutiques and handmade chocolate! The shopping experience is not to be missed and therefore clocks in at our #4 experience for San Clemente:

#4 Shopping on Avenida Del Mar

Once you've had a chance to buy a cute outfit or gift and enjoy the handmade chocolate you definitely need to make you're way down to the San Clemente Pier. 

#3 San Clemente Pier

The San Clemente pier is conveniently located by the coaster which makes it an easy destination to reach even if you don't have a car or if you don't want the stress of driving while on vacation. Palapas line the long white sand beaches. Two nice restaurants sit on the left and the right of the pier making it the most popular attraction in town for dinner and sunset overlooking the beautiful ocean. 

#2 Surfing

If you are a surfer then you will be in the right place! The pier creates a left and a right break for regular and goofy footed surfers alike. If you don't surf but want to be in on the action just walk the pier to the end and you'll see surfers catching waves all year round.

#1 Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens

 This place is really cool! Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is what really put San Clemente on the map for me. It's a $5 donation to enter and the building is historical and provides a lot of history on San Clemente and Southern California. It was very informative and interesting to learn about the recent history in Southern California and why things are the way they are today! 10/10 Recommend and the views are breathtaking once you go out back to the garden terrace. Spoiler alert - The Garden Terrace view overlooks the entire ocean, town and the pier! 😍

Views from inside

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens Architecture

Historical Information about Southern California from Huntington Beach to Camp Pendleton

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Views from the Garden Terrace