Things To Do
Hit the Beach!
San Clemente is known for having some of the best beaches for surfing or relaxing. Most the surf shops offer surfboard and boogie rentals. Here are some popular options: The San Clemente Pier: More parking than any other SC beach, close to coffee shops and restaurants. T Street Beach: A popular surf spot about a 1/4 mile south of the pier. Great for families, surfers, teens, & just about everyone ~ plus there’s a cute little snack bar thats been there for years.
Hit the Beach Part 2
State beaches are generally very family friendly and have parking lots just make sure to get there early as the lots can fill up fast! Here are a couple state beach options: Calafia State Beach: Due to the fact that it’s a State Beach with a large paid parking area & restaurant, Calafia is popular with tourists. The beach itself is great, wide like Riviera, so if you want a fairly easy option for sunbathing & swimming, this is a great option. San Onofre State Beach: San Onofre is a bit south from rest and requires a short drive on I-5 South. It’s also one of the area’s biggest draws & an iconic surf spot. Trestles to the north draws more advanced surfers, while mellow San Onofre is an amazing place to learn how to longboard.
Rip Curl - Trestles (outlet)
If you come to San Clemente and are in need of some beach clothing, this is Luke's favorite place to shop. Tons of options and some of the best prices you'll ever see.
Dana Point Harbor
Dana Point has one of the nicest harbors in Southern California. You can enjoy watching the boats, eat good food, and shop. If you do head this way, be sure to stop at It's All About the Cake bakery for a yummy pastry or grab a glass of wine Frisbee Wine Cellars!
Surfing Heritage and Culture Center
The surf museum includes a timeline of the evolution of the surfboard as well as a Gallery which has four different exhibits up throughout the year. You will see a full overview on the history and culture of surfing. Open Tuesday-Saturday 11-5
Visit a Popular Brewery
San Clemente has a great selection of popular breweries that are off the beaten path. These listed below have a great laid back vibe and usually either serve food or have food trucks on the property. Here are a few of our favorites: - Artifex Brewing Company: 919 Calle Amanecer Suite A, San Clemente, CA 92673 - Left Coast Brewing Company: 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente, CA 92673 - Lost Winds Brewing Company: 924 Calle Negocio Ste C, San Clemente, CA 92673 - Frisby Wine Cellars: 34673 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629
Golfing
If you're into golfing there are plenty of options around San Clemente. First off, we are getting married at the San Clemente Municipal Course so that's an easy option. Others include: Shorecliffs Golf Club: 501 Avenida Vaquero, San Clemente, CA CA 92672 Talega Golf Club: 990 Avenida Talega, San Clemente, CA 92673
Food and Drink
There is an abundance of places to grab a bite to eat and drink in San Clemente. Some of our favorites include: Cafe Mimosa: 243 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672 Franco's Famous San Clemente (Mexican): 207 S El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672 BeachFire Bar & Grill: 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672 Nick's San Clemente (upscale): 213 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672 These are just a couple we tend to frequent, but you really can't go wrong anywhere in the area.
Hiking
San Clemente is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. Here are a few hikes that we can recommend. San Clemente State Beach: You can start this trail from most places along the beach, the easiest is probably at the pier. From here you are in the middle of the trail and walk approximately 2 miles north to "North Beach" and also 2 miles south to "Calafia Beach" Trestles Beach Trailhead: if you are interested in seeing the world famous Trestles surf breaks, you can take this trail to the beach. The trailhead begins at the intersection of Christianitos and El Camino Real. You want to walk under the freeway to get to the beach. The nearest solid address is the Carl's Jr just to the north at 3929 S El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672. You can park on the street or there is a small lot that surfers use as well.