San Clemente California
Beaches, Hotels, Vacation Rentals and Campgrounds

San Clemente California is one of the nicest Southern California beach towns to visit. It is an idyllic town which even has palm trees on the beach!

The charming little village of shops and restaurants has a weekly farmer’s market and monthly art fair are additional things to enjoy. Located south of Dana Point, it is about an hour’s drive south to San Diego and 75 minute drive north to Los Angeles, depending on traffic.

San Clemente State Beach is lined with cliffs and the sand is narrow, giving the beach a secluded feeling. Two trails lead to the beach from the parking area.

Calafia Beach sits between the city and state beaches, and is much wider than the latter, so there is more room for volleyball and sunbathing. There is also a snack shack and restrooms here.

Train tracks parallel San Clemente beach, so the Metrolink, Amtrak, or summer beach train roars through periodically, waking sunbathers from dozing too long.

This municipal pier in San Clemente California is also the site of a train station. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and the Metrolink both stop here -- very convenient for beachgoers! The pier is also the site of various annual events. More on San Clemente events and festivals.

On the first Sunday of every month except January, San Clemente California has a Village Art Fair held downtown on Ave Del Mar. It's a nice way to spend the morning, perusing the various booths filled with arts, crafts, and other things for sale.

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardensis another place to visit. It's an historical estate located on a bluff overlooking the ocean. They offer various cultural programs, but are also open to visitors. They charge $5 admission and it's free for 12 and under. The address is 415 Avenida Granada and they are open Tuesday through Sunday 11 to 4.

For those who like to camp, there's San Clemente State Beach, Bluffs Campground and San Mateo Campground. The latter two are at San Onofre State Beach. To find out about the local campgrounds, see San Clemente beach camping.

By car: Heading south on Interstate 5, get off on Ave. Palizada, go right on E. Ave. Palizada, then left on N El Camino Real (downtown San Clemente), then right on Avenida del Mar and on to Avenida Victoria for the pier.

If heading north from San Diego, get off on Avenida Presidio and go left, then go right on S El Camino Real, then third left on Avenida Del Mar, and on to Avenida Victoria to the pier.

By train: The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner stops at the San Clemente Pier Station and goes north to San Luis Obispo and south to San Diego.

The Metrolink stops at the North San Clemente Station at 1850 Avenida Estacion, but also has limited service at the San Clemente Municipal Pier station.

The Metrolink Orange County Line stops here on it's way between Oceanside and Los Angeles Union Station.

The Orange County/Inland Empire Line stops here on it's way between Oceanside and San Bernardino.

DECEMBER 2011

One Pool Closes While Another One Opens In San Clemente California
The scenic Ole Hanson Beach Club is a historic building and municipal swimming pool built in 1928. It is badly in need of rehab, so will be close for about a year starting January. Luckily for swimmers, a new aquatic center will be opening in January at 989 Avenida Vista Hermosa at the big new sports park. The Beach Club will reopen some day and both will operate simultaneously.

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