There's not much here, and a lot of what was there is now closed off…read more There a courtyard and 2 rooms and one can't be entered.

Casa Romantica is a unique piece of history tucked into a beautiful cliffside neighborhood near the…read moreSan Clemente pier. It was the home of the original founding family of the city, with the unique Spanish Colonial Revival architecture style that is popular in the area. Today, it is a private cultural center and event space, with many of its historical aspects preserved in a clean and classy way. We visited as part of a private photo shoot and it was really quite amazing. It offers awesome views of the San Clemente pier and beach. It is currently undergoing renovation in some areas, and will be even better when it is done. It looks like people use this as a place to have weddings and other small events. It's open to the public on a limited schedule so check the website before you go. If you're gonna check it out.

This is a historic landmark maintained by the California Parks service. It commemorates the first…read moreChristian baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity that occurred in Old California. The first convert to Christianity in California was a little Indian girl. "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun, doth his successive journeys run."

I saw this on instagram and decided to check it out. It's a cute little spot with great views…read more Not really big but you can't beat the view!! If you are nearby, definitely worth stopping by.

Stumbled upon these beautiful arches while walking my dog. Feels like you're in Europe! The view of…read morethe marina is beautiful on a clear day. Nice stroll to take after lunch in Dana Point.

It's hard not to notice the beautiful Historic City Hall building in downtown San Clemente. It sits…read moreat the end of Avenida del Mar, on El Camino Real. Its Spanish architecture with Moorish influences is stunning! It's impossible not to stop by for a minute and admire its sight! The white walls shine in the sun and the whole Avenida del Mar spreads down. City Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places, which is run by the National Park Service. I didn't have the chance to check it out inside as well, but I hope it'll happen next time! The view from up here is gorgeous, nice spot! Beautiful gem of San Clemente architecture!

The Historic City Hall, (HCH), is a historic Ole Hanson building, located at the top end of Del…read moreMar. Looking down from the HCH, you can see the ocean, and all the mom and pop shops on Del Mar. If you were to venture inside, you would be pleasantly surprised to see how beautifully preserved this multi unit office building is! There are two entrances serving the Historic City Hall, and the offices all have unique and quirky touches to it that add a certain atmosphere of older times. I love looking at the old Spanish Tile that line the staircases, and the white plaster of the building's exterior. At night, the wrought iron chandeliers out front light up, and it gives the top of the old village a warm glow. Down a few doors is another chandelier building. These two gems are well preserved buildings from the past of San Clemente, in Spanish flavorings. What sort of town preserves these relics from the past? A cool town, that's who!!!

If you're in this area definitely worth it to check out this amazing Historical Mission. This was…read moremy second time and I enjoyed it. Lots of couples taking pre-wedding photos. Must be the place. I got a new experienced each time love the vibe.

Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded on November 1, 1776 by Junipero Serra and Spanish…read moreCatholics. Its nickname is "Jewel of the Missions" and is one of 21 Spanish missions in California. We purchased tickets ($18/adult) on-site although you can book them online to perhaps get a discount. We got an audio device where we could take an audio tour through the grounds and learn more about each individual aspect of the mission. We even saw the remnants of the stone church that was once the largest structure in California but was destroyed in the 1812 earthquake. While the inhabitants' primary goal was to promote Catholicism, the mission also served as an agricultural and economic center. The founding priests of the mission were told they had to be self-sufficient; when we visited the area there was a garden to grow food and a kitchen area. This mission was even the first one in California to make their own wine. Overall it took us an hour to walk around and explore. We didn't read or listen to everything in-depth but you can easily spend 2-3 hours here. We went early in the morning and there was no one around so it was peaceful exploring the grounds.

Where to begin... this majestic "set" overlooking the west coast has gotten me through many hard…read moretimes. Driving to LA makes any man think about ending at times but getting there by the 5 and looking to your left to see a real life Greek goddess's set makes it all worth it. After hearing the rumors that they will be torn down I can't help but wonder how many young men will dream of them from years to come. I pray I don't forget the look of the sun setting in-between those two gorgeous reactors.

The San Onofre Power Plant might be shut down, but its "boobies" are still the most iconic landmark…read moreon the 5 freeway. You can't miss 'em! SoCal's biggest inside joke! Iykyk

The Historic Los Rios District is so charming and quaint. Lots of small shops to visit. From…read morecandles, artists, tea shop, and a Veteran owned coffee shop! Lots of restaurants to eat at and plenty of sweet Knick knacks to purchase. They also have the Mission San Juan Capistrano in the area. If you're window shopping and walking the town, it's an amazing new. This is a great place to take friends & family who are visiting Southern California. It's a short drive from San Diego. It's a really great day trip. And if you can take the train down to avoid all the crazy traffic

I've never gotten off the train at SJC, but today I did. I was always curious about the old section…read moreof town. Los Rios is right across the tracks from the train station. Once across the tracks you've stepped back in time. Los Rios is the oldest community in CA. This neighborhood is beautiful. There are shops and restaurants. I really enjoyed the coffee house. At the end of the street you will find a tea house where you can dress up for high tea. You can relax here and almost forget about the outside world. If you come by train make sure to be on the right side of the tracks or you will miss the train. There's no way across.

The guide was all over the place and could not stay focused. The tour was so long and dragged out,…read moreit was boring and uneventful. We couldn't break away to leave... painful.

Our group had a great time on the tour; very fun, interesting, and informative :) Hope to do…read moreBlackstar in the future

I like walks on the beach. Or more like, by the beach. A favorite of beach trails that I've enjoyed…read morecoming to - lots to see and explore with vibrant flowers, the horizon of the ocean, the sounds of the Amtrak and Metrolink trains passing by. All of it is just amazing. And the best part is, there's so many ways to just have a good time and a good workout on this trail. The Beach Trail is about 2.3 miles long in total, but it can feel like a pretty long walk. AND that's only one-way. Coming back, you have to do another 2.3 miles, if you're returning to the beginning of your route. But you'll really see everything. Love the Beach Trail!

This is a nice little beach walk going from North Beach to Calafia. Its only 2.3 miles. The scenery…read moreis beautiful. You are steps away from the ocean. Every so often an Amtrak, Metrolink, or BNSF train will pass by. Its a well kept trail and perfect for all walkers. There was a detour and I had to walk on the beach. Good thing it was low tide. You had to time yourself between the waves. Today was the first Saturday of the month and there were two beach cleanup crews. The Surfriders were by the pier, and at Calafia Orange County Coastkeeper were working. This group also does cleanup on the 2nd Saturday at Huntington Beach tower 9 at Magnolia st. from 9:00 to 11:00. I got there late or I would have helped.. I already signed up for Huntington next week. Every time I come to San Clemente I enjoy walking the trail. After eating its a nice way to burn off a few calories.

This Nature Interpretive Center is small, but good learning opportunities for small kids. It…read moreprovides information on geology, biology, and history on Dana Point Headlands. We spent about 20 minutes learning about animals, marine life, and surrounding plants. It explains how compact this place is. So will take you most about 30 minutes. Very informative displays and artifacts to explore. Parking is free and located in front of the facility. Afterwards, head down to the trail overlooking magnificent ocean views and lush green surroundings. Perfect activity to spend with your family.

Nice little spot to take the kids or even yourself to learn some of the local history. There are…read moredisplays inside and outside of the nature center. It could take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to see it all. You can go on a short hike that has magnificent ocean views . There is a marked trail available right behind the center.Parking is available right in front of the center.