The Beach Cities of South Orange County

While the three cities of San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point, all run together at the Southernmost tip of Orange County California, each has its own unique “feel” and allure.

San Clemente

San Clemente is the Southern-most city in Orange County,  hugging the coastline for several miles, it is a quiet, Spanish styled, village community reminiscent of the small
enclaves that dot the northern shores of the Mediterranean as it's founder Ole Hanson had planned. The Los Angeles times wrote in 1927,"If the charms of this place could be shown to the poor, snow-bound, wind-beaten people back East, there would be an exodus so great the hills above San Clemente would be covered like mushrooms." The climate is just about perfect and San Clemente's surfing beaches are world famous.
Click here to take a short tour of San Clemente

Dana Point

Dana Point nestles around its large picturesque harbor, and has a strong feeling of all things nautical. Doheny State Beach straddles the mouth of San Juan Creek between Dana Point and San Clemente to the southeast.
	The city is named for Richard Henry Dana who, at 19 years old, sailed around Cape Horn aboard the"Pilgrim,"a two-masted trading brig in search of cowhides for the shoe factories of Boston. A replica of the Pilgrim is moored at the "Ocean Institute" at the west end of the harbor not far from where Mission Indians threw the hides down to a small beach from the bluffs above.
Upon his return Dana wrote of his experiences in the book"Two Years Before The Mast." A statue of R.H. Dana stands at the middle of the island marina pictured here.

San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano is built around the most famous Mission in California and is one of
the oldest  communities in the State. It has retained all the charm of its Spanish Mission days, as well as the Equestrian flavor of the old California “Ranchos”. Every year the swallows of Santa Elena, Argentina return here to their summer home heralding the arrival of spring and celebrated as "The Miracle of the Swallows" on March 19th, St. Joseph's Day
Take a tour of old San Juan Capistrano and the Mission

The three cities have all resisted the typical urbanization generally associated with Southern California. While there are many newer developments within their boundaries, great pains have been taken to ensure they conform to each city’s unique character.

Once thought of as “way down South,” and strictly a vacation or weekend resort, over time modernization of Interstate-5 and the addition of a toll-road system has put the area a mere 20 minutes from one of the fastest growing centers of high-tech development, the Irvine Industrial Park. In just a few more minutes you can be at John Wayne International Airport or visit the world-renowned shopping Mecca’s of South Coast Plaza and Newport’s Fashion Island.

Within a radius of 60 miles to the North, lie all the attractions of greater Los Angeles. Disneyland, Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universial Studios, the Getty Center and Queen Mary are a few which come to mind. Other amenities include Los Angeles and Long Beach airports and numerous venues for the performing and cultural arts.

Drive an hour or so to the south to visit Sea World, The Wild Animal Park, “Old Town” and other San Diego attractions. San Diego’s airport also offers a sometimes more convenient alternative for travel.

Locals generally maintain that the South County area has just about the best climate in the world.  Sunshine prevails most of the year, with mild “sweater-weather” winters, and long, warm summer days tempered with cool Pacific breezes.

Welcome to the Beach Cities!!