Nancy Hanna - Buyer's Center

Buyer's Center

Nestled between Los Angeles and San Diego lies a quaint beach community with five miles of pristine beaches, seven miles of prominent coastal bluffs and scenic rolling hills along the Pacific Ocean, and two marinas, inside a one-and-a-half mile jetty. Old town charm envelopes you as you walk the cobblestone streets downtown. Stroll along, stop for home-made ice cream, visit a novelty shop, browse through one of the many antique stores or simply relax and enjoy the ambiance at one of the restaurants. Day trips afford such excursions as whale watching and deep sea fishing expeditions.

Experience San Clemente

San Clemente, originally Rancho Los Desechos and held by Mission San Juan Capistrano, was founded on December 6, 1925, by Ole Hanson. The City of San Clemente was incorporated on February 21, 1928 as a result of a unanimous vote. The newly incorporated City of San Clemente was known as America’s first master planned community.

In May 1928, the San Clemente Beach Club was completed. This facility, known today as the Ole Hanson Beach Club, is located at the North Beach entrance to San Clemente.

This facility included an outdoor pool that was used for tryouts for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Near the Beach Club, a grass covered baseball diamond was constructed, and became the spring training camp of the Seattle team within the Pacific Coast League.

San Clemente, also known as the Spanish Village by the Sea, is more than just a beautiful beach retreat with great surf. Its small town charm offers culture and history as well. Casa Romantica is the estate of Ole Hanson. It has been revitalized and is a Cultural Center and Garden. “It embodies the Romance and Reality of the Southern California experience and is a place for people of all ages to explore and understand our history, architecture, ecology and culture.”

Today, outdoor enthusiasts have an extensive selection of activities. Spend the day at Ralph’s Skate Court or one of San Clemente’s 3 golf courses. Hiking and biking along the beach trail or in the hills behind Talega is a must.

Expansion projects like Marblehead Coastal and The North Beach Project will soon afford the entrance to San Clemente a top notch recreation and entertainment area.

Experience Dana Point

Dana Point is named after Richard Henry Dana Jr. (1815-1882), a Harvard-trained lawyer, seaman, and author of the classic sea journal, Two Years Before the Mast (1840). In his journal, Dana documents his voyage from Boston around Cape Horn to California on the merchant ship, Pilgrim. Therein, Dana describes the area once known as Capistrano Bay, as "the most romantic spot in California." Today, Capistrano Bay is known as Dana Point.

Dana Point, incorporated in 1989, provides over 1,900 hotel rooms ranging in accommodations and services from economy to five star hotels including The Laguna Cliffs Marriott, The Ritz Carlton and St. Regis in Monarch Beach. Convention and meeting facilities are available at the larger resort facilities, and all provide access to Dana Point’s unique coastal amenities.

The City of Dana Point is characterized by its seven miles of prominent coastal bluffs and scenic rolling hills along the Pacific Ocean. County, State and private beaches adorn the coastline, including world-famous surfing spots at Doheny Beach, Dana Strands, and Salt Creek. The Dana Point Harbor provides slips and moorings for more than 2,500 boats. Doheny State Park, one of California’s most popular beach facilities boasts 62 acres of open space, offering camping, picnicking, swimming, surfing, bicycling, and tide pool exploration, with over 2 million visitors annually.

A short drive takes you to amusement parks like Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios. Roller coaster enthusiasts will love Six Flags Magic Mountain, two hours away in Valencia. Take the train south to San Diego and enjoy the unique experience of San Diego’s Lantern District or the Wild Animal Park and Sea World.

Sound too good to be true? It’s a short drive to a faraway place, where historic charm of a Spanish Village meets the modern conveniences of a seaside resort. This area is enjoyed by both snow birds and those trying to beat the heat.

San Clemente Beaches and Trails

San Onofre Since the 1930's this has been one of the most well-enjoyed surfing beaches in California. Each day, families drive from all directions to visit "San-O" and ride the gentle surf that the area has to offer. San-O has some of the better longboard surf on the coast, and is great for beginning surfers. Both in and out of the water, you will find the most friendly, relaxed atmosphere known to the surfing world. Each day during the summer and on weekends throughout the year, the parking lot fills up and a line forms at the entrance, so you my want to arrive early.

Trestles To the south is an area known to the surfing world as "Trestles". The handfull of surf breaks that make up Trestles offer some of the best surf in the region. The waves can be "world class" but intense crowds are the norm and require extreme patience. The only way to get to the beach at Trestles is a 1-mile+ walk down the trail. If you do not know the way, just park in the lot next to Carl's Jr, just east off the Christianitos Fwy exit, and follow all of the people carrying surfboards toward the beach.

San Clemente State Beach Although fickle, quality surf can be found when the conditions are just right. Shallow sandbars can produce hollow, shifting peaks, although more often than not you will find closed-out conditions.

Calafia Like San Clemente State Beach, Calafia Beach can offer some great waves when the conditions are right. Like most of the beachbreaks in town, if the wind is blowing onshore, forget about it. The surf at Calafia is very tide-sensitive. Convenient parking is available in the lot in front of the beach.

T-Street Probably the most popular and consistent breaks around, you can almost always find a wave to ride at T-Street. A near shore reef helps waves break with better shape than most of the beach breaks in town. During periods of smaller surf and higher tides, waves take shape on the outer reef before breaking on the shallow inside sandbar. During periods of larger surf, the reef forms a peak that breaks all the way into shore. The quality of the rights & lefts off the reef depend greatly on swell direction and size. During summer months, surfing is allowed only during the morning and evening hours.

The Pier - South Side This beach, popular for swimming and body boarding, is closed to surfing during summer months. Surf conditions are similar to the north side of the pier, although the south side is typically more closed-out. During southerly swell, beware of the strong current running toward the pier. It is responsible for many lifeguard rescues each year as unsuspecting swimmers are swept toward the barnacle-covered pilings.

The Pier - North Side Another popular surf break, although large swells often produce closed-out conditions, you'll find someone surfing the pier nearly ever daylight hour of the year. This is probably due to convenient access from the large public parking lot at the bottom of Avenida Del Mar. Surf conditions range from terrible to excellent depending on the size and "peakiness" of the swell. The beach break waves at the pier also vary with tide and wind fluctuations. While the pier blows-out on a westerly wind, the pier itself can sometimes offer protection from a south-east wind.

North Beach Where Avenida Pico meets the Pacific Ocean, lies "North Beach” - a popular family beach for swimming and body boarding. Parking is plentiful in the lot adjacent to the beach, and there are restroom facilities on the beach.

204 Just south of North Beach lies "204". Here, swells refract over offshore reefs before breaking on shallow sandbars. For easy access, park in the lot at North Beach and walk south until you find the right peak. The surf can vary greatly with different swell directions and constantly changing sandbars.

Coastal Trail This popular 2.3 mile long trail connects North Beach to Calafia Beach with stops along the way at the Pier and T-Street. This is a very popular summertime use by walkers, joggers, casual cyclists and dog owners.

Dana Point Beaches and Trails

Dana Point Harbor The Harbor houses 2,500 boats within two marinas, inside a one-and-a-half mile jetty. Complete facilities include guest slips, fuel dock, shipyard, launch ramp, boat rentals, yacht sales, community class instruction, fishing, windsurfing, jet skiing, kayaking, boat charters, two yacht clubs, sailing association, ocean classroom labs, shops, restaurants, picnicking, and even a baby beach for young swimmers.

Dana Point is the home of the popular sport fishing and whale watching vessels. The Ocean Institute also offers a variety of programs for the whole family. Enjoy sea adventure cruises day and evening and summer programs on the Pilgrim. The OC Sailing and Events Center attracts hundreds of people each week for its wide variety of programs. Catalina Island is just a short boat ride away.

Salt Creek Beach Park This long, sandy beach is a popular surfing spot for the locals. Walking paths lead to the beach and to the grassy seven-acre Bluff Park, which has benches, barbecue grills, picnic tables, and restrooms.

Just south of Ritz Carlton Dr., a pedestrian gate leads through the Ritz Carlton along the bluff above Salt Creek Beach. The path, which skirts the southern perimeter of the grounds, has benches that overlook gray whale migration routes, popular surfing spots, Catalina Island, and the coastline.

Several stairways lead from the multi-use trail to the beach, changing rooms, outdoor showers, restrooms, snack bar, fire pits, and a path along the seawall. Paths lead north and east through a golf course and along Salt Creek, a scenic corridor featuring small parks and several miles of trails.

Doheny State Beach A few miles north of San Clemente lies Doheny State Beach, administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The 62 acre site features over one mile of sandy beach and some of the best swimming and surfing in California; quite popular among long board and beginning surfers. Doheny is primarily a summer break because Dana Point Harbor acts as a barrier from westerly swells

During low tide, tide pools are prime for exploring. The campground features 120 developed family campsites and the picnic area has 170 picnic tables and 99 barbecue grills.

Ocean Institute Founded in 1977, the Ocean Institute is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to ocean awareness and preservation. The Institute owns and operates the Pilgrim, the Spirit of Dana Point, and the research vessel Sea Explorer. The new Ocean Education Center, which has replaced the Institute’s old laboratories, now serves 135,000 students annually. For complete info visit their site at http://www.ocean-institute.org.

Public Trail System and Nature Interpretive Center A public trail system, over three miles in length, links all the parks and open space areas of the Headlands. The system includes pedestrian trails, coastal and beach access, scenic overlooks, and the Nature Interpretive Center. The trails maximize public coastal access and ocean view opportunities.