Southern California Day Trips

Mission San Juan Capistrano "Jewel of the Missions"

Mission San Juan Capistrano is called the "Jewel of the Missions" Mission San Juan Capistrano is probably the best known of all the California missions. In 1796 work was begun on a large stone church that was to be the most magnificent of all the California mission churches. Under the guidance of an expert stonemason from Mexico the natives transported the stones from a quarry six miles away. Nine years later the church was completed. The Great Stone Church was built in the shape of a cross, 180 feet long and 40 feet wide. Above the front entrance is a 120 foot tall bell tower that could be seen for miles. Today the mission is a major tourist attraction in Southern California with buses full of tourist and school children arriving each day. Visitors come to enjoy the beautiful gardens and historic buildings of the mission complex. In the spring thousands of swallows annually migrate some 2,000 miles from their winter homes to the San Juan Caspistano. Each year the Festival of the Swallows is celebrated with festivities including traditional bell ringing, live entertainment and a swallow day parade to mark the return of the swallows to San Juan Capistrano.
Mission San Juan Capistrano Pond
The city of San Juan Capistrano has the usual tourist shops and art gallery's as well a selection of restaurants all with in walking distance of the Mission. One of the more famous places to dine is El Adobe which was a favorite dining place of Richard Nixon and has been recognized as a California State Historical Landmark. Also within walking distance is the Del Rio historic district with 100 year old houses and Zoomars petting zoo. The train station is just a few blocks away from the mission and Amtrak Pacific Coastliner has daily service to San Juan Caspistrano. The Pacific Ocean is only a short drive where you can visit Dana Point Harbor of camp on the beach at Doheny State Park. Mission San Juan Caspistrano is Open Daily: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and we recommend arriving early to enjoy the beautiful gardens in a peaceful setting. Around 9;00 on weekends and summer expect to see tour busses dropping off groups of visitors. There is plenty of room at the mission for everyone but early in the morning with little or no people is a special time to visit. To round off your day trip to Mission San Juan Capistrano to the South is San Clemente or north is Laguna beach.
The Great Stone Church San Juan Capistrano
Mission San juan Capistrano Bell
 
Mission San Juan Capistrano Buildings
 
Mission San Juan Capistrano Barracks
 
Del Rio historic district
 
Del Rio Tea Garden
 
San Juan Capistrano Historic jail
 
Click on image for larger picture
Mission San Juan Capistrano is located in southern Orange County, 3 blocks west of I-5 on Ortega Highway. Exit the freeway and turn west onto Ortega Highway. Mission San Juan Capistrano is straight ahead 2 1/2 blocks.
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