San
Clemente Beach is located in Southern Orange County
and is the last town before you enter the wide open
space of Camp Pendleton. What was once a sleepy beach
town populated by surfers and marines from Pendleton
has turned into and upscale beach destination.
The hills surrounding the San Clemente are covered with
houses all trying to get a piece of the spectacular
ocean view. The rolling hills inland have also have
felt the hand of the developers with many of the canyons
populated with housing tracts. Even with development,
San Clemente remains a charming Southern California
beach town.
There are no high rise hotels lining the coast like
Huntington Beach to the north and the city has a wonderful
downtown with many restaurants and shops. Avenida Del
Mar is San Clemente's main shopping district and it
looks much the same as it did in the 1960s. This quaint
street is lined with small shops and eatery's and is
a pleasant relief form crowded shopping malls.
San Clemente has several several excellent beaches including
North Beach, San Clemente Main Beach at the pier and
San Clemente State Park. T street is popular with surfers
and and just a short walk south from the pier. One of
the most popular places to dine in San Clemete is Fisherman's
restaurant which sits at the entrance to the pier. If
your looking for a light snack try the Pier Shack at
the end of San Clemente pier.
Main Beach islocated at the end of
Aveinda Del Mar Main Beach is the heart of San Clemente.
The 1928 the 1,200 foot long wooden pier is the center
piece of main beach. There is an Amtrak
station at the foot of the pier (not all trains stop
here) plus several nearby restaurants including fisherman's,
a popular sea food place on the pier. there is a parking
lot at Parque Del Mar next to the pier plus there is
metered street parking.
The
beaches of San Clemente include North Beach, just off coast
highway as you enter the city from Capistrano Beach. North
Beach has a Metro link Station and a metered parking lot.
During the winter most of the sand is washed away and North
Beach is almost entirely rocks. From North Beach you can
take the trail all the way to Pier. During the summer months
a snack shop is open on North Beach. Linda Park and Beach and Park is operated by the
city of San Clemete and is located at the end of Linda Lane.
The park has metered parking, Picinic areas and a tunnel
under the railroad tracks which leads to the beach.
T-Streetlocated 1/2 mile south of the pier and named after
Trafalgar Street which runs into the beach. The beach is
nick-named T-Street in order to hide its location form non
locals. T-Street is popular for surfing and body boarding.
San Clemente
State Beach - This beach is on the south end
of San Clemente. There is a large state run campground overlooking
the beach and also a public metered parking lot at the end
of Avenida Califia. There is no bridge or tunnel over the
railroad tracks here so be careful crossing. The bluffs
have several trails leading up into small canyons plus there
is a dirt trail running along the beach.
Trestles Beach
- While not in the city of San Clemente Trestles is well
worth a visit. Sitting just outside the San Clemente to
the South Trestles is one of the best surfing beaches in
the world. Access to this Trestles beach is down a mile
long paved trail.
San
Clemente is the Southern most beach town in Orange County.
The city is located about half way between Los Angels and
San Diego. At one time San Clemente was the home of the
Western White House when it was occupied by Richard Nixon.
Interstate 5 runs through San Clemente and there are numerous
off ramps leading to different sections of the city. Daily
Amtrak and Metrolink trains service San Clemete with stops
at main and north beaches. San Clemente is about half way
between Los Angels and San Diego, a good choice for a Southern
California vacation.
You
Might Like:
Doheny
Beachpopular for day use and over
night beach camping. Bike rentals available.
