San Clemente State Beach - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

A beautiful beach located in the city of Dana Point. The beach is a popular surf spot located at the mouth of San Juan Creek, which flows from the Santa Ana Mountains southwest to the beach, where it forms a fresh-water lagoon. It is also one of the most polluted beaches in Southern California. It is one of California's most popular state beaches and attracts almost one million visitors per year.

This is the Birthplace of Orange County. It was founded more than two hundred years ago as the 7th of 21 missions statewide and features a chapel still standing where Saint Serra once celebrated Mass. Today, it is a monument to California’s multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. The mission was damaged over the years by a number of natural disasters, but restoration and renovation efforts date from around 1910.

A wonderful museum located in Laguna Beach, California, which collects, cares for, and exhibits works of art that were created by California artists or represent the life and history of the state. The museum's collection ranges across all periods and styles since the nineteenth-century, maintaining a dynamic balance between the historical and the contemporary.

This is a a large oceanfront park that provides access to several beaches, including Picnic Beach and Rockpile Beach, both of which are located on either side of Monument Point at the center of the park. Start your stroll at the northern end of this Highway 1 stop and you'll be treated to plenty of grassy spaces, stately palm trees, patches of wildflowers and some beautiful sculpture work as you venture down the park's waterfront pathway.

Crystal Cove State Park is a state park of California, United States, encompassing 3.2 miles of Pacific coastline, inland chaparral canyons, and the Crystal Cove Historic District of beach houses. Crystal Cove is one of Orange County's largest remaining examples of open space and natural seashore. It has 3.2 miles of beach, 2,400 acres of backcountry wilderness, which is popular for outdoor enthusiasts and an offshore underwater area.

A wonderful museum features 17 interactive exhibits designed as a small, interconnected city. Pretend City aims to “build better brains” through purposeful play, hands-on learning experiences, role playing, and educational programming. The exhibits include an Amphitheater, Art Studio, Mind + Body Center, Sandy Beach, Restaurant Café, City Hall and Lobby, Construction Site, Emergency Services with Dispatch Station, Police Station, and Fire Station and so more.