San Clemente Cove Pocket Guide by Grand Pacific Resorts

SPANISH VILLAGE BY THE SEA Pocket Guide

Pocket Guide

4 ABOUT SAN CLEMENTE COVE

Slip away to San Clemente Cove, nestled on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and steps from the beach.

7 THINGS TO DO AT SAN CLEMENTE COVE

You don’t have to leave the resort to have a ton of fun in San Clemente!

8 THINGS TO DO AROUND SAN CLEMENTE

From laid back to something more thrilling, San Clemente is rich in a diverse range of activities to entertain everyone. 10 SHOPPING

San Clemente offers a variety of fabulous shopping opportunities. 11

BEST PLACES TO EAT

Discover where to go for family-friendly dining or to get in touch with your sweet side!

12 THERE’S MORE TO DISCOVER IN SAN CLEMENTE

Southern California offers a number of festivals throughout the year.

14 SAN CLEMENTE: PARADISE FOUND

Known for its Mediterranean feel and relaxed pace, San Clemente boasts a rich history.

PHOTO SPOTS

Discover a multitude of must-stop photo ops as you explore all of the incredible lookouts San Clemente has to offer.

19 SAN CLEMENTE RESOURCES AND MORE

Find all the insider tips you need to enjoy your Southern California vacation.

Your Personal Piece of Paradise

Explore the Spanish Village by the Sea at San Clemente Cove.

This Mediterranean-style resort is nestled on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Step outside the lobby to explore the bustling streets of San Clemente, or take a short stroll to the pier to watch the surfers and anglers. On a clear day, you can see as far as Catalina Island from the resort.

Explore the Spanish Village by the Sea

Things to Do

AT SAN CLEMENTE COVE

You don’t have to leave the resort to have a ton of fun in San Clemente!

PLAY AT THE RESORT

Weekly Activities to Explore while Staying at San Clemente Cove

Sand Dollar Painting

Guided Beach Walk

Margarita Night

{ THINGS TO DO AROUND }

San Clemente

Owners Jim and Shelly take us on a virtual tour of fun (and affordable!) excursions around town that also help give back to the local community!

OLIVER’S

DIP YOUR WAY TO DELICIOUSNESS!

One of the oldest olive oil and balsamic tasting galleries in Southern California, Oliver’s features 25 olive oil and aged balsamic varieties—all bottled on site and available in one-of-a-kind flavors like

E xperience It. Click Play !

champagne mimosa vinegar. One Sunday every month, a chef comes on site to demonstrate how to prepare four different entrees, infusing each dish with inventive oil and vinegar combinations!

STANFORD COURT ANTIQUES & DECORATIVE ARTS

IN WITH THE OLD!

This antique store in Historic San Clemente is housed in a building dating back to 1910 and has remained true to its roots by boasting original flooring, banisters, and hardware. As a co-op with over 20 different leased spaces,

FARMER’S MARKET

it offers a wide variety of high-end antique and vintage finds, ranging from European and Asian collectables to American midcentury modern pieces – something for every decorative style!

We’re lucky, because San Clemente is close to an abundance of local farms and hosts a farmers market every Sunday! There’s everything from beautiful orchids to soft breads, handmade dips to fresh-picked

produce – and it’s only about an eight minute walk from the resort. We took a stroll down to the market and captured some of what you may see when you visit us next.

Shopping

There are a variety of fabulous shopping outlets around San Clemente, from large outlet malls to small mom & pop shops.

These are just a few of our favorite places to go!

Outlets at San Clemente

Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop

San Clemente Wine Company

South Coast Plaza

Nai’a Boutique

Best Places to Eat

AROUND SAN CLEMENTE

CLASSICS

Enjoy these delicious restaurants that are a staple for any time you come to San Clemente.

The Fishermans Restaurant Bar

Nick’s San Clemente

BeachFire

FAMILY

FRIENDLY

Bring the whole family to the table at these tasty joints!

Biggie’s Burger & More

Pizza Port San Clemente

SWEET STUFF

There’s no better way to end a meal than a trip to taste something sweet.

South Swell Hand Dipped Ice Cream

Sugar Blossom Bake Shop

Get in touch with your sweet side! Whether you love baked goods, or frozen treats are more your sugar craving style, this charming seaside bakery offers something for every sweet tooth. From cupcakes to ice cream, these all-natural goods are made on site all day and also come in gluten-free options! Customize your own ice cream sandwich or stop in for a cinnamon roll on Sundays.

There’s More to Discover in San Clemente

The beach can be great, but if you’re looking to take your vacation to the next level, head to any of these fun events that take place around Southern California.

FESTIVAL OF ARTS, SAWDUST

ART

FESTIVAL, AND ART-A-FAIR FESTIVAL

Visit before the end of September and head up the coast to Laguna to experience all these festivals have to offer, including the acclaimed Pageant of the Masters!

Day trip to Laguna Beach’s Summer Art Festivals

FIESTA STREET FESTIVAL

Proceeds benefit San Clemente nonprofit organizations, and is held the second Sunday of August. There are exhibits, contests, a salsa challenge, arts & crafts, and so much more!

SAN CLEMENTE OCEAN FESTIVAL

A free two day event that is dedicated to the education and support of ocean safety and the environment.

“The Greatest Show on Surf” is Fun for the Whole Family

SEAFEST

Features a chowder cook-off, arts and crafts, surf contest, and a Search & Rescue Demo operation. Plus, it takes place right off the San Clemente Pier, just steps away from San Clemente Cove!

San Clemente:PARADISE FOUND

Far south of the bustle of Los Angeles and just north of San Diego County, the Pacific Coast Highway slows to meander through a coastal enclave dotted with terracotta-tiled roofs set against a glimmering Pacific Ocean.

The quaint town’s decidedly Mediterranean feel and relaxed pace of life could easily be mistaken for a vacation destination somewhere along the Amalfi Coast rather than just a short drive away from Southern California’s two most metropolitan cities—the exact sentiment San Clemente has aimed to evoke since its inception 100 years ago.

BEFORE BECOMING A CITY

San Clemente was originally occupied by the Acjachemen Nation but was virtually uninhabited until Father Junipero Serra established the San Juan Capistrano Mission in 1776.

A MAN WITH A VISION

In 1925, Ole Hanson, the mayor of Seattle and major land developer, craved a sunfilled seaside escape that would serve as a vacation haven for Southern Californians tired of “the big city.”

With its idyllic weather, pristine beaches, and fertile soil, San Clemente embodied Hanson’s vision of a Mediterranean-style resort town.

One rainy day in December of 1925, Hanson invited over 600 LA inhabitants to venture out to the undeveloped plot and hear his real estate presentation, providing luxury transportation and meals for all interested buyers.

His efforts proved to be worthwhile: within six months, Hanson sold over 1,200 lots at

Natives were conscripted to work for the mission, and it was during this time that native and Spanish settlers alike began to establish villages nearby.

an average price of $300/lot.

In an effort to lend the town a uniform Spanish colonial charm, a mandate was issued with each land deed that required buildings sport white stucco exteriors and red tile roofs, an architectural style that’s since distinguished the area.

A HOUSE OF ROMANCE

Hanson himself wanted a slice of his seaside resort dream. He built a villa-style home for his family that he named “Casa Romantica,” a sprawling estate perched on a bluff overlooking the town’s iconic pier.

He lost the property in the Great Depression shortly after inhabiting it, and the home was confiscated by the bank. After passing through the hands of several different owners, Casa Romantica eventually fell into a state of neglect and seemed doomed for demolition.

Fortunately, a group of San Clemente

activists, coupled with generous donations from local residents, were able to preserve the historic house, restoring it to its original glory and converting it into San Clemente’s cultural and historical center.

In April of 2023, Casa Romantica experienced significant structural damage due to a landslide. As of early 2025, Casa Romantica has undergone a partial reopening.

THE WHITEHOUSE OF THE WEST

San Clemente became a sought-after getaway not only for weary LA residents, but for weary DC politicians as well.

In 1969, Richard Nixon purchased a portion of the HH Cotton Estate, one of the original Hanson homes. The property was nicknamed the “Western Whitehouse”—a term used for a president’s vacation home. World leaders would come visit Nixon at his San Clemente home, and after his resignation, he made the Western Whitehouse his permanent residence until he sold it in 1980.

Prior to Nixon, the estate also hosted Franklin D. Roosevelt who liked playing cards while overlooking the ocean.