Keep San Clemente Rad

Insider’s Guide to San Clemente

Keep San Clemente Rad is dedicated to sharing what makes it so special.

San Clemente—the “Spanish Village by the Sea”—pairs pristine beaches and a breezy coastal trail with a lively downtown of cafés, boutiques, and standout restaurants—an iconic Southern California surf town with an easygoing feel. San Clemente is an iconic Southern California surf town with an easygoing vibe and small-town charm.

Start on the sand: relax at Pier Beach, set up for a family day at T-Street, or roam the bluffs at San Clemente State Beach. Surfers (and spectators) make the pilgrimage to Trestles for long, high-performance waves, while Old Man’s at San Onofre offers mellow, longboard-friendly rollers. Between sessions, walk or bike the flat, scenic Beach Trail linking North Beach, the Pier, T-Street, and Calafia—golden hour is unbeatable.

Downtown delivers a compact food-and-fun crawl: tacos and coffee near the Pier Bowl, patio dining and independent shops along Avenida Del Mar, and open-air browsing at the Outlets. Add culture and views at Casa Romantica, plus local surf lore at the Surfing Heritage & Culture Center. After dark, choose wine bars, live-music spots, or local breweries.

For families and outdoor time beyond the beach, think playgrounds and tidepools, the city skatepark, ocean-view golf, nearby hiking and biking, seasonal whale watching, and growing pickleball courts. Year-round events keep the calendar full—farmers market Sundays, Cars & Coffee, summer festivals and pier fireworks. Getting around is easy on foot; parking varies by lot and meter, beach fires are in designated rings, and dog rules change by location—check signs. When you’re ready to plan, browse our editor-curated calendar of annual, weekly, and special events.

Highlights

San Clemente Pier and Main Beach

San Clemente Pier is the town’s signature landmark—a classic wooden walkway for sunset strolls, fishing, and ocean-view dining with photo-worthy views up and down the coast. Just beside it, the main beach (Pier Beach) offers wide sand, gentle shorebreak, lifeguard towers, restrooms, and easy access from the Pier Bowl, making it a favorite spot for families to swim, sun, and people-watch.
Beach Walking Trail

The San Clemente Beach Trail is a flat, oceanfront path (~2.3 miles) linking North Beach ⇄ Pier ⇄ T-Street ⇄ Calafia with nonstop coastal views and easy access points. It’s ideal for sunrise jogs, stroller-friendly walks, and sunset cruises on foot or bike, with stairs down to the sand along the way. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trail (not on the beach)
Shopping, Dining and Nightlife

Avenida Del Mar is San Clemente’s walkable main street—lined with indie boutiques, surf shops, galleries, and patio cafés that spill onto the sidewalks. You’ll find everything from casual taco counters and coffee bars to cozy date-night dining, with ocean-view spots just down the hill in the Pier Bowl. On Sundays the street comes alive with a farmers market, making it an easy one-stop stroll for shopping, dining, and people-watching.