Things to Do in San Clemente, California

San Clemente Things to Do

San Clemente is a great place to relax and spend the day walking along the pier or on the beach. See what other interesting things there are to do.

Explore San Clemente Pier

Built in 1928, this 1,296 foot-long wooden pier is open from 4 a.m. until midnight. There are lights, benches, fish-cleaning tables and a bait and tackle shop. The pier is also known for its seafood restaurant on its south side and an oyster bar on its north. San Clemente’s picturesque wooden pier is also convenient for rail travelers – Amtrak stops at its foot twice a day.

Picnic in San Clemente State Park

If you can’t get a campsite, do the next best thing and use the picnic area for the day. Enjoy nice views of the ocean and take the wide trail leading down to the beach. The bathrooms are nice and there is an outdoor shower behind them to wash off the sand or wash out the wetsuit.

Enjoy the Beach Trail

The San Clemente Beach Trail is a 2.3 mile long trail that connects North Beach to Calafia Beach with stops along the way at the Pier and T-Street. Enjoyed by walkers, joggers, families with children, casual cyclists and folks walking their dogs, there are a lot of beautiful views and foliage to enjoy.

Summertime Fun

Summertime in San Clemente means great times at the beach. There is great surf locally; this place is a mecca for the sport. If you enjoy volleyball, this beach is a great place to play. Attending the annual Ocean Festival in July is a must for people who love everything ocean. Festival highlights are sport competitions, sand castle contests, activities for the kids, good food and various info booths, often giving away prizes. And don’t miss the Rubber Duck race!

Historic Highlights

Explore some of the local history while in town.

California Historical Marker – La Cristianita – Two miles inland is a spring where the first Christian baptism took place in Alta California. It was performed by Padre Francisco Gómez in 1769.

Oscar Easley Building (1929) – A 9,845-square-foot building with Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, it has served as a bank, the City Clerk’s Office and as the offices of Oscar Easley, a member of the original city council.

Old City Plaza – In 1928 the first firehouse and city jail were built on these premises. Later, a blacksmith shop, a warehouse and maintenance shops were added. These municipal facilities were used until 1962. Now you’ll find one-of-a-kind shopping, along with romantic restaurants.

San Clemente has an art fair once a month that is definitely worth making time for and a weekly farmer’s market (Sundays).

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in San Clemente.