ORANGE COUNTY
Pocket Guide
WHERE CITRUS MEETS THE SEA
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ORANGE COUNTY
Pocket Guide TA BL E OF CON T EN TS
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A B O U T S A N C L E ME N T E C O V E
Slip away to San Clemente Cove, nestled on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and steps from the beach.
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T H I N G S TO D O A T S A N C LE ME N T E C O V E
You don’t have to leave the resort to have a ton of fun in San Clemente!
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A BO U T C A P IS TR A N O S U R F S IDE I NN
Slip away to Capistrano SurfSide Inn, minutes away from Dana Point Harbor, Doheny State Beach, and numerous family attractions.
T H I N GS TO D O AT C A P I S T R A N O S U R FS ID E IN N
Take a day and have fun at Capistrano SurfSide Inn with these on-site or near-site activities!
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T H I N GS T O D O A R O U N D D A N A P O IN T
From laid back to something more thrilling, Dana Point is rich in a diverse range of activities to entertain everyone.
BEST PLACES TO EAT
Discover where to go for familyfriendly dining or a romantic dinner date for two!
NG 19 SHOPPI Orange County offers a variety of
fabulous shopping opportunities.
20 EVENTS Take your vacation to the next level
and head to any of these fun annual events that take place around Orange County.
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T H I N GS T O D O A R O U N D S A N C L E ME N T E
Owners Jim and Shelly take us on a virtual tour of fun (and affordable!) excursions around town!
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HI STORY OF ORANGE C OU N TY
Orange County boasts a rich and dramatic history. PHOTO SPOTS
Discover a multitude of must-stop photo ops as you explore all of the incredible lookouts Orange County has to offer. M ORE TO DO...
Find all the insider tips you need to enjoy your Southern California vacation.
Explore the Spanish Village by the Sea
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. 4
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SAN CLEMENTE COVE
@SanClementeCove
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STAY IN TOUCH
@GrandPacificResorts
Things to Do
AT S A N C L E M E N T E C O V E
You don’t have to leave the resort to have a ton of fun in San Clemente!
Shell Bracelet M
aking
Sand Dollar Painting
Margarita Night
PLAY AT THE RESORT Weekly Activities to Explore while Staying at San Clemente Cove
Enjoy a Blissful Seaside Haven at Capistrano SurfSide Inn. Minutes away from Dana Point Harbor, Doheny State Beach, and numerous family attractions, this seaside resort is the ideal location for your next beach vacation. You’ll enjoy a private balcony, spacious rooms, barbeque grills, and plenty of pool and beach toys for the kids when you stay at this oceanfront resort. 8
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CAPISTRANO SURFSIDE INN
@capistranosurfsideinn
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STAY IN TOUCH
@GrandPacificResorts
Things to Do
AT C A P I S T R A N O S U R F S I D E I N N
Take a day and have fun at Capistrano SurfSide Inn with these on-site or near-site activities!
e beach !
ge to th Cross the brid
Borrow a bike for a fun adventure!
Hang out in the ocean view hot tub
{ THINGS TO DO AROUND }
San Clemente Owners Jim and Shelly take us on a virtual tour of fun (and affordable!) excursions around town!
OLIVER’S
Experience It. Click Play !
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 12
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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
Experience It. Click Play !
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,
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!
FARMERS MARKET
Experience It. Click Play !
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 less than a 10 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. W H E R E C I T RU S M E E T S TH E S EA
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{ THINGS TO DO AROUND }
Dana Point
WHALE WATCHING ADVENTURE January is peak migration season for California Gray Whales, and you can experience a portion of their journey from the cold waters of Alaska to the warm waves of Baja California. Along with gray whales, you may also get to see blue whales, humpback whales, orcas, seals, sea lions, and dolphins.
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HIKE THROUGH DANA POINT PRESERVE Take a quick scenic adventure to the Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area and see the spectacular view of the expansive ocean. We highly recommend making this a sunset hike!
MONARCH BEACH CLUB GOLF COURSE Grab your clubs and say “fore!” What better way to spend time on your vacation than playing on a beautiful golf course with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean?
ZOOMARS PETTING ZOO Grab the kids and head to the petting zoo! Your kids can pet a variety of animals including llamas, goats, pigs, chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, an ostrich, and more. You can even get a tray of veggies to feed the animals.
OCEAN INSTITUTE Discover the ocean’s underwater world and California’s maritime history through interactive tours and activities that are fun for the whole family! Take a tour with an expert guide and get a behind the scenes view of learning centers, historic ships, and more. Or, head out to hike the tide pools and search for snails, small crabs, sea stars, and other animals that call the tide pools their home.
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Best Places to Eat AROUND ORANGE COUNTY
CLASSICS Enjoy these delicious restaurants that are a staple for any time you visit Orange County. The Fishermans Restaurant Bar Nick’s San Clemente BeachFire 180blu at The Ritz-Carlton Harbor Grill Restaurant Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern
FAMILY FRIENDLY Bring the whole family to the table at these tasty joints! Pizza Port San Clemente Stacks Pancake House The Shwack Beach Grill Ricardo’s Place
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DATE NIGHT ADVENTURES Because you deserve a night all to yourselves. Raya at The Ritz-Carlton Bourbon Steak Orange County Montage Lobby Lounge
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 allnatural 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. 18
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Shopping There are a variety of fabulous shopping outlets around Orange County, 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
Buy Hand
Missy’s on Del Mar
Dana Point Harbor
South Coast Plaza
The Shops at Mission Viejo
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Events
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.
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
FESTIVAL OF ARTS, SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL, AND ART-A-FAIR FESTIVAL
Visit before the end of August 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 20
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TALL SHIPS FESTIVAL At the Marine Institute: Sea Chantey Concert, maritime exhibits and demonstrations, Port Royal Privateers encampment, model boat building, wood carving, touch tank encounters, rope challenge course, crafts and food.
FESTIVAL OF WHALES March is the time of the year that the whales make their annual trip down south and the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce will celebrate with their Annual Street Fair, which is part of the Whale Festival with a weekend of fun, food, entertainment and an arts & craft show with over 100 vendors.
FIESTA STREET FESTIVAL Proceeds benefit San Clemente non-profit organizations, and is held the second Sunday of August. There are exhibits, contests, a salsa challenge, arts & crafts, and so much more!
DOHENY BLUES FESTIVAL The annual blues festival is the true kickoff to summer with a weekend filled with music, lots of vendors and an International Food Court that features foods from around the world. Be sure you come down to Doheny State Beach and celebrate the beginning of summer with Orange County's favorite and most anticipated annual summer festival!
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!
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History of
ORANGE COUNTY
A beautiful expanse of beaches, hiking trails, and the home to some of the most popular theme parks in the world, Orange County is home to a rich history filled with twists, turns, and of course oranges. 22
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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
GOLD RUSH
The first inhabitants of Orange County were here thousands of years ago, living off the land by hunting fish and gathering plants and seeds. When the first Spanish explorers arrived on the land, they renamed the two native groups the Juaneño and the Gabrielino.
The Gold Rush of 1849 brought thousands of new people to California in hopes of getting rich off the land. The local economy soared, and with a series of droughts, floods, diseases, and the cost of defending their land, most of the Rancheros were driven out. With these changes, communities began to form.
In 1769, Spain sent Catholic missionaries and soldiers to colonize California and develop missions throughout the region, which are still standing today.
TRADING COWHIDES AND CHANGING NAMES In 1784, a retired Spanish soldier was granted grazing rights between the Santa Ana and San Gabriel Rivers, and soon after that there were multiple families settling down and running cattle. By 1846, almost all of what is now Orange County was part of one rancho or another! This created a great trading opportunity, and countries like the United States sailed up the coast of California to trade manufactured goods for cowhides. The trading of cowhides is actually what brought Richard Henry Dana, Jr. to Capistrano Bay, leading to his book Two Years Before the Mast, published in 1840. It was in that book that Dana described the headlands and the bay as “the only romantic spot in California”, and residents were so pleased by his comments that they renamed the area Dana Point.
THE COUNTY COMES TO LIFE The Southern Pacific railroad held a monopoly in Southern California until 1885, when the Santa Fe railroad pushed their tracks over the Cajon Pass. This brought competition and a drop in ticket prices, which then created a real estate boom throughout the region. New towns and subdivisions were popping up everywhere, although we wouldn’t see Dana Point until 1920 and San Clemente until 1925. W H E R E C I T RU S M E E T S TH E S EA
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THE ORIGINS OF ORANGE From the 1890s to the 1950s, oranges dominated the agriculture space of Orange County. Navel oranges were the original orange breed of the county, but Valencias, with their longer harvesting period, became the dominant orange of the area. The orange market was quite limited until good railroad connections and refrigerated cars became available, and by 1936 Orange County was producing one-sixth of the nation’s Valencia crop. Most of the local farmers became a part of a packing house to better control and market the industry, and most local packing houses were members of the Southern California Fruit Exchange – better known by their trademark, Sunkist. Sunkist and other 24
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organizations were able to sponsor major advertising campaigns that helped transform oranges and orange juice from a holiday treat to an everyday item. Unfortunately, oranges are very susceptible to a number of insect pests and diseases. The worst citrus disease was the Quick Decline, a virus that infected local groves in the 1940s and killed off trees by the thousands. Citrus acreage reached its peak in 1948 with 67,000 acres of Valencia oranges alone - more than five million trees. As of 2004, there was less than 100 acres of citrus still being harvested in Orange County. The citrus industry of Orange County will soon be just a memory.
DANA POINT BEGINNINGS In the 1920s, Sidney H. Woodruff (known for the development of Hollywoodland and the Hollywood sign) and several other investors purchased a large plot of land in the area and made plans to transform it into a resort town that combined the romance of Old California with modern amenities. They looked to design it with a Spanish influence, with wide roads and white adobe houses with red-tiled roofs in what became known as Lantern Village.
land with the intention of developing it, but also failed due to the Great Depression. Doheny ended up donating his 40 acres of beachfront property to the state of California, which later turned into Doheny State Beach, California’s first state beach.
The stock market crash of 1929 ended the development of this area. Edward Doheny, an oil tycoon, also had purchased a large plot of
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THE START OF SAN CLEMENTE
Ole Hanson
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.”
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 an average price of $300/lot.
With its idyllic weather, pristine beaches, and fertile soil, San Clemente embodied Hanson’s vision of a Mediterraneanstyle 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
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.
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WHERE WE ARE TODAY Dana Point Harbor was officially dedicated on July 31st of 1971, but it wasn’t until January 1 of 1989 that the city of Dana Point was officially incorporated. Today, the Harbor provides slips and mooring for over 2,500 boats along with more than 50 specialty shops and restaurants. San Clemente recently celebrated their 90th anniversary as a city, and is home to a variety of exciting events, a fresh farmers market, and uniquely quaint shops that you can’t find anywhere else in the country.
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Photo Spots There are so many places around Orange County to take photos and make great memories that your family can share and cherish for a lifetime. Here are just a few of our favorite picturesque destinations: • Pines Park • San Clemente Pier • Casa Romantica • San Clemente Beach Trail • Mission San Juan Capistrano • Calafia State Beach • Sea Summit Trail • Water Tank Trail • St. Francis by the Sea • Victoria Tower, aka “Pirate Tower” • Top of the World (Alta Laguna Park) • Montage Laguna Beach • Heisler Park Gazebo • Crescent Bay Point Park
HOW TO TAKE THE BEST SELFIES WITH YOUR IPHONE Make sure to get the best angles. For some quick tips on taking the best photos check out this video of Jim and Shelly! 28
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MORE TO DO... Find all the insider tips you need to enjoy your Southern California vacation. The grown-up kid’s guide to SoCal theme parks
Top things to do near San Clemente Pier
Four easy ways to be kind to our ocean
Top five historical experiences in Orange County
Tips for having the perfect beach day
#MYGRANDMEMORIES From sunshine and surfing to shopping and eating, share your vacation photos with Grand Pacific Resorts for a chance to be featured! Simply use #MyGrandMemories on Facebook or Instagram, or upload photos at:
GRANDPACIFICRESORTS.COM/MYGRANDMEMORIES
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