San Clemente: America's Favorite Beach Town

San Clemente was founded in 1925 by Ole Hanson. This visionary man dreamed of building a Spanish village by the sea with "hundreds of white-walled homes bonneted with red tile, with trees, shrubs, hedges of hibiscus, palms and geraniums lining the drives…and a beach enlivened by people getting a healthy joy out of their life." The realization of Ole's vision continues to draw visitors and residents to the little village voted America's Favorite Beach Town.

San Clemente has it all. Ocean, coastal canyon, dramatic hillsides, a wealth of recreational opportunities, a near-perfect climate with an average of 342 sunlit days each year and some of the nicest neighbors you could hope for.

The centerpiece of San Clemente is Avenita Del Mar, the palm-lined main street filled with inviting outdoor cafes, quaint antique shops, charming boutiques and art galleries. From craft fairs to farmers markets to people watching, there's always something to see or do in the heart of downtown San Clemente.

No perfect beach town is complete without a pier and San Clemente's is legendary. Built in 1928, the pier and the surrounding cafes and shops continue to lure both fishermen, sightseers and locals. This is also the staging area for many of San Clemente's beloved annual events including the Ocean Festival ("the greatest show on surf") and the fiercely competitive clam chowder cook-off.

Like all good beach towns, San Clemente enjoys a party and when you live here, you'll never lack for fun, family-oriented community events like the July 4th Fireworks Display, the Fall Carnival and the Spirit of Christmas Festival.