Hi, I’m Joseph Zender and I welcome you to join us as we explore the southern end of Orange County and visit the charming seaside cities of San Clemente and Dana Point.

We’re starting our tour by strolling the idyllic grounds of the legendary Casa Romantica.

Built by former Seattle mayor and San Clemente founder Ole Hanson as his personal residence, this iconic landmark is now known as La Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens. The historic Spanish Colonial Revival home was completed in 1927 and offers sweeping views of the stunning Southern California coast.

Located in Casa Romantica’s Richard and Donna O’Neill Native Garden, the bronze and acrylic sculpture called “The Beauty of the Butterfly” was created by contemporary artist Matthew Placzek, whose art forms are both meticulous and free-flowing in design.

While the home and permanent exhibits are usually open for self-guided and docent-led tours, due to current state and local restrictions, only the 2.5 acres of gardens and outdoor areas were open during our visit.

As we walked through the garden we were rewarded with remarkable views around every beautiful bend of the winding pathway. From the Main Courtyard to the Ocean Terrace, Amphitheater, and beyond, our journey finally came to an end and we embarked on a brief ride up the coast to Dana Point.

The Harbor House Café in Dana Point is open 24/7 and has been serving up delicious traditional American fare since 1939. Which means the restaurant predates many of the classic films that are featured on its walls.

We stopped by for an early lunch and were rewarded with delicious food and an eclectic interior. Although indoor dining was available during our visit, we encourage you to check ahead before you dine for seating availability.

After our bite to eat, we were off to Dana Point’s postcard-perfect harbor, where we soaked up the incredible views before heading up the cliffside for a higher vantage point.

When you visit be sure to explore the Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area. The Interpretive Center and portions of the trail were closed at the time of this recording, but many great sections of the trail were still open.

Right below the cliffs that overlook the harbor sits the Ocean Institute, an educational organization that delivers ocean science and maritime history programs for the community. Since the giftshop happened to be open, we stopped by for a look. But the real reason for our visit was to explore the rocky beach located behind the institute and admire the stunning vistas that greet you beyond the break wall.

Although our time was limited today, when you come to Dana Point and are in this area during low tide, we recommend the hike to the Pirate’s Cave, which is just a little over a mile round trip along the beach.

In search of more delicious Dana Point cuisine, we strolled along the walkways of the harbor village where shops, bars, and restaurants were all full on this summer day.

Making our move for a table at Harpoon Henry’s we discovered there was an hour-long wait for outdoor seating, so we put our name on the list, and started exploring.

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Our next stop was Dana Point’s Blufftop trail, which offers unparalleled views of the harbor, ocean, and San Clemente in the distance. This short, but absolutely beautiful trail, was once the site of the Dana Point Inn, an unfinished hotel that halted construction at the beginning of the Great Depression.

Bye Dana Point—we’ll see you next time.

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