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Surfs Up in the OC

  • Writer: Tina Hill
    Tina Hill
  • 3 hours ago
  • 8 min read

Southern California is known for its gorgeous beaches, daily sunny weather, and laid-back vibe. The beaches along Malibu to San Diego feature breathtaking cliffs, excellent surfing, tide pools, and charmingl beach towns. There is an abundance of activities for visitors that include whale watching, snorkeling, seal watching, and deep-sea fishing just to name a few. With the popular destinations of Malibu, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna, San Clemente, and La Jolla, Southern California is a great vacation destination, offering an array of beaches that both nature and beach lovers alike will enjoy.



If you're looking for a nice home base in Southern California, I can highly recommend San Clemente in Orange County. I honestly hadn't done much research, as Laguna was always the frontrunner, but our good friends, Michelle & Joe, recommended San Clemente due to its fabulous beach and being more cost effective than Laguna. San Clemente is a 1-hour drive equally from San Diego and LAX, and there is also SNA which is a 30-minute drive from San Clemente (but from BOS, they only have connecting flights). Depending on where you're flying from, you definitely have options. #sanclemente #sanclementebeach #sanclementepier #lagunabeach #sandiegobeach #lajollacove #lajollaseals


San Clemente Beach


I found an exceptional vacation rental in San Clemente so that sealed the deal. The condo is steps from the beach and pier and a10 minute walk to the shops on upper Avenida Delmar where you'll find boutiques, coffee shops, and numerous dining options. Fabulous Mexican food is right at your fingertips. San Clemente also features an artisan market one Saturday a month (that we caught) and a weekly farmer's market (which is typical for the different beach towns in Orange County). #avenidadelmar


An artist that immediately caught our eye at the artisan market with his incredible photography is Larry Beard. He's been featured in National Geographic and is a San Clemente resident. His prices vary, but the larger pieces I was interested in were in the $5k range. Almost every room in our condo featured prints by him. Larry Beard - Ocean Fine Art | Waves Collection #larrybeardsanclemente #larrybeardphotography #solagave #solagaverestaurant



One of the most important factors in my trip planning is location, and I cannot say enough about the vacation condo we rented. It is an extraordinary property. You can find the VRBO listing here: Bigger Fish - Luxury Condo • Ocean Views • Walk to Pier • AC • Parking - San Clemente | Vrbo. The owners have two listings: Bigger Fish (our rental) and Big Fish. The condo is immaculate, spacious with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, and has a walk out deck with doors that open fully to views of the Pacific Ocean. The condo's location is excellent. We went on daily walks to the beach and enjoyed nitely sunsets from our deck.


After a busy first day of travel, unpacking, and relaxing on the deck (haha), we ended our day with dinner at Sol Agave Restaurant on Avenida Delmar. It absolutely had to be Mexican for our first nite! Sol Agave | Mexican Restaurant in CA - Sol Agave - Mexican Restaurant in CA


Dinner at Sol Agave


Bigger Fish Walkout Deck to Oceanfront Views


San Clemente Pier


Day 2:

Today was a chill day spent on the San Clemente beach. Even tho this is a surfing hot spot, it's an uncrowded beach that is low key. I loved that quality. Even better, you'll find just a few shops across the street from the beach...a coffee shop, general store, and pizza place. We walked the Pier, where children eating ice cream and people fishing were plentiful. The Pier also has an oceanfront restaurant called Fisherman's. We enjoyed drinks there while taking in ocean views, and Fisherman's Restaurant was packed. Our afternoon appetizers were delicious. #fishermanssanclemente #fishermansrestaurant


My daughter made dinner reservations well in advance at Truly Pizza. This standout restaurant is #4 on the 50 Top Pizza USA 2026 List, and it's in the top five pizzerias nationwide. It is ranked #1 in California. Yup, and I was there! Our party of 6 ordered 4 different pizzas, and they were all delicious. The Mamma Mia was my personal fav. This is a must visit for your dinner list. https://trulypizza.com/


Truly Pizza in Dana Point


Dinner Under the Lemon Trees at Truly Pizza


Day 3:

I got lucky and scored discounted ferry tickets on Groupon for Catalina Island. Tickets will normally run $100 pp roundtrip. For 6 adults, I got a nice savings at almost 50% off for the Newport Beach ferry to Avalon. I recommend doing this in advance. I will always advocate to do as much as possible earlier than later. Catalina Express | Ferry to Catalina Island



Self Guided Tour of Catalina Island in Golf Carts


Catalina Island, or as my family likes to say, 'It's the f**kin Catalina Wine Mixer!!' was a cool day. The boat ride is a seamless 1h 30min, and the island has a scenic harbor with a picturesque seaside charm. There are shops and boutiques, but it's all small scale. The first thing we did was rent 2 golf carts for a self-guided tour of the island (highly recommend) and hit all the marked landmarks on the map. The town center is a really nice vibe...kind of like a west coast Edgartown. We had lunch on the water at Bluewater Grill, and I had the BEST cilantro rice. Yes, the fish was great, but this rice was amazing. I am still thinking about it, https://www.bluewatergrill.com/. A few in our group snorkeled at Casino Point. Snorkel and diving gear is available to rent on site. There were a lot of snorkelers & divers in the water, as there are giant kelp and beautiful fish here. Fiona & Meg took great pics. The island offers more excursions if you have the time, Eco Tours & Ziplining for example. We took the 4:30p ferry, which was the perfect time to get a nice taste of the island. #casinopoint #bluewatergrillrestaurant #bluewatergrill #garibaldifish


Lunch at Bluewater Grill


Casino Point - The Girls in the Water Snorkeling and Taking Great Photos


These are photos taken while snorkeling. No Alterations or Filters have been used.

Catalina's Signature Fish are the Vibrant Orange Garibaldis


Day 4:

Today was a sleep in day. Catalina was a long day and knocked us out! Later this afternoon we were headed to San Diego to See Noah Kahan at Petco Park. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Yup, super fan here. It was a great family nite, and Noah did not disappoint. I really consider him to be a great talent. Driving to San Diego from San Clemente was straight forward and concert parking was everywhere. Leaving the stadium vicinity...not so fun. Arguably, it felt a bit unorganized, with limited police or stadium staff visible. #noahkahansandiego #noahkahanmusic



Day 5:

Hello Laguna! We spent the day in Laguna, relaxing on the beach and walking through the town center. Laguna is another gorgeous, laid back scenic beach town in Southern Cali. It is walkable with shops, cafes, beautiful art galleries, and beaches all within reach. We spent our day at Treasure Island beach and got lucky with parking. Laguna is much busier than San Clemente. There are more cars and foot traffic. I imagine parking can be challenging on weekends. If you're looking for a quieter vibe, San Clemente is the perfect choice. If you prefer something livelier and busier, Laguna is the place to go. We had lunch at The Taco Stand, another popular CA hot spot and dessert at Paradiso Gelato. I promise you this gelato is as good as any you'll find in Italy. **This is a must

https://www.letstaco.com/ - a must when in Southern California


Treasure Island Beach, Laguna


The Taco Stand


After a fun and relaxing beach day, we ended the day with a home cooked meal. I found the following recipe on Instagram, Ereka Vetrini @erekav and it's quickly become a household favorite. #chiocciolepasta #lemonartichokepasta


Lemon, Cannellini & Artichoke pasta



Dressing:

  • 1/4 C extra virgin olive oil

  • 1/4 C oil from the artichokes

  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard

  • Juice and zest from 1 lemon *(I used 2 lemons)

  • 1/3 C grated Parmigiano Reggiano

  • 3/4 tsp kosher salt


Salad Ingredients:

  • Grilled artichokes, cut in quarters *(I buy the bigger jar of marinated artichokes)

  • 2 cans cannellini beans drained

  • 3 tbsp Chives **(I did not add)

  • 3 tbsp dill or tarragon **(I did not add)

  • 1/3 C toasted pignoli nuts

  • 1/2 pound of organic pasta cooked **(I LOVE chiocciole pasta)

  • 8 oz of arugula or spinach **(I don't measure and add a ton of arugula)

  • Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano for topping


Instructions

Add all of the dressing ingredients to a large serving bowl and mix well. Add all of the salad ingredients to the bowl and toss before serving. Top with shaved parm.

**I added 3 cooked chicken breasts cut in small pieces for additional protein


Day 6:

The San Diego Zoo is a world-renowned destination and is often ranked #1 on many lists. With a strong focus on sustainability, conservation, and open air habitats, it offers an experience that is both engaging and immersive. Throughout the zoo you'll also notice veterinary buildings, which reflect the importance they place on animal care. Their staff scientists are making important advances in protecting biodiversity through animal behavior research, cryopreservation and verterinary medicine. #sandiegozoo #bestzoo


Spanning about 100 acres, the zoo features beautifully landscaped grounds filled with a diverse collection of animals and botanicals from around the world. With more than 12,000 animals and over 700,000 plants, it's also home to the largest koala colony outside of Australia. During our visit, we saw koalas, pandas, elephants, bonobos, penquins, and so many more animals living in naturalistic spaces. Many exhibits also had staff members available to answer questions. It was not only a fun day but also an educational one.


Playful Bonobo

We ended our busy zoo day with dinner reservations on upper Avenida Delmar at South of Nicks. This lively modern restaurant serves Mexican cuisine in a colorful and welcoming atmosphere. The service was quick, staff was friendly, and the entrees we ordered were excellent. Reservations are recommended. **filet mignon tacos were a favorite!


Sunset and Ocean Views from our Deck


Day 7:

There is nothing better than a chill day. Dave, Meg, and Colby chartered a boat to go fishing, while Fiona and I stayed in and worked...relaxed...walked on the beach...shopped a bit...and enjoyed our gorgeous deck. It was our last day, and it was absolutely perfect. The fishing crew came home with enough yellow tail and bonito to serve for dinner. Fiona and Steve invited a few friends over for a BBQ and stuning sunset. We grilled the bonito, made a killer yellow tail ceviche with wonderful sides dishes, and had meaningful conversations. Our evening was absolutely perfect. I really look forward to visiting San Clemente again.




Yellow Tail Ceviche - grabbed this recipe online - Delish!! #yellowtailceviche


Ingredients

  • 12 oz sushi-grade yellowtail, cut into small cubes

  • 1/2 to 1 cup fresh lime juice

  • 1/2 cup diced red onion

  • 1 diced jalapeño or serrano pepper

  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

  • 1 diced mango (optional, for sweetness)

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Avocado slices and tortilla chips for serving


Instructions

  1. Prep the fish: Cut the yellowtail into uniform 1-centimeter cubes. Place them in a glass or non-reactive bowl.

  2. Cure in citrus: Pour the fresh lime juice over the fish until mostly or completely submerged.

  3. Chill: Cover and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes (or up to an hour depending on how "cooked" or opaque you prefer the fish). Yellowtail is delicate and turns rubbery if left too long. (I let it sit for an hour in the fridge)

  4. Drain and mix: Drain out about half of the excess lime juice. Gently fold in the red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and mango.


Day 8:



**If you would like my expertise in planning your next vacation, please contact me at thill2@aaanortheast.com or call me at 978-208-3196. Best, Tina - AAA Northeast Travel Advisor, Newburyport, MA




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