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A Classic Summer Getaway in San Clemente, California

A Classic Summer Getaway in San Clemente, California
 

Start planning a classic summer SoCal getaway in San Clemente, California by booking a rental home with Vacasa Thank you Vacasa for sponsoring this post. Find your Vacasa home for the Summer today!

It’s officially summer and we’re looking forward to spending the longer days doing what we love most – hanging out at the beach, playing in the sand, and catching a few waves. Even though we’re only a few minutes from the water’s edge at home in Newport Beach, we love taking little trips an hour or two up and down the coast to get in vacation mode. Whenever we’re traveling, we spend full days exploring a new area, and it’s fun to be able to get into that mindset in a place we live. 

San Clemente is the perfect spot for a SoCal summer getaway. It’s located in the southern part of Orange County, right before you hit San Diego. San Clemente has a laidback beach town vibe with some of the best beaches in the state, especially if you want to surf! There are plenty of beautiful vacation homes within walking distance of the beach, so book a place to stay, load up the beach gear, and spend your week basking in the So Cal sun.  

San Onofre State Beach near San Clemente, California
Surfboards along San Onofre State Beach

What to look for in a vacation rental

When trying to plan a fun, family summer trip, there are a few things we like to keep in mind when booking a rental home. 

1 Location – Location pretty much trumps everything else for us, especially when we’re planning a beach trip. We want to be close to the water so we’re spending as little time traveling to and from, and it’s easy to hop back over to our vacation home for lunch or just to grab some more beach gear. We love San Clemente because it’s close to several amazing beaches, plus there is a fun downtown area lined with shops and restaurants.

2 Space – We love having a little more space to stretch out, play games, and just enjoy each other’s company without feeling like we’re crawling over each other. Plus, everyone sleeps better when we’re not all in the same room. 

3 Book with Vacasa, a professional vacation home management service – We’ve traveled all over and had a different experience with almost every rental home we’ve booked. Using Vacasa takes the guesswork and uncertainty out of booking a rental home because they provide accurate photos, 3D virtual tours, and have a full staff of housekeepers and property managers to provide a seamless and professional experience from start to finish. Vacasa manages over 13,000 vacation homes around the world, so no matter what Vacasa home you choose, you’ll have the same team to make sure the home meets the highest standards so you and your family can just relax and enjoy your trip. 

Browse rentals, book confidently, and always get the guaranteed best price on Vacasa.com. And, if you or someone you know owns a vacation rental, consider having Vacasa professionally manage your home.

4 A fully stocked kitchen – While renting a full home might cost more than a hotel room, being able to cook in a kitchen fully stocked with pots, pans and utensils usually makes up the difference, especially if we’re planning a trip for more than a few days. For us, being able to eat at home is usually more relaxing too with a toddler in tow. 

5 Easy check-in – This is another perk of booking a vacation home managed by Vacasa since they use smart locks and lock boxes. That means you don’t have to worry about coordinated a time to meet with someone or worry about a communication issue. Once you arrive at your rental, you’ll be able to get right in! Learn more on Vacasa.com about all of the perks of renting a Vacasa vacation home.

Vacasa luggage tag and travel gear
Vacasa travel gear

Vacasa travel gear

Vacation Rentals in San Clemente 

Vacasa has a lot of great options if you’re looking for a vacation rental in San Clemente. Here are some of our favorites. 

Casa Granada Unit B |  San Clemente, CA | Sleeps 6 

This light, bright two-bedroom vacation rental is just a few blocks from the beach and the San Clemente Pier. Plus, you’ll be right next to Avenida Del Mar, a cute street that’s lined with popular restaurants and shops. This home is fully stocked with all your vacation necessities, including dishes and cookware in the kitchen, board games for a family night of fun, and extra towels for the beach. 

Vacasa Rental Home in San Clemente, California

San Clemente – Monterey C San Clemente, CA | Sleeps 4 

This vacation home is close enough to the beach to catch the ocean breeze, whether you’re dining al fresco on the patio or cozied up on the couch. If you’re planning a trip with a small family or a few friends this one-bedroom condo is a great fit. If you have a bigger crew, there are four neighboring condos that are also available for rent from Vacasa.

Vacasa Rental Home in San Clemente, California

San Clemente – North Beach D | San Clemente, CA | Sleeps 10 

Enjoy an ocean view with this spacious four-bedroom home that includes a large rooftop patio perfect for watching the sunset. The home includes a fireplace, wet bar, and a kids’ playroom. When you’re ready to head to the beach, North Beach is only a few minutes’ walk away. 

Vacasa Rental Home in San Clemente, California

Things to do in San Clemente 

Once you have your Vacasa vacation home booked, it’s time to start planning the rest of your trip. According to Vacasa’s summer travel trends report, 70% of travelers in the U.S. this year are heading to a beach location like San Clemente.

Longboarders at San Onofre

Here is a list of fun things to do in San Clemente! 

Walk the San Clemente Pier – This classic wooden pier juts almost 1300 feet out over the Pacific Ocean. Hang out here for sunset, then walk back to Pier Bowl, the downtown shops and restaurants around the pier. 

Go Shopping along Avenida del Mar  San Clemente is nicknamed the Spanish Village by the Sea for the beautiful Spanish-inspired architecture in its downtown. Walk the streets to admire the buildings, pop into the boutique shops or grab dinner at The Fishermans Restaurant & Bar or Nick’s San Clemente. 

T-Street Beach – All of San Clemente’s beaches offer something a little different, so my recommendation is to visit as many as you can! T-Street Beach is just south of the pier, popular for surfing and bodyboarding. 

Trestles – The Trestles surfing area is broken up into a few different spots, and Lower Trestles is considered of the best surf spots in California (and maybe even the world) for its clean, consistent waves.  

San Onofre State Beach – San Onofre feels like the classic So Cal summer scene, with its long, slow rolling waves perfect for longboards, old VW buses, and Westfalias filling the dusty dirt parking lot, and the sand dotted with beach blankets and colorful umbrellas. Parking is $15, or included with a California Explorer Pass.

Classic VW Bus at San Onofre

Surfboards on the beach at San Onofre


Like this Post? Pin for Later!Tips for Planning a Trip to San Clemente, California | #sanclemente #california

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