Jewel of Ortega guidebook
City/town information
Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA: Spanish mission in San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, California. Founded November 1, 1776, in colonial Las Californias by Spanish Catholic missionaries of the Franciscan Order.
https://www.missionsjc.com/
Downtown San Juan Capistrano: Wonderful restaurants including the Michelin star awarded Heritage BBQ. Take a walk around the historic Los Rios District, and enjoy the history of one of California's oldest towns. http://www.sanjuancapistrano.net/
62 locals recommend
San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA: Spanish mission in San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, California. Founded November 1, 1776, in colonial Las Californias by Spanish Catholic missionaries of the Franciscan Order.
https://www.missionsjc.com/
Downtown San Juan Capistrano: Wonderful restaurants including the Michelin star awarded Heritage BBQ. Take a walk around the historic Los Rios District, and enjoy the history of one of California's oldest towns. http://www.sanjuancapistrano.net/
Beaches:
Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA. Approx. 30 Mins. from the Jewel of Ortega.
Great local surf beach with paid parking, adjacent to Dana Point Harbor, with great local restaurants and bars.
Good waves for longboard surfing.
Surfboard and SUP rentals: Killer Dana Surf Shop https://www.kdsurfshop.com/rentals/
Baby Beach- Small beach located inside Dana Point Harbor and protected from waves. Perfect for small children.
Dana Point Harbor:
Several great restaurants and bars, great for a stroll, and amazing views.
https://danapointharbor.com/
Museums and Aquariums:
Ocean Institute Dana Point, CA: Interactive Aquarium with science and history education. Home of the historic 118-foot schooner, Spirit of Dana Point. Offering weekend Whale Watching and Sails.
https://oceaninstitute.org/
88 locals recommend
Dana Point
Beaches:
Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA. Approx. 30 Mins. from the Jewel of Ortega.
Great local surf beach with paid parking, adjacent to Dana Point Harbor, with great local restaurants and bars.
Good waves for longboard surfing.
Surfboard and SUP rentals: Killer Dana Surf Shop https://www.kdsurfshop.com/rentals/
Baby Beach- Small beach located inside Dana Point Harbor and protected from waves. Perfect for small children.
Dana Point Harbor:
Several great restaurants and bars, great for a stroll, and amazing views.
https://danapointharbor.com/
Museums and Aquariums:
Ocean Institute Dana Point, CA: Interactive Aquarium with science and history education. Home of the historic 118-foot schooner, Spirit of Dana Point. Offering weekend Whale Watching and Sails.
https://oceaninstitute.org/
Food scene
The slow-cooked meat method has its Texas roots in weekend parties and neighborhood get-togethers; all things that are hard to safely pull off right now. Thankfully there’s still the flavor of community found at Heritage Barbecue in Orange County, complete with the wafting scents of smoke and fat. The all-outdoor setup is currently open for pickup but closed for on-site dining and line-waiting, so order ahead for rainbow platters stacked high with proteins of all sorts. Make an afternoon out of the whole experience soon, if only to have a sense that celebration isn’t dead, it just looks a little different right now. —Farley Elliott
6 locals recommend
Heritage Barbecue
31721 Camino CapistranoThe slow-cooked meat method has its Texas roots in weekend parties and neighborhood get-togethers; all things that are hard to safely pull off right now. Thankfully there’s still the flavor of community found at Heritage Barbecue in Orange County, complete with the wafting scents of smoke and fat. The all-outdoor setup is currently open for pickup but closed for on-site dining and line-waiting, so order ahead for rainbow platters stacked high with proteins of all sorts. Make an afternoon out of the whole experience soon, if only to have a sense that celebration isn’t dead, it just looks a little different right now. —Farley Elliott
Sightseeing
Great local educational Non-Profit. Educational activities for the entire family. Whale Watching and Sailing Trips on board the Historic Spirit of Dana Point.
40 locals recommend
Ocean Institute
24200 Dana Point Harbor DrGreat local educational Non-Profit. Educational activities for the entire family. Whale Watching and Sailing Trips on board the Historic Spirit of Dana Point.
Mission San Juan Capistrano, historic landmark and museum, is the Birthplace of Orange County. It was founded more than two hundred years ago as the 7th of 21 missions statewide and features a chapel still standing where Saint Serra once celebrated Mass. Today, it is a monument to California’s multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. Originally built as a self sufficient community by Spanish Padres and Native Americans, the Mission was a center for agriculture, industry, education and religion. Famous for the Annual Return of the Swallows, Mission San Juan Capistrano is the “Jewel of the California Missions” and welcomes over 300,000 visitors each year.
Explore the History
167 locals recommend
Mission San Juan Capistrano
26801 Ortega HwyMission San Juan Capistrano, historic landmark and museum, is the Birthplace of Orange County. It was founded more than two hundred years ago as the 7th of 21 missions statewide and features a chapel still standing where Saint Serra once celebrated Mass. Today, it is a monument to California’s multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. Originally built as a self sufficient community by Spanish Padres and Native Americans, the Mission was a center for agriculture, industry, education and religion. Famous for the Annual Return of the Swallows, Mission San Juan Capistrano is the “Jewel of the California Missions” and welcomes over 300,000 visitors each year.
Explore the History
Known as the “Dolphin & Whale Capital of the World” Dana Point Harbor offers a variety of recreational amenities, boater facilities, dockside dining, and unique shopping experiences that cater to visitors, locals and boating enthusiasts. Activities abound both in and out of the water from watching migratory gray whales that frequent the coastline to enjoying the stunning sunsets and picturesque harbor views. Discover Dana Point Harbor and set sail on a historic and unforgettable seaside adventure.
167 locals recommend
Dana Point Harbor
Known as the “Dolphin & Whale Capital of the World” Dana Point Harbor offers a variety of recreational amenities, boater facilities, dockside dining, and unique shopping experiences that cater to visitors, locals and boating enthusiasts. Activities abound both in and out of the water from watching migratory gray whales that frequent the coastline to enjoying the stunning sunsets and picturesque harbor views. Discover Dana Point Harbor and set sail on a historic and unforgettable seaside adventure.