Discovering culture & history in San Juan Capistrano
So-Cal is known for its gorgeous beaches, mountains, and proximity to a variety of theme parks, making it a hot destination for family travel. Even as a San Diego native, there’s still so much I have yet to explore, and I love being able to take the kids on unique experiences to discover more of what So-Cal has to offer.
This weekend we escaped to San Juan Capistrano in Orange County. It’s about an hour from San Diego and a historical landmark that is worth discovering.
San Juan Capistrano is home to so much history and culture, making it a great destination to learn about the early Spanish era of the region.
San Juan Capistrano gives off a small-town while playing homage to its early days by playing tribute to Spanish architecture everywhere you go. We walked into town and discovered the most charming movie theatre, several wine/tap rooms, and restaurants.
Where to stay
Inn at the Mission is right across the street from Mission San Juan Capistrano. The boutique hotel lights up with twinkle lights at night and is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever stayed. The Spanish architecture and design make you feel like you’ve transported out of California.
Southern California weather is warm almost year-round and October is one of the hottest months of the year. After walking around the town, we spent a few hours at the pool and jacuzzi.
The boutique hotel is made up of hacienda style rooms and has views of the ruins of the Great Stone Church. The Spanish stairways throughout the hotel make amazing photo opps before dining at Ysidora, A Spanish-style restaurant on property, that I highly recommend.
The hotel also has games throughout the property, making it a great option for families. We took the kids to play ping pong, connect 4 and corn hole after dinner before wrapping up our stay at the Mission.
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano is a historic landmark and museum, and the Birthplace of Orange County. It was founded more than two hundred years ago and features a chapel still standing. It’s a monument to California’s multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage.
I remember visiting Mission San Juan Capistrano as a kid and learning about the first settlements of California. California schools have a 4th grade Mission project and since Arianna will be doing one next year, we spent an entire morning discovering the ancient ruins and mission. Our stay at Inn at the Mission provided us with 2 free admission tickets to the Mission, which cut our cost at half.
Kids visiting the Mission are given a scavenger hunt sheet, which the kids loved doing. They also provide free audio tours for everyone who visits, which makes a great way to learn about each room and location, without needing a personal guide.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is a must visit location if you are visiting the area. Remember to come prepared with sunblock and your camera, as you are guaranteed to capture a lot of photos during your trip.
Nearby
You can easily explore San Juan Capistrano in a day or two. If you are planning a So-Cal trip, you can add several other nearby destinations to extend out your trip.
San Clemente- 10 minutes south
Carlsbad- 30 minutes south
San Diego- 1 hour south
Anaheim- 30 minutes north
Santa Barbara- 2 hours north
Lake Arrowhead- 1.5 hours East
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