The hidden gem in coastal CA that's worth a trip this summer

It’s been a beautiful week so far here in South OC — the calm before July 4th celebrations.

This weeks lineup:

• A lesser-known laid back beach town that is an ideal summer roadtrip destination

• Upcoming summer concerts to jam out to

• Kid-approved movies in the park 

• A delicious way you can help save the bees this summer (and support a local business)

It’s summertime!

SUMMER ROADTRIP

Summer means travel, which means crowds. And as us locals know, many of those crowds come right here to south coastal OC.

It can get pretty busy around here, and sometimes it’s nice to just get away, isn’t it?

Luckily for us, there are so many easy, family friendly and affordable destinations that are driving distance from us.

One of those places is Cayucos, a 6 hour drive from Dana Point / San Clemente. Cayucos is not really on the radar for most people, and that’s a good thing. It’s easy to get around and laid back, yet Cayucos and the surrounding towns of Cambria, Los Osos, San Simeon and San Luis Obispo have plenty to offer, making it a worthwhile trip this summer.

→ Why go: Enjoy a mix of history, breathtaking coastal views and delicious food in the laid-back, small-town feel of Cayucos and surrounding towns.

→ Activities: Book a trip to the opulent Hearst Castle in San Simeon. With a guided tour, learn about the impressive history and architecture, take-in stunning sea views and the lavish lifestyle from the Hearst family. Take a trip to Cayucos State Beach for swimming, surfing and even night fishing on the pier. Go hiking in one of California’s largest state parks: Montaña de Oro. Take in some epic coastal views on a hike or mountain biking, and explore the tide pools Spooner’s Cove.

→ Where to eat: Start your day at The Hidden Kitchen in Cayucos for delicious smoothies (we loved the Baywood Berry), and one of their famous Blue Corn Waffles. Stop for lunch along the way to Montaña de Oro at High Street Deli in adorable Los Osos. High Street is a local favorite, offering an array of sandwiches with vegetarian and vegan option, and a a cute patio. Make the 20 minute drive to San Luis Obispo (SLO) for a night out. Checkout Bear & The Wren for wood-fired pizza, serving both Neopolitan and Detroit-style pizzas for dinner with an awesome patio, followed by a walk down Higuera Street to ice cream at McConnell’s; a Central Coast institution.

→ Where to stay: The Pacific Motel in Cayucos is a newly renovated motel that is quite adorable. It’s modern, yet beachy, with a bar, fire pits and free bikes. Cambria and San Simeon are just a short drive away, as well as nearby San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. And you don’t have to find a sitter for Fido — The Pacific Motel is dog friendly (for dogs under 50 lbs).

Stay tuned for more summer road trip ideas in upcoming newsletters.

Get out there and enjoy!

JAM OUT

It’s time to rock out this summer.

Here’s a full playlist of local live music you can enjoy this weekend, across San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano:

Friday June 20th

• Coffee Concerts with High Tide @ Casa Romantica - Enjoy some favorite local coffee from San Clemente’s High Tide, and enjoy performances by local musicians in one of the prettiest settings in the area. 10am-11am, $8/person, members free. Info here.

• June Jams @ Prado Park & Prado Square in Dana Point - Prado Square’s June Jams series kicks off on Friday at 4:30pm with Wes Chiller, hailing from right here in Capo Beach. Support a favorite local artist and his new album, Shin High Noon, to start your weekend. And that’s not all - you can catch artist Scott Altman on Saturday 6/21 from 4:30pm - 6:30pm and Kim Johnson on 6/22 from 9:30am - 11:30am. Full lineup here 

• Eve 6 @ The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano - Remember late 90’s hits like “Inside Out” and “Here’s to the Night?” Well you can rock out to those and more from pop-runk trio Eve 6 at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano this Friday. Doors open at 6:00pm, show starts at 8:00pm. $48.69 / person, info and tickets here.

WEEKLY BULLETIN

June Jams @ Prado Square in Dana Point

Live music is back at Prado Park & Prado Square. Kicking off this Friday June 20th at 4:30pm, you can catch some awesome local artists pre-dinner or mid-shopping. Check out the full June lineup here, and enjoy the beats as you head into your weekend.

Starting Friday June 20th @ 4:30pm at Prado Park in Dana Point

Doheny Surf & Art Festival @ Doheny State Beach in Dana Point

Celebrate historic surf culture this weekend at none other than Doheny State Beach. This free two day event is a great way to support local artists and ocean/surf related vendors, while enjoying beautiful Doheny beach with the fam. What better way to spend the weekend? Deets here.

June 21st - 22nd 9am-5pm Doheny State Beach in Dana Point

Summer Solstice Block Party @ Los Molinos in San Clemente

Motel minimarket is back! But this time at Los Molinos in San Clemente. Come out to celebrate summer solstice on Saturday with a party at Los Molinos, with partners Casa Romantica and The Ecology Center. With over 40 vendors, interactive art, live music, delicious drinks (ie speciality strawberry margarita seltzers) and a flower crown station, Saturday promises to be a jam packed afternoon of fun to kick off summer. Deets here.

June 21st 1pm - 6pm @ Los Molinos in San Clemente

THE LINEUP

June 19th

• Sunset yoga @ El Caminante Hotel: Start your evening with an upbeat yoga session by iHeartYoga overlooking the ocean at the picturesque El Caminante Hotel in Capo Beach. A live DJ will keep the jams coming as you finish your class and enjoy happy hour with cocktails and mocktails. Check-in at 5:45pm, $30 for yoga + cocktails. Info here, reserve your spot today.

• Cocktail hour @ Bar Jane in San Clemente: If you haven’t tried Bar Jane on Del Mar yet in San Clemente, we highly recommend you do. Perfect for a date night or gals night out, with $12 cocktails and 20% off food from 5pm-6pm.

June 20th

• Free movies in Sea Terrace Park in Dana Point: enjoy a movie under the stars with the whole fam. On Friday, check out kid favorite Sing, with food kicking off at 6:30pm and the movie starting around 8:00pm.  

• Live music: Coffee concerts @ Casa Romantica (10am), June Jams in Prado Square (4:30pm), Eve 6 @ the Coach House (8pm).

June 21st

• South Coast Farms Market pop-up: Shop for local, pesticide-free produce this Saturday @ High Tide Coffee in San Clemente from 7am - 12pm.

• San Clemente Running Club @ the park by the San Clemente Pier at 9am - meet for a fun 4 mile group run, followed by coffee on Del Mar.

• Dana Point Farmer’s Market @ La Plaza Park from 9am - 1pm. Local jewelry, fresh produce, clothing, candles and more.

• Summer Solstice Party @ Los Molinos: Celebrate the official start of summer with live music, interactive art, delicious drinks while supporting local vendors. 1-6pm at Los Molinos.

• Doheny Surf & Art Festival (June 21 & 22): Enjoy live music, food and local surf vendors at the iconic Doheny State Beach.

June 22nd

• San Clemente Farmer’s Market: Stop by SC’s farmers market from 9am - 1pm for fresh local produce, shop for gifts, and just enjoy the good vibes on a summery Sunday morning. 200th block of Avenida Del Mar.

• Foundation Pilates walking club: Join a fun, free group walk on Sunday and bring your partner, your baby, your dog - whomever! The group walks for about an hour in San Clemente, and all paces welcome. Reserve your spot here, and meet at 1pm at 1502 S El Camino Real.

WATER CONDITIONS

Surf forecast - Lower Trestles

Tides - San Clemente

TRESTLES PRO FINALS

If you missed the Trestles Pro finals last weekend, boy was it exciting. Finals day delivered powerful ~6-7 foot waves, making it extra awesome for aerial moves.

Bettylou Sakura Johnson (Hawaii) pulled ahead against Australia’s Molly Picklum to win her second Championship Tour victory of 2025. While this win moves Johnson up the rankings, Gabriela Ryan remains in the lead (although that lead just became a little tighter).

Meanwhile, Yago Dora (Brazil) took the title with a jaw-dropping showcase and defeated Kanoa Igarashi (Japan). It’s his first ever victory at Trestles, and third win on the CT this season.

Next, they head to Dora’s native Brazil in Rio de Janeiro for the Vivo Rio Pro from June 21st - June 29th. The Vivo Rio Pro will be the 9th event of the 11th on the 2025 Championship Tour.

SAVE THE BEES

It’s naturally sweet, citrusy, refreshing and supports a good cause.

The Bee’s Knees at Dana Point’s Station craft has Barr Hill Gin, honey and lemon, but the best part? Each purchase goes towards planting 10 sq ft of pollinator habitat.

Just visit Station Craft in Dana Point, snap a pic of your Bee’s Knees cocktail, tag @barrhillgin & @stationcraftdp, and voila - you’ve helped save the bees while enjoying a very delicious libation.

We’ll cheers to that.

Bzzzzzz 🐝

Thanks for reading & catch ya out there

— Hannah B