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Sunday 03/01/2009 Village Art Fair 9am; First Sunday of Every Month except January Avenida Del Mar (map) The Village Art Fair is put on by The Downtown Business Association. Stroll and shop Ave Del Mar where more than 60 vendors will have arts, crafts and other fabulous items. For more information, call (949)218-5378 or visit www.villagesanclemente.org Tuesday 03/03/2009 Mayor's Prayer Breakfast Tuesday, March 3, 2009; 7am Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) Sponsored by the San Clemente Kiwanis Club and the City of San Clemente. For ticket information call (949)498-9325. Saturday 03/14/2009 St. Patrick's Day Dinner Dance Saturday, March 14, 2009; 5pm-10pm Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) Irish is the theme. Tis’ the 42nd annual community St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance sponsored by the Exchange Club in partnership with the City of San Clemente to benefit local charities. Corned beef and cabbage with all the trimmings served from 5:00pm-8:00pm. Ticket donation a wee $15 per person includes a door prize raffle ticket. Green beer and a full service bar at extra cost. For ticket or event information, call (949)492-6138. Sunday 03/22/2009 Play More! Eat Better! Sunday, March 22 Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) FREE! Block Party/Fitness and Health Expo. Find out your B.M.I. Measurement (Body Mass Index) and come play with Fun On the Run! Sponsored and conducted by Mission Hospital and the City of San Clemente. For more information, call (949) 361-8264. Saturday 04/11/2009 Saturday, April 11, 2009; 10am-1pm San Gorgonio Park (2916 Via San Gorgonio) It's the great big egg event that you just don't want to miss: Oddly shaped activities, enormous entertainers, and a gathering of things to do that will leave you speechless! Egghunts, unlimited action, plus Little Bo Peep and her herds of sheep, a wandering Path of Random Facts, and the usual indulgences - like scrumptious food, face painters, strange animals, jugglers big and small and other astounding acts of fun! Venture to the park... we promise you a Springtacular you won't forget! Pancake breakfast provided by San Clemente Kiwanis and Key Club will be available for a nominal fee. For more information, call (949)361-8264. Egg Hunts Make sure to be on time! 11:00am - 3 Years & Under 11:30am - 4-6 Years 12:00pm - 7-9 Years 12:30pm - 10-12 Years Saturday 04/11/2009 Community Easter Brunch Saturday, April 11, 2009; 10:00am Ole Hanson Beach Club (105 W. Ave Pico) Sponsored by the Family Assistance Ministries, in partnership with the City of San Clemente. The brunch is open to needy individuals and families. If you are in need or know someone that is, stop by the Family Assistance Ministries at 929 Calle Negocio to pick up an invitation for this event. Walk-ups with no invitations also accepted. If you would like to volunteer for the event or would like to donate food, filled Easter Baskets and filled plastic eggs please call 492-8477. Friday 04/17/2009 Carnival to benefit La Pata/Vista Hermosa April 17th, 18th, and 19th at the future park site located at Ave. La Pata & Ave. Vista Hermosa For more information, call (949)276-8866. Volunteers Needed, call (949) 370-8842. Saturday 04/18/2009 Community GardenFest Saturday, April 18, 2009; 8am-4pm Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) San Clemente Garden Club (SCGC) is featuring an amazing “Community Gardenfest”. The "Gardenfest" is co-hosted by the SCGC and the City of San Clemente, featuring • Horticultural mini-symposiums, • A Master Gardener on site to answer your questions, • Short educational presentations for your kids, and • A garden flea market, just to mention a few. For more information, call (949)498-2335. Sunday 04/19/2009 Hershey Track & Field Event Sunday, April 19, 2009 San Clemente High School (700 Ave Pico) Open to boys and girls ages 5-14 years of age. Sponsored by the City of San Clemente Recreation Division and Hershey Foods. Registration check-in from 10:00am-12:00pm the day of the event. The event begins at 12:30pm. Registration: Registration is FREE. Pre-registration is highly recommended, as space is limited. Pre-registration deadline is April 16, 2009 at 5:00pm. Ages 9-14 years are eligible for advancement to State Finals. For further information call (949) 361-8264. Saturday 05/02/2009 Cinco De Mayo Saturday, May 2, 2009; 11am-7pm Max Berg Plaza Park (100 Calle Puente) Celebrate traditional Mexican festivities at the 18th Annual Cinco De Mayo Fiesta! The program boasts a whole day of live entertainment featuring Mariachis, Aztec Dancers, Ballet Folkloric, ballad singers, and live bands. Other activities include children’s games and crafts, authentic food and drink and art exhibit. If you are interested in volunteering, or operating a food, games, or craft booth, please contact the Recreation Division at 361-8264. Monday 05/25/2009 Memorial Day Observance May 25, 2009; 11:00am Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) The City of San Clemente will once again host a day to remember our fallen soldiers of war. All public and local organizations are invited to participate in the wreaths and floral presentation. To be part of that ceremony please contact Lori Fuentes, at (949) 361-8244. This program is co-sponsored by the SC South Coast Detachment, Marine Corps League, Orange County Sheriff Department, MOWW, and many civic organizations and volunteers. The event is free and open to the public. For more information please contact the City Recreation Division at (949) 361-8264. Saturday 06/06/2009 Dixieland Jazz By the Sea Festival Friday & Saturday, June 5-6, 2009 Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) Dixieland Jazz By the Sea Festival The San Clemente Rotary Club, in partnership with the City of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department, presents “Dixieland Jazz By The Sea Festival” for the 17th exciting year. This year’s event will be another blockbuster with 10 of the top jazz bands in the country. Friday Night pasta dinner/dance, 6pm-10pm; Friday tickets $40/each. Saturday music/dancing, 10:30am-10pm; Entire day of jazz. Saturday tickets $40/each. Flyers available at the Community Center. For additional information please call (949) 481-9551 or visit www.sanclementerotary.org. Thursday 06/11/2009 Beach Concert Series Thursday, June 11th; 6pm San Clemente Pier (map) San Clemente High School Jazz Band and the Shorecliff's Jazz Band The 10th Annual Beach Concert Series is “Bringing the Bands to the Sand!” Join the community to celebrate ten years of live music on the beach with the sunset as your backdrop and free seating in the sand while supporting music education and local artists in this ultimate concert venue! Student Concert: San Clemente High School Jazz Band directed by Tony Soto and Shorecliffs Jazz Band directed by Jeremy Chung, present the community’s sensational student musicians in this magnificent live performance of Jazz on the Beach! More to come... Thursdays, July 30th, August 13th, August 27th. For more information contact the Recreation Division at 361-8264. Sunday 06/14/2009 San Clemente Car Show Sunday, June 14, 2009; 10am-3pm Avenida Del Mar (map) The 14th Annual San Clemente Car Show is put on by the Downtown Business Association. Free admission and parking. Entertainment, food and over 300 cars on display. For more information, call 498-4538 or visit www.villagesanclemente.org. Sunday 06/21/2009 Antique Show Sunday, June 21, 2009; 9am-3pm Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) In partnership with the City of San Clemente, the San Clemente Woman’s Club presents the 10th annual Benefit Antique, Estate Jewelry Show and Sale with Appraisal Clinic. Admission Donation: $5.00 per person. Door Prize drawings will be held. For show information call (949)481-5357. For dealer information call (949)361-0069. Saturday 06/27/2009 Paint San Clemente June 20-27, 2009 Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) In partnership with the City of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department, the San Clemente Art Association’s 8th Annual Paint San Clemente runs June 20th – June 27th. This week long art extravaganza features the city’s Sixth Annual Plein Air Painting Competition as well as Gallery Exhibit, Quick Draw Competition, Collectors Gala and Outdoor Fine Art Show. Prominent Southern California artists compete for awards and cash prizes. Proceeds fund art programs in local schools. For event information contact the San Clemente Art Association at (949) 492-7175 or Pam Hill at (949) 369-0260. www.scartgallery.com. Saturday 07/04/2009 4th of July Fireworks Show Saturday, July 4, 2009 San Clemente Pier (map) Come and enjoy an evening of outstanding fireworks. This event is free and begins at dusk. Sunday 07/19/2009 San Clemente Ocean Festival Saturday & Sunday, July 18-19, 2009 San Clemente Pier (map) The San Clemente Ocean Festival is celebrating 33 years of “The Greatest Show on Surf!”. Come join the fun – Waterman & Waterwoman Competitions, Surf & Bodysurf Contests, Fishing Derbies, Woody Car Exhibit, Ocean Art Show, Children’s Pavilion and much, much more! Saturday, start your day off w/a delicious pancake breakfast, enjoy the activities and events of the day and as the sun sets join friends & family for a beach bbq & FREE concert. The fun continues on Sunday right up to the end w/the ever-popular Rubber Duck Race for the event’s finale! For more information please visit our website @ www.oceanfestival.org or call our voice mail @ 949-440-6141. Thursday 07/30/2009 Beach Concert Series Thursday, July 30th; 6pm San Clemente Pier (map) Band: Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers - Blues The 10th Annual Beach Concert Series is “Bringing the Bands to the Sand!” Join the community to celebrate ten years of live music on the beach with the sunset as your backdrop and free seating in the sand while supporting music education and local artists in this ultimate concert venue! Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers are the leading West Coast blues band. Their sound combines the styles of Jump blues, West Coast blues and Chicago blues. Known for their exciting and powerful live performances, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers are guaranteed to jump start the 10th annual series in the sand! More to come... Thursdays, August 13th, August 27th. For more information contact the Recreation Division at 361-8264. Sunday 08/09/2009 San Clemente Street Faire Sunday, August 9, 2009 Avenida Del Mar (map) Continuous entertainment on three stages, food booths, contests and games provided by non-profit organizations. No admission charge. For more information, call the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce at (949) 492-1131 or visit www.scchamber.com. Thursday 08/13/2009 Beach Concert Series Thursday, August 13th; 6pm San Clemente Pier (map) Band: HELP! - The California Beatles Band The 10th Annual Beach Concert Series is “Bringing the Bands to the Sand!” Join the community to celebrate ten years of live music on the beach with the sunset as your backdrop and free seating in the sand while supporting music education and local artists in this ultimate concert venue! HELP! brings a whole new meaning to “Beatles on the Beach”, Beatlemania style! This West Coast Beatles band returns by popular demand to present the nostalgic classic sounds presented by the players in black suits bringing fans to their feet, dancing in the sand to the classics! More to come... Thursday, August 27th. For more information contact the Recreation Division at 361-8264. Sunday 08/16/2009 Arts & Crafts Fair Saturday & Sunday, August 15-16, 2009 10am-5pm; Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) In partnership with the City of San Clemente, the San Clemente Art Association presents this annual event with over 100 exhibit booths of fine art paintings and hand crafts. Free to the public. For more information call (949) 388-6208. www.scartgallery.com. Thursday 08/27/2009 Beach Concert Series Thursday, August 13th; 6pm San Clemente Pier (map) band: Common Sense– Reggae The 10th Annual Beach Concert Series is “Bringing the Bands to the Sand!” Join the community to celebrate ten years of live music on the beach with the sunset as your backdrop and free seating in the sand while supporting music education and local artists in this ultimate concert venue! With a SoCal background and a small beach town attitude, Common Sense mixes reggae-rock influences, melding the two sounds together to create their own unique style. Also back by popular demand, Common Sense is guaranteed to close the concert series with a blast! For more information contact the Recreation Division at 361-8264. Sunday 09/20/2009 SC Open Skate & Surf Contest - All Ages 9th Annual Skate Contest Saturday, September 19, 2009 Ralphs Skate Court (241 Ave. La Pata) 2nd Annual Surf Contest Sunday, September 20, 2009 San Clemente Pier (map) Saturday 09/26/2009 CHARACTER COUNTS! Jamboree Saturday, September 26th, 2009; 11am-3pm Vista Del Mar Middle School (1130 Avenida Talega) This year's theme: Wild West! This great family event recognizes the CHARACTER COUNTS! Program, which strengthens the character of today’s youth through Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. For more information call Leslie Mowers, CHARACTER COUNTS! Coordinator at (949)361-8368, or visit www.charactercounts.org. Event Flyer Sunday 10/04/2009 Hunger Walk Sunday, October 4, 2009; 1pm Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) Benefit 5K walk to raise funds for local families in need. For more information contact Family Assistance Ministries at 492-8477. Saturday 10/10/2009 Fall Plant Sale Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 8:00am-4:00pm Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) Presented by the San Clemente Garden Club in partnership with the City of San Clemente. Plants donated by SCGC members and local nurseries. For more information, visit www.sanclementegardenclub.com. Sunday 10/11/2009 Seafest Sunday, October 11, 2009; 10am-3pm San Clemente Pier (map) The Seafest features a Chowder Cook-off with citizens, restaurants, and businesses competing for the best chowder. The event also includes: Arts & Crafts Show, Surf Contest, and Business Expo. United States Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo Operation, Face Painting; Kiddie Rides and much more! Free shuttle parking is available at San Clemente High School. For more event information call the Chamber of Commerce at 492-1131 or visit www.scchamber.com. Saturday 11/28/2009 Puttin On The Glitz Saturday, November 28, 2009; 5pm-9pm Avenida Del Mar (map) Proudly presented by the San Clemente Downtown Business Association, our time honored tradition, Puttin’ on the Glitz! Come and bring the whole family to an evening of holiday cheer and enchantment. Santa will be available for photos, there will be live entertainment and the downtown shops will remain open late to help with your holiday shopping list! So what better way to kick off the holiday season by joining in on the festivities as the Downtown Business Association is Puttin’ on the Glitz! For more information call (949)218-5378. Saturday 12/05/2009 HollyJollyHoopla Saturday, December 5, 2009; 1pm-5pm Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) We’re bringing you more than just Santa this year! This holiday spectacular will convert the Community Center into the North Pole, complete with live penguins and reindeer, sled rides on REAL snow – plus Mrs. Claus’ Bakery where you can decorate cookies and enjoy a variety of other food options. The holiday hoopla will also include strolling characters and entertainers, carnival games, face painting, and arts and crafts. Of course, the season wouldn’t be complete without falling snowflakes and Santa visits (bring your camera). Don’t miss Santa’s reading of “The Night Before Christmas” followed by the lighting of the City’s Holiday Tree at 5pm. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, we hope you’ll stop by! (Food and activities available for a nominal fee). For more information call the San Clemente Recreation Division at 361-8264. View Highlights From HollyJollyHoopla 2008! Saturday 12/12/2009 Christmas Gift Exchange Program Saturday, December 12, 2009; 11am Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) Join the Family Assistance Ministries for this wonderful Christmas event. Presents will be handed out to needy children of our community and lunch will be served. If you are interested in donating gifts please call the Family Assistance Ministries at 492-8477. Sunday 01/24/2010 Day of Your Dreams - Event Expo Sunday, January 24, 2010; 12pm–4pm Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville) It’s the City of San Clemente’s FREE event expo, and you’re invited! Visit for a sampling from local caterers, musicians and entertainers, and local fashion designers along with raffle prizes and giveaways. Plus meet and greet with florists, photographers, videographers and other event related vendors for your upcoming weddings and quinceaneras. For more information on attending this FREE event, please call the San Clemente Recreation Division at 949-361-8264. Related Search

California Weekend Getaway San Clemente By Cary Ordway ALL ABOARD -- Amtrak's scenic rail route travels right through the heart of the San Clemente Pier area. Photo by Cary Ordway The International Feel of San Clemente Those driving south on Interstate 5 to San Diego will know exactly what we mean when we say there just is no more spectacular ocean view than the one you encounter while making your way through San Clemente. On a clear, sunny day, and most of them are, it's hard to keep your eyes on the road as you take in a landscape that includes San Clemente's neatly terraced, palm tree-studded hills and the vast blue ocean with its distant horizon. These very same views no doubt influenced Richard Nixon in his decision to buy an estate in San Clemente that would become the Western White House during the early 1970s. The president would have Air Force One land at El Toro and then take a Marine helicopter to a San Clemente beach area where he would ride a golf cart the final few yards to his prized estate, La Casa Pacifica. Today the estate still is there on a bluff overlooking one of California's most pristine beaches, but it's really only possible to get a glimpse of parts of it from the beach below. Just to get in position to view La Casa Pacifica, it's a mile-and-a-half walk from the nearest beach access point at San Clemente State Beach. But what a great mile and a half it is. The beach, to us, is one of the main attractions of San Clemente -- it's possible to walk five miles altogether on a beach that is wide, scenic and, best of all, hardly used. There is no stumbling over other beach-goers as you search for some solitude among the masses. At this beach, there is nothing but solitude along great stretches of sparkling sand where you can plop down anywhere you like, set up your blanket, chairs and cooler and pretend that you're Robinson Crusoe for at least the afternoon. There of course is a good representation of surfers on any given day along this beach; this is prime territory for those in search of consistent waves. Boogie-boarders too are drawn to the beach to ride a curling surf that, in some places, offers a thrill a minute. But most of the people you see here are simply beach-walkers, enjoying a gentle stroll on wide sand that seems to go on forever. A few miles north from San Clemente State Beach is the pier area, a part of San Clemente that attracts visitors and locals alike. If you're looking for a weekend getaway, this may well be the spot with its charming village-like atmosphere where you can dine in sidewalk cafes, visit the local market or walk out on the pier for some great views of the surfers and the entire coast. A number of lodgings are available in this area, many with spectacular views of the ocean and pier area. One of our favorite things to do is to stop at the pier on our way through San Clemente. It's just a little over a mile from the freeway and it's a rewarding mini-getaway just to drop in at Fisherman's Restaurant on the pier and enjoy fresh fish and a microbrew while basking in the sun and soaking up the seaside atmosphere. On a recent weekend, the restaurant's considerable outdoor seating was fully occupied through most of the afternoon, a sign that we're not the only ones who have discovered this delightful seaside respite. Whether over nighting or day tripping in San Clemente, one of the first things you notice is the Spanish street names. Not uncommon in California, the San Clemente city fathers have taken it one step further with a kind of prohibition against any street name that does not look or sound Spanish. But all of that just adds to the charm and blends well with the Spanish architecture that is so dominant along the gently sloping hillsides of San Clemente. Come to find out, the Spanish feel of San Clemente is quite intentional and was brought to the city not by some Spanish conquistador, but rather by the former mayor of Seattle. Ole Hanson founded the "Spanish Village by the Sea" way back in 1925 with strict guidelines that called for Spanish colonial architecture with red tile roofs and white plaster. In other words, Hanson proposed a theme town before theme towns were cool. The town retains a historical flavor and visitors are encouraged to see remnants of the original "Spanish Village by the Sea." The former City Hall is now an antique gallery. Casa Romantica was Hanson's own Spanish compound that he lost in the stock market crash of 1929; it is now owned by the city. A San Clemente visitor center and museum offers visitors a quick overview of the attractions they'll find in San Clemente. Another thing that becomes obvious is that there are few streets in San Clemente that are straight. Because of the hilly and sloping topography, most roads weave through and around the hills, again adding a special kind of Mediterranean flavor to the town. It may be a little harder to find your way from Point A to Point B, but you will enjoy the figuring out how to get there. And of course it's difficult to get truly lost when the ocean is visible from just about anyplace in town. While in San Clemente, you'll want to stroll down Avenida Del Mar, where you'll find a wide assortment of shops in a lushly landscaped setting. This is not some famous shopping district with designer stores and celebrities; rather it's Main Street USA with the kind of shopping you might find in your hometown -- a varied collection of shops, boutiques, antique stores, galleries and sidewalk cafes. It's a fun place to spend a little bit of your San Clemente getaway. San Clemente is an ideal day trip for Southern California residents, but it's also an excellent base of operations for those coming from farther away. There are close to 20 different lodgings to choose from, ranging from bed-and-breakfast inns to motor inns to seaside condos. If you base in San Clemente, you'll find many attractions are located within a short drive from the city. For example, Dana Point, once the only major harbor between San Diego and Santa Barbara , is just north of the city. The same harbor that attracted those earlier mariners is still very much a port of call, but leaning more toward pleasure craft with its 2,500 slips that are usually occupied with a wide selection of expensive yachts and small boats that would make any boat show proud. The Dana Point Marina, of course, becomes the centerpiece to the area and the focus of pictures and paintings that are readily available in local gift shops. The Dana Point Marina is not just a bunch of boats. A whole village has grown up dockside to offer tourists shopping and places to enjoy lunch or dinner. Some 25 shops and 20 restaurants are open in Dana Wharf, Mariners Village and Mariners Alley. But the boats are a big part of its fun -- it's great strolling along the docks, daydreaming about owning one of these beautiful craft. San Juan Capistrano is close by as well and it's easy to drive from San Clemente to the famous Mission at San Juan Capistrano where you can tour the picturesque grounds. Just a bit farther up the coast is Laguna, where you'll find great shopping, a vibrant arts community and Orange County chic. Nixon did indeed know what he was doing when he set up his Western White House in San Clemente. It's about as far away from the pressures of Washington politics as a president can get. For more information on San Clemente, please go to www.californiaweekend.com San Clemente has earned a well deserved reputation as the resort beach town in Orange County. Long, white sandy strands invite you to take slow sunset strolls. But beautiful beaches and 342 days of sunshine a year are only part of the appeal that makes people want to call San Clemente home. San Clemente is experiencing a quiet renaissance. Newcomers and long-time residents alike are taking care to preserve and revitalize the timeless charm that makes San Clemente such an attractive place to own a Southern California home. You are personally invited to live life at a slower, more considered pace - which is exactly what Ole Hanson had in mind when he founded San Clemente in 1925. Ole wrote, "I envision a place where people can live together more pleasantly than in any other place in America." San Clemente still embodies this vision. The heart of Ole's "Spanish village by the sea" still beats true, and downtown, with its antique shops, boutiques, art galleries and outdoor cafes, is the cultural soul. Friends and neighbors stop to chat as they stroll along the palm-lined sidewalks of Avenida Del Mar. The weekly farmers market and monthly crafts fair draw residents and visitors from all over Orange County and Southern California. Great events and wonderful people is what San Clemente is all about. At water's edge, you'll find the crown jewel of Avenida Del Mar, the San Clemente Pier. Surrounded by hotels and outdoor cafes and bistros, the pier has lured locals and fishermen since 1928. It is also the gathering place for some of San Clemente's best-loved traditions like the annual clam chowder cook-off and the Ocean Festival. San Clemente's Avenida Del Mar is a dream come true for antique and art lovers, with numerous galleries, antique and collectibles shops dotting the street. Gift and jewelry shops, book stores, clothing boutiques and surf shops offer enough variety to please even the most discriminating shopper. The newly remodeled Casa Romantica is a cultural, educational, and social center for the San Clemente community. Widely acclaimed for its innovative educational programs, the Capistrano Unified School District serves the City of San Clemente. Five of the district schools have been recipients of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program and 17 schools in the district have been designated as California Distinguished Schools. Residents have access to both public and private schools. Among the public schools currently serving our community are Vista del Mar, serving grades K-8, Clarence Lobo Elementary School, which provides preschool through grade 5 education, Bernice Ayer Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8, and San Clemente High School, which now serves 2,400 students from San Clemente, Capistrano Beach and portions of San Juan Capistrano. The private schools accessible to residents of San Clemente include Our Savior's Lutheran School, St. Michael's Academy and Our Lady of Fatima School. San Clemente Hospital and Medical Center has served south Orange County for over 25 years. Focusing on building a healthier community and continuing to expand services in response to needs of residents, the hospital's mission is to provide high quality, personalized care in a cost effective manner. The hospital has received the distinction of "Accreditation with Commendation," the highest level of accreditation a hospital can receive for outstanding patient care. San Clemente is conveniently located off the I -5 Freeway. Quick and easy access to other Southern California destinations is also made possible by the nearby San Joaquin Transportation Corridor (73). San Clemente residents who commute to Los Angeles can relax or catch up on work while riding the rails of Metrolink. Traveling at an average speed of 50 miles per hour, Metrolink's Orange County train service runs from Oceanside through Orange County to Los Angeles' Union Station, and stops at ten train stations along the way, including San Clemente. San Clemente is just 30 minutes from John Wayne Airport in Newport Beach and less than an hour from San Diego International Airport.