San Juan Capistrano is a historic city in Orange County, California. Part of the Santa Ana–Anaheim–Irvine metropolitan area, San Juan Capistrano is home to Los Rios Historic District - California's oldest post-colonial residential neighborhood; the Mission San Juan Capistrano, and the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano. The area was the site of both the first vineyard and first winery in California.

What is the community of San Juan Capistrano like?

Home to around 36,000 residents and spanning over four neighborhoods, San Juan Capistrano is the 225th largest community in California. Located just 13 miles from the bustling city of Laguna Beach, San Juan Capistrano offers unique attractions that are often imbued by the charms of history and culture. 
The city is home to Mission San Juan Capistrano, which is a historic chapel, landmark, and museum that was founded over two hundred years ago. Known as ‘the birthplace of Orange County,’ the chapel is a historic multi-cultural attraction that epitomizes a perfect blend of European, Mexican, Spanish, and Native American heritage. Visitors are amazed to see unique paintings, precious artifacts, and rare treasures while also experiencing a traditional rich of the iconic bell to honor Saint Junipero Serra.
Art lovers are fascinated to witness the historic and religious artifacts and paintings that are present at the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano church, which was built in 1986 over the ruins of the Great Stone Church which towered there long before.
In addition, San Juan Capistrano is also home to the oldest neighborhood in the state of California - the Los Rios Historic District. The district comprises over forty homes including three original adobe structures which housed mission ranch workers and the builders of the mission in the late 1700s.
However, there’s surely more to San Juan Capistrano besides history and culture. Thanks to its proximity to the cities of Laguna Beach and Newport Beach – each an exceptional getaway destination for the region’s residents and visitors alike - San Juan Capistrano offers top-notch recreational opportunities to its residents. Foremost among these recreational opportunities include visiting the pristine Main Beach, the Crystal Cove State Park, and the Pageant of the Masters Festival in Laguna Beach, or heading to the Newport Beach – a place named as "One of the top ten holiday happenings in the nation,” by New York Times.