San Juan Capistrano

In San Juan Capistrano you will find the old mission. Watch for signs directing you off the freeway two blocks to Mission San Juan Capistrano. This mission, founded by Father Junipero Serra in 1776, has been carefully restored to give you a glimpse of what life was like in the early days of California. Although located in the center of town, the mission creates its own environment since it is insulated by lovely gardens and a complex of Spanish adobe buildings. Another point of special interest at San Juan Capistrano is that the swallows have chosen it as “home,” arriving every March 19th (Saint Joseph’s Day) and leaving October 23rd. Visit the mission and then retrace your route to Hwy 5 and continue south about an hour to San Diego.