Fun Things to Do in San Juan Capistrano with Kids
Historic San Juan Capistrano is a sweet Southern California town with a laidback vibe, nearby beaches, and walkable downtown. It is easily reached by car or train from San Diego or Los Angeles, making it a great choice for a weekend getaway. Let’s explore fun things to do in and near San Juan Capistrano with kids, along with family-friendly restaurant and hotel recommendations!
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1. Mission San Juan Capistrano
While my visits to other California missions felt ho-hum, I was surprised by Mission San Juan Capistrano’s allure and peaceful effect. Known as “The Jewel” of missions, the grounds are so gorgeous that I had a hard time deciding what NOT to photograph.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is one of 21 present-day missions. The Spanish missions were established between 1769 and 1833 as a way to spread the Catholic faith and colonize what is now Southern California.
The koi fountain intrigued both my children, as did the flitting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds in the beautiful gardens. Come in spring to see the mission’s famed swallows, which return every March during their migration from South America.
Hand-held audio controllers are included in your entrance fee. My children enjoyed finding all of the numbered audio stations and listening to commentary about the history and role of this Spanish mission in the town and California’s history.
2. Zoomars Petting Zoo
Across the tracks from the train station, follow the signs to find Zoomars. Sliding and climbing at the cute playground are included in the entrance fee.
For various nominal fees, children can snuggle bunnies and guinea pigs, ride a miniature train, pan for fool’s gold, and go on pony rides. Visitors can also feed veggies to eager goats. But beware…they WILL jump on you!
3. Dana Point Harbor
About three miles south of San Juan Capistrano, meander through shops and restaurants at Dana Point Harbor.
You can sign up for a whale-watching tour, kayaking adventure, or other water excursion at the harbor. If you’d rather come prepared and secure your family’s spot, sign up for a guided water tour in advance with our trusted partner, GetYourGuide.
Several friends recommended our family dine at the Harbor Grill. Oh boy, were we glad we did! Seafood is the specialty here, and the kids’ menu offers the usual suspects. It’s not cheap, but if you’re hungry the prix fixe three-course meals make the bill more manageable.
4. Doheny State Beach
A 10-minute walk from Dana Point Harbor, Doheny State Beach is one of the loveliest California beaches I have ever visited. A wide, expansive sandy beach draws families. The waves are pretty bold, so watch small children vigilantly.
Bring a kite to fly on plentiful grassy space on a windy day. Or, rent bicycles or a surrey from Wheel Fun Rentals. Restrooms with changing areas are available.
Your family will get hungry from the smell of smoky eats wafting from barbecues galore. The snack bar was curiously closed on the day of our visit (a Saturday in June). Be sure to plan ahead and pack your own picnic lunch or travel snacks.
5. Family-Friendly Restaurants in San Juan Capistrano
Conveniently located just a short block away from the San Juan Capistrano Depot Train Station is the charming and delicious Sundried Tomato American Bistro. You absolutely MUST get a cup of their signature Sundried Tomato Soup, a creamy concoction topped with crumbled cheese. My husband, on a low-carb diet during our San Juan Capistrano family vacation, said his noodle-free vegetable lasagna was the most delicious thing he’d eaten in weeks.
The menu offers salads, burgers, pasta, larger entrees (chicken, steak, seafood) and kids’ dishes. Take note, however, that juice for kids is very expensive here. Therefore, you might want to stick to water or bring your own sippy cups.
Built in 1793, El Adobe de Capistrano is the oldest restaurant in town. A few locals recommended this restaurant as THE place to soothe Mexican food cravings. My family found typical fare like enchiladas, tacos, burritos, and some delicious salsa fresca here.
San Juan Capistrano Train Station
With a sweet downtown sliced by train tracks, San Juan Capistrano is a fun destination for kids who will delight in witnessing the crossing guard’s flashing lights and dinging bells all day long. Instead of driving, my family decided to make our visit even more memorable by making the journey from San Diego to the city of San Juan Capistrano via Amtrak train. It seems all children love choo-choos, so you may want to add a train ride to your vacation, too.
Where to Stay in San Juan Capistrano with Kids
Residence Inn San Juan Capistrano offers plenty for families. Expect spacious suites with full kitchens. Active kids will appreciate a pleasant outdoor pool, a basketball court, and a putting green with clubs and balls to borrow.
There are even barbecues if you want to grill out one night. Included breakfasts make mornings easy, affordable, and fun. Want to stock up your fridge? Just give the front desk your grocery list and they’ll purchase the items for you and add the total to your bill.
As an added bonus, Residence Inn San Juan Capistrano provides a free shuttle for guests anywhere within five miles of the hotel. This makes exploring without a car easy and convenient for families like ours who arrive via train.
Explore More of California
For even more fun in The Golden State, check out my picks for the best destinations for kids in California.
Since San Juan Capistrano is part of the O.C., take a look at more things to do in Orange County with kids.
San Juan Capistrano is just 30 miles from The Happiest Place on Earth, so be sure to review these tips for visiting Disneyland with kids.
For a unique California family vacation in San Diego County, consider venturing to the desert landscape of Borrego Springs with kids.
Save These Things to Do in San Juan Capistrano
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Do you have any recommendations or questions for exploring San Juan Capistrano or Dana Point? Let us know in the comments below!
A Note from Colleen: Residence Inn hosted my family’s accommodations during our weekend stay as part of a partnership with this brand. We did not receive any additional comps or monetary payments. All opinions are mine, as always.
Wow, this article makes me immediately want to go on holiday to San Juan Capistrano! Does anyone have any recommendations for good places to eat there that are kid friendly? Or maybe there are other exciting activities besides those mentioned in this article?
San Juan Capistrano is such a lovely little hidden gem in Southern California! Sun Dried Tomato and El Adobe are both good options for families but I’d love to hear more tasty options from readers!
Thanks for the info.
FYI your link to Sarduccis is for a restaurant in Vermont. Sarduccis is closed and now is Trevor’s at the tracks. My sister goes there all the time with 2 toddlers and sits on the patio. They love watching the trains go by.
https://www.trevorsatthetracks.com
Hi Kristin – Thanks so much for the heads-up about Trevor’s at the Tracks! I’ve deleted the bit about Sarducci’s.
Hi there Colleen! I stumbled upon this page while on a google quest for (I can’t even remember what I was looking for haha!). Well anyways I wanted to thank you for visiting this small little town I am so thankful to call home every day. I went to the Mission Parish School as a child and got to see the Mission more than once a year and got to take in the yearly St. Joseph’s Day and following Swallow’s Day Parade almost every year for about nine years! It was such an incredible experience for me and I’m so glad that you had so much fun enjoying this city of mine! If you even find yourself in San Juan Capistrano again there are some amazing little tiny “whole-in-the-wall” restaurants that are not necessarily kid friendly but have incredible meals, such as: the Humming Bird Cafe, Fianos, Ciao Pasta, El Maguey, and so many more! Also if you come during the summer (specifically on a Wednesday) there are free concerts on the third Wednesday from May-August where a cute farmers market sells everything from homemade humus to fresh fruits to gorgeous flowers! There are even events for kids at these summer concerts and I absolutely recommend them if your family does not mind sitting on blankets and bringing a pack of sandwiches and drinks for you to share! Also there are child productions of famous plays shown in the Los Rios Playhouse just between the park and the Mission! I hope you’ll find yourself in San Juan Capistrano sometime again soon, and I’m so grateful that you seem to love it just as much as I do!
-Meaghan
Meaghan – How wonderful that you live in (and appreciate) your beautiful home town! I hope to get back there someday. San Juan Capistrano would make a lovely spot for a romantic getaway and then my husband and I could try out those restaurants that you recommend!
The flower and bees caught my attention too. San Juan Capistrano looks like a delightful family getaway destination!
Allison – There were so many photo opportunities here! It feels like it was built for a photographer. 😉 I am thinking of doing another photo-based post focusing just on Mission San Juan Capistrano—it was hard to narrow down which pictures to include with this story!
Looks like a lovely place to visit! Love the photo of the flower and the bees 🙂
Laurel – It really was such a peaceful, lovely place to visit with or without kids. Thanks for your comment!
This entire week-end outing, including the train ride from San Diego to the neat beaches and restaurants, is something I have now added to my bucket list. I would not have known how much this area has changed if it wasn’t for your article.
What a fun idea! Can’t wait to hear all about your trip!
San Juan Capistrano has really, really changed since we visited there over 40 years ago. The most memorable part of our visit was a lovely winding trail which had all sorts of desert plants. What made it memorable was my husband picking up a prickly pear that wouldn’t let go. You mentioned there is so much more to see and do now that one doesn’t have time to wrestle with plant life.
Ha! Yes, we steered clear from the cactus!
OH! I had no idea there was so much to do and explore there. Thanks for the tips!
Jessie – San Juan Capistrano really is a sweet little town for a weekend getaway. Thanks for the comment!