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Four Seasons- Pacifica

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  • 326 Encino Lane
     San Clemente, California 92672
    (949) 492-6103 Website
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TheAllens
TheAllens
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
Review
4
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Four Seasons- Pacifica

  • March 21, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by TheAllens from Jamul, California
Four Seasons- Pacifica

Best Things Nearby:
For tourist activities, San Diego is about an hour's drive south and Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm are within an hour north. You might enjoy taking the Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) to San Diego for a day of shopping or sightseeing. There is an Amtrak station located just north of here in San Juan Capistrano. The Metrolink trains also stop there. This is a commuter train which runs from Oceanside California, south of the resort, into Union Station, in Los Angeles. You can access information about schedules and fares at www.metrolinktrains.com. For a different view of the sunset, stop by the Fisherman’s Restaurant, located on the historic San Clemente Pier. The glassed-in decks and outside heaters in both the dining room and the bar make it a year-round experience not to be missed. They serve lunch and dinner everyday and breakfast on the weekends. Take a stroll on the San Clemente beach. It is wide and long. You can walk for miles in either direction along the coast, enjoying the sand between your toes. Take a walk to the end of the San Clemente pier and get a different perspective on surfing. You might even see a man fishing from the pier, with his pet Pelican, named Angel, at his side. Dana Point Harbor is just 8 miles north of the resort. A nice leisurely drive along the Coast Highway will get you there in no time. The area along the harbor has several restaurants and small shops similar to a New England seaport atmosphere. At the far end of the harbor are the tall ships "Pilgrim" and the "Pride of Dana Point", as well as the Ocean Institute. The Ocean Institute has hands-on marine science, environmental education, and maritime history programs, which are interesting for entire family. For a great meal I would recommend Cannon’s Restaurant, located on a bluff overlooking Dana Point. They serve lunch and dinner throughout the week and they have a very good Sunday Brunch Buffet which includes Champagne. If the weather is nice, take advantage of their outdoor dining on the open air patio. The views are spectacular from there. From Dana Point Harbor you can catch the Catalina Express boat to Catalina and spend some time in Avalon enjoying this quaint village. Here you can snorkel in protected waters and see many colorful fish, get an underwater view from aboard a semi-submersible boat, or rent a kayak and take your own tour along the coastline. There are very few cars on the island. Those that are there belong to long time residents who must petition to get one. The primary means of transportation is the golf cart. There are several rental cart agencies in town. It’s fun to rent one and see the sights. There is also a tour agency in town that gives tours over most of the island by bus. Get a little more information about Catalina at www.catalina.com/main.html. Two well known grocery stores are in the area; Ralph’s Market is located south of the resort at 903 S. El Camino Real and Albertson’s Market is north of the resort at 602 N. El Camino Real. For those who enjoy items from Costco, you can find one of them in San Juan Capistrano at 33961 Doheny Park Road. We enjoy getting one of their Roast Chickens and packaged salads for dinner on our first night when we are getting in late and don’t want to cook. There are several local golf courses in the area, San Juan Hills, Talega and San Clemente Muni, but just a short 20 minute drive south to Carlsbad will get you to La Costa Golf Resort or Aviara Golf Resort. The desk at the San Clemente Inn can get you current rates. In addition, San Diego has scores of courses in all price ranges and ability levels. Sightseeing can be accomplished by way of public transportation, Amtrak, MetroLink, and Coaster commuter trains and bus and trolley tours; however, a car is needed to fully enjoy the overall Southern California experience. Don’t miss the world famous San Diego Zoo, near downtown San Diego, or the San Diego Wild Animal Park, operated by the same organization, where you can see animals in an open environment, with no cages to obstruct, in most cases. You can find hours and general information at www.sandiegozoo.org. The quaint village of Carlsbad is just 20 minutes south and is home to Legoland Park, with over 50 rides, shows and attractions to entertain. Visit www.legoland.com/California.htm for more information. Carlsbad also has a very nice Outlet Mall for buying or browsing. The closest airport is John Wayne Airport. It is just 30 miles north and has a convenient rental car location in the parking structure very near the terminal. No shuttles to worry about. San Juan Capistrano is a short drive north where the Mission San Juan Capistrano is located. If you visit at the right time of the year you can observe the annual return of the swallows to the mission. The Los Rios District lies directly across the railroad tracks from the Capistrano Depot and is the oldest neighborhood in California. There is also a very nice antique mall located on the main street, just south of the mission.

Best Things About the Resort:
The complex itself is about two blocks away from the water’s edge, but is an easy walk down to the beach from the back steps of the complex. Be prepared for a hike back up the hill however. As an added bonus, all the units have enclosed lockable car garages. On street parking is minimal, especially during the peak summer season. In general it is close to attractions in San Diego, as well as Los Angeles, and Orange County. If you travel with your computer, local telephone calls are free and there is a wireless telephone jack which plugs into an electrical outlet for easy phone access anywhere in the unit. If you have wireless connectivity, there are several WiFi hotspots which can be accessed from the living room and patio. You can also access the Internet from computers at the Carlsbad Inn or use their wireless access in the recreation area and around the pool.

Resort Experience:
Check-in is accomplished at the partner property, The San Clemente Inn, located about 5 miles south of the Pacifica location. The San Clemente Inn is a very nice property with all the amenities of beach city resort, including sports courts, a workout facility, pool, Jacuzzi, barbecues, and a play area for the kids, just to name a few things. All of the amenities of the San Clemente Inn are available to guests staying at the Pacifica location. The Four Seasons Pacifica Resort is physically located at 326 Encino Lane, at GPS coordinates N33 25.464 - W117 37.229. It consists of five units in all, four two bedroom and one three bedroom. They all have unique names. The only recreational activities available here are in a small recreation room with a ping pong table and foosball. It also has a very small lending library. There is a laundry on property with one washer and one dryer, both of which take coins to operate.We stayed in the three bedroom unit, located on the top level of the building complex. There are no elevators here, so be prepared. Most of the units require negotiating a number of steps. The three bedroom unit is called Las Brisas. It is 1645 square feet, very roomy and unbelievably large. The master bedroom alone is 15’ X 20’. It has a large living room with a gas fireplace, a dining room with a table and six chairs, and a kitchen with all the necessary items to prepare a gourmet meal. There are two full baths, one in the master bedroom and one other with a Jacuzzi tub, and a half bath in the second bedroom. There is a small deck which is accessed from both the master bedroom and the second bedroom, and best of all a large deck accessed from the living room which has an unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean. This patio also houses a large, very nice, gas barbecue grill. We enjoyed sitting on the patio to enjoy not only the view, but the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. A quiet, grassy park just across the street is an ideal place to lounge on the grass or have a picnic.

  • Unit Type: 3 Bedroom
  • Activities: Good
  • Amenities: Very Good
  • Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
  • Family Friendliness: Excellent
  • Service: Good

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