2. Casa Romantica
City: San Clemente, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (949) 428-2139
Address: 415 Avenida Granada
Description: Casa Romantica’s architecture is as interesting as the events and programs that take place beneath its storied roof. Built in 1927 by Ole Hanson, a co-founder of San Clemente, as his family home and designed by Carl Lindbom, who was also responsible for the design of Casa Pacifica, Richard Nixon’s nearby Western White House, the home features seven bedrooms and an equal number of baths. It has had many owners and many names over the years and even served as a home for senior citizens as well as a venue for special events. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Casa Romantica, which teeters atop an ocean bluff, began a new lease on life at the dawn of the new millennium. It now offers a broad range of artistic and educational programs to the public, collaborating with such organizations as the Orange County Library and San Clemente Historical Society. Programs include a poetry series, speakers’ series, and artist workshops, which take place in an ample-size studio with hands-on activities that include lessons in gardening, arts and crafts, and the creative arts. A satellite public library includes a special collection of books chronicling the region’s history, culture, and ecology and can be viewed by appointment. Every Wednesday at 10 a.m. children gather around for Casa Kids Story Time, a free event geared towards children ages three to five years.