San Clemente, Calif.--When taking a drive along the California coast recently in Southern California's Orange County (named for colorful, productive orange groves that once greeted guests to the sweet California sunshine drink), my friend remarked at how kid friendly San Clemente seems. We were sitting above at an outdoor pier restaurant and bar, sipping ice tea (Mary drinks water, no ice), waiting for our meal and watching the children below us playing creatively on the soft sand beach. 

San Clemente is truly a kids vacation get away. You'll feel right at home as you enter the beaches and see them filled with children swinging, building sand castles, running, jumping and just having a great time. But wait a minute! The parents are having fun, too. In fact, we wondered if a mom or two shouldn't get off the swings and give the kids a ride.

Swings drive home the fact that you don't have to ever grow up.  The feeling of sitting in the little leather bucket strap and pumping your legs in rhythm to get a swing rocking is so basic, yet so exhilarating. And it doesn't cost a dime or even a penny.

So what makes "Sand" Clemente so user friendly for families.  First there is a very laid back, non-frenetic vibe. Kids have a good time and you don't notice much negativity.  San Clemente beaches at the bottom of cliffs are accessed by passing over the Amtrak railroad tracks.  The trains run throughout the day, and thankfully, the train mishaps are far and few.  The beaches, themselves, don't seem to attract a large amount of what's locally known as trophy babes. The kept women whose rich boyfriends and mates keep them well supplied in cars, diamonds and silicon implants are known to frequent beaches north and south such as Newport Beach and DelMar. But in San Clemente, there are many rental properties attracting families and for some reason, the atmosphere at the beach just seems wholesome.

So parents, nannies and grannies, pack those kids up and take them to San Clemente. There are lots of hotels, restaurants and beaches to enjoy. It's a great getaway that's approximately 40 minutes from Disneyland in Anaheim and 30 minutes from Legoland in Carlsbad.