SAN CLEMENTE

Dangling ON the southernmost tip of Orange County is the affable beach town nicknamed “the Spanish Village by the Sea,” San Clemente. It was conjured into existence by Ole Hanson, an entrepreneur and former mayor of Seattle, who bought the coastal tract in 1925 and required all houses built on it to be constructed with whitewashed stucco walls and handmade red-tile roofs. The same creative restriction applied to civic buildings in the town’s hilly center.

For most of its history, San Clemente kept a pretty low profile, best known as the location of Richard Nixon’s Western White House. But those days are long gone: With five miles of sugary, palm-tree-studded beaches and some of the best breaks in the country found year-round in the renowned collection of surf spots known as Trestles, the once sleepy village has become an internationally recognized surfing destination. Its downtown district, formerly deserted at sundown, now teems with upscale boutiques and hip restaurants.

This weekend marks San Clemente’s 32nd annual Ocean Festival ( www.oceanfestival.org). Along with the fest’s surfing contests, classic car exhibits and rubber duck race, here are a few other local sights well worth checking out.

SURF ‘N’ TURF

At White Horses (610 Avenida Victoria, [949] 429-1800; www.whitehorses.us), an intimate bistro a stone’s throw from the ocean, the adventurous menu changes every eight weeks. Current entrees include chargrilled emu filet with three-cherry sauce.

ISN’T IT ROMANTIC?

San Clemente founding father Hanson once lived in the Spanish Colonial Revival mansion known as Casa Romantica (415 Avenida Granada, [949] 498-2139; www.casaromantica.org), but lost it to foreclosure after the stock market crash of 1929. Following a restoration, the seaside villa is now a cultural and event center featuring poetry readings, lectures, concerts and art exhibits. On display until Aug. 10 is the exhibition “Pressing Matters: 500 Years of Wine in Art.”

THONG SONG

The flip-flops sold at Rainbow Sandals (326 Calle de los Molinos, [800] 762-7635; www.rainbowsandals.com) have had a cult following among surfers since 1974. Though not cheap, each pair is handmade and guaranteed to last for life.

HANG 10

The Surfing Heritage Foundation (110 Calle Iglesia, [949] 388-0313; www.surfing heritage.org) has more than 350 surfboards spanning three centuries, as well as photos and art. It kicks off its annual surf film series Friday with an outdoor screening of “Water Man.” Below: curator Barry K. Haun.

CURTAIN CALL

Founded in 1953, the San Clemente Community Theatre stages about six shows per year in the 66-seat Cabrillo Playhouse (202 Avenida Cabrillo, [949] 492-0465; www.cabrilloplayhouse.org). Its latest production is “Disney’s Alice in Wonderland.”

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-- Pauline.OConnor@latimes.com

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ON THE WEB

For more about San Clemente and other neighborhoods throughout Southern California, go to theguide.latimes.com/neighborhoods.