The Dawn Wall

Go to bed after watching the spectacular sunset over the Pacific and wake up to the sound of the crashing waves at this jaw-dropping beachfront home in the surfside city of San Clemente.

Contemporary coastal cool is the order of the day, with plenty of light wood, fresh blue furnishings and pristine white walls, all accentuated by the sunlight that pours in 342 days a year through large windows and retractable glass doors that look out over the ocean.

There's plenty of space for all the family, with large open living spaces, a stunning modern kitchen with eye-catching quartz worktops, a dedicated games room with a billiards table, plus a lovely office to make the idea of working while on holiday a little more palatable.

Sleeping arrangements are taken care of across five spacious bedrooms. A large loft room packed with games and a console allows you to leave the kids to it as you enjoy a glass of something cold out on the covered terrace, or lay out on a lounger on the promontory pointing out to sea.

If the call of the ocean proves too much, you won't have to walk far to access Lost Winds beach below. With consistent surf, volleyball courts, and the opportunity to jog or cycle along the 2.6-mile beach trail, there's plenty on offer here. However, seasoned surfers might want to check out nearby breaks including Trestles, T Street and San Onofre. Lowers (at Trestles beach) is the best of the bunch and the home of high performance surfing. Sometimes it's best just to sit back and marvel at the pros.

After a day of adrenaline-pumping activity, cooking may well be the last thing on your mind. Handily, San Clemente is home to a wide array of restaurants serving everything from American comfort food, farm-to-table fare and creative Mexican classics washed down with a mescal.


Home truths:
*Access to the home is via a private entrance
*We'd recommend having access to a car if you're planning on exploring the area – there's ample on-site parking available
*The home has a dedicated workspace if you need to fire off some emails
*The children's playroom doubles up as the fifth bedroom and contains a Murphy bed – it's probably best suited to kids
*Your hosts have provided plenty of beach gear including yoga mats, surfboards, body boards, coolers, beach towels, beach chairs, and beach umbrellas