San Juan Capistrano: Turn Back the Clock in Historic District Feeling stressed out? Tired of the old bumper-to-bumper on the 405, the 5, the 55, the 57, the 22 and the 91? Had enough of strip malls, mini-malls, mega-malls, fast-food franchises and cookie-cutter homes? Then consider stepping back in time to a place where the pace is as slow as the clip-clop of a horse heading down a tree-lined street; to a time when Southern California was a more visionary dream than hard-edged reality and the only thing that was overgrown was the weed-choked empty lot next door.
The Los Rios Historic District in San Juan Capistrano, considered California's oldest residential neighborhood, was originally established in the late 1700s for workers at the nearby mission. Stroll down Los Rios Street, slip into one of the century-old board-and-batten houses selling handcrafted items, have a leisurely lunch or a cup of tea, ride a pony, feed a goat--feel that old romantic California vibe, circa 1900.
Park in the public lot next to the Capistrano Depot and walk over the railroad track crossing where Verdugo Street dead-ends. Just across the track is a small, weathered old wooden house (26711 Verdugo St.). The brass historic plaque says that it was built in 1878 in Forster City (near San Onofre), that it was moved to San Juan Capistrano in 1882 and that it has served as a general store, post office and residence. It used to house a candle shop, and a novelty store plans to open.
