San Juan Capistrano’s Metrolink station (which really isn’t a station, more on that later) sits in the literal center of Orange County’s most historic area, which includes its oldest neighborhood and most historically significant landmark, the Mission San Juan Capistrano. While history abounds, so does a culinary scene that has exploded in the past several years. It’s a place where legendary dive bars can coexist with petting zoos, and while any development sparks debate over preserving historic charm, growth is not stagnant. The opening of River Street Marketplace a little more than a year ago and discussions over building a 48,000-square-foot performing arts center with a 450-seat theater in a neighboring park attest to that. It’s an intriguing blend of old and new, all in a compact area easily explored on foot. | 
