I cannot believe it is already June. School is out, summer is here, and somehow we are almost halfway through the year already. I have been thinking a lot lately about what the first part of this year actually looked like for me and honestly it flew by faster than I expected. Some of it went exactly the way I wanted. Some of it did not. But a new season feels like a good time to reset and get clear on what I actually want the rest of the year to feel like. Not a resolution, not a big plan. Just what feels right and energizing for the summer and rest of 2026. That is what I’m spending this week focusing on.
Now let’s get into the good stuff…
Date Night
The Cellar
The Cellar on Avenida Del Mar is the restaurant you walk past, peek into, and immediately want to be inside. The space is a result of thoughtful green design with old French oak barrels lining the face of the bar, salvaged window frames from a New York City building refashioned into mirrors hung high above the booth seating, recycled wine bottles woven throughout the décor, and warm lighting that makes the whole room glow. It is intimate without being precious, lively without being loud, and consistently packed with people who clearly know something worth knowing. The weekend piano bar draws a crowd for good reason and live music runs every night.
The Cellar is equal parts neighborhood cheese shop, wine bar, and kitchen and the menu reflects all three. Start with the cheese board, curated by the in-house cheesemonger and paired specifically with the wine you are drinking. The truffle popcorn is the must-order snack that reviewers come back specifically for. The burrata with grilled peaches and greens is a standout, the duck ravioli and flatbread pizzas are consistently excellent, and the Korean fried chicken sandwich has its own devoted following. The menu changes monthly which means there is always a reason to come back. The wine list is extensive with generous pours and includes Cakebread wines by the glass which alone is worth noting. Sunday bottle deals are worth asking about when you go. Closed Mondays, open Tuesday through Thursday 11 AM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 10 PM. Located at 156 Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente.
Family Fun Night
Lucky Strike
Lucky Strike opened its Ladera Ranch location in December 2024 and it immediately became one of the most fun family night options in South OC. This is not your childhood bowling alley. Forty two state-of-the-art lanes, giant video screens, black light bowling, 60 arcade games with a Prize Vault redemption store, a full-service bar for the adults, and a chef-driven menu from Cheeky Monkey Gastropub that goes well beyond typical bowling alley food. The Firecracker Shrimp Bao Buns, Birria Tacos, Moroccan Steak Bowl, and spinach cheese dip are the standout orders and the food is consistently called out as genuinely good in reviews. The atmosphere hits the right balance between lively and comfortable, and the staff comes up positively in review after review.
The arcade is a full hour of entertainment on its own for kids, with unlimited arcade play running $35 per person for one hour and $44 for two. For bowling, buy two games and get the third at half price, or come on Tuesday nights for unlimited bowling at $20 per person after 8 PM. Book lanes in advance online at luckystrikeent.com since weekends fill up fast. Open Monday through Thursday 4 to 11 PM, Friday 2 to 11 PM, Saturday and Sunday 11 AM to 10 PM. Located at 27502 Antonio Parkway in Ladera Ranch. Also worth knowing a second location just opened in Aliso Viejo at 26503 Aliso Creek Road if you are closer to that side of South OC.
Weekend Plans
River Street
River Street Ranch has been a South OC family tradition since 1980 and it earns that loyalty every single visit. Tucked into the Los Rios Historic District right in the heart of San Juan Capistrano, this USDA-approved petting zoo sits on a rustic Spanish-style farm that has been standing since 1890 and is home to over 100 animals. Goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits, alpacas, an emu, a cow, a llama, and the wildly popular guinea pig patch where kids can sit right in among them. You can grab a $6 feed basket loaded with lettuce, apples, carrots, and broccoli and let the kids spend as long as they want feeding and petting the animals while you actually catch your breath.
Beyond the animals there is a kiddie train, pony rides, mini excavators, a Little Tikes playground, and a gold and gemstone panning area where kids dig through the water to find real gems to take home. It is genuinely one of those mornings where you show up for an hour and look up and two hours have passed and nobody is ready to leave. The location makes it easy to build a full outing around. Hidden House Coffee is steps away for your morning coffee, Ramos House Cafe is around the corner for brunch, and the Los Rios Historic District itself is worth a slow walk with the kids after. Open daily 10 AM to 4 PM, last entry at 3:30 PM. Adults $15, seniors $12, kids under 18 months free. Feed baskets $6. Located at 31791 Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano.
Movement & Motivation
Twin Star Yoga
Twin Star Yoga is a women-owned boutique studio tucked into Camino de los Mares in San Clemente and it has a perfect five star rating for a reason. Owner Cecily Kelly has built something genuinely special here. Not just a yoga studio but a community where people show up consistently, know each other by name, and leave feeling better than when they walked in. Reviewers who have tried studios all over Orange County call this their home and the instructors are praised across every single class type for their warmth, expertise, and ability to push you without making you feel out of place.
The thing that sets Twin Star apart is the infrared heat combined with the range of what they offer. Infrared Vinyasa, Infrared Sculpt, Barre Fusion, Breathwork, Restorative Yoga, Reiki, Sound Baths, and monthly Women's Circles. The infrared heat is not the same as a regular hot yoga studio. It penetrates deeper, supports muscle recovery, and makes the sweat feel earned in a different way. The Infrared Sculpt class in particular gets called out constantly as a full body workout that kicks your butt while still feeling accessible. If you want to try it before committing the new member special is two weeks unlimited for $49 which is an easy yes. Book in advance as popular classes fill fast. Open Monday through Friday starting at 5:30 or 6:30 AM depending on the day, Saturday and Sunday from 8 AM. Located at 657 Camino de los Mares Suite 134 in San Clemente. Book at twinstaryoga.com.
A new season with a clear sense of what you want from it changes everything. You have more energy available to you than you think right now and summer is the perfect time to tap into it. Get outside. Move your body. Say yes to the things that light you up and no to the ones that do not. Fill your days with the people and the moments that actually matter to you. When you stop spending energy on the wrong things there is suddenly so much more of it left for the right ones. That is the whole point.
See you next Thursday!
