Things To Do
Paradise Point Resort
Paradise Point is a 44-acre island resort with plenty of things to do during your stay so you don't even have to leave the island to get into some fun. To name a few... -The resort has 5 pools/hot tubs scattered around the grounds -A full-service spa & fitness center -Beach bonfire pits -Two restaurants, poolside food & drink service, coffee shop, and a marketplace with snacks, drinks, and essentials (i.e. s'mores for the bonfire pits) -Water sport rentals: Sailboats, jet skis, paddle boards, etc. -Recreational sport rentals: Pickleball, tennis, 18-hole mini golf, beach volleyball, and more... -Daily activities: Meditation or yoga classes, bike tours, trivia and bingo, etc.
Mission & Pacific Beach
Whenever we go to San Diego this is where we always stay! Mission and Pacific Beach are side-by-side neighborhoods that are full of casual dining, dive bars, and of course - the beach. The beach - Lounge during the day and catch some rays or watch the sunset over the ocean. Be careful having drinks on the beach - we found out the hard way that alcohol is not allowed (or just be better about hiding it than we were ;)) Food - Walk the boardwalk or Mission Blvd and you'll find unlimited restaurant options, but some of our favorites are World Famous (speaks for itself), PB Ale House, Waterbar, and Oceana Coastal Kitchen. Drinks - Also unlimited bars along the boardwalk and Mission Blvd, but some of our favorites are Lahaina Beach House, Flamingo Deck, PB Shore Club, or Firehouse. Belmont Park is an oceanfront amusement park with restaurants and bars throughout.
Downtown
There is so much to do in downtown it's hard to keep it to a short list, so we've tried to give some ideas by activity and neighborhood. Food - Little Italy has countless Italian restaurants (we love Monello & Vinarius) and will make you feel like you're in Italy with tables out on the streets. The Gaslamp Quarter is the nightlife hub of San Diego with everything from rooftop bars to speakeasies. Seaport Village is a fun area to grab a casual bite to eat, watch the sunset, and there's a Chiefs bar across the street called KC BBQ! Drinks - You can stumble across a great place to grab a drink anywhere in downtown, but some of our favorite spots are Youngblood (personalized cocktail experience - NEED a reservation), Neighborhood (the bar Youngblood is hidden in) and False Idol (tiki bar) Explore - The San Diego Zoo, the USS Midway Museum (right by the welcome party drop-off on Saturday!), Balboa Park, or Petco Park (the Padre's are playing at home almost every day from the 18th-27th!)
La Jolla
La Jolla Cove - Kayak along the coast, explore the sea caves, go for a walk along the coastal cliffs, or watch the hundreds of sea lions sunbathing on the cliffs. Forewarning, the sea lions are adorable but if the wind is blowing just right the surrounding area can be a little.... stinky. Prospect Street - A super cute area to shop, eat, or drink! There are tons of restaurants to explore. For more upscale dining, check out The Marine Room which is right on the water where the waves crash into the windows at high tide, or Eddie V's, a familiar name but with a killer view. For brunch, we love Cove House and Caroline's. For the best sunset spots, check out Birdseye Rooftop, George's, or Duke's. Day-time activities - Explore the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, the Birch Aquarium, or relax/picnic at Scripps Park.
Coronado
Just across the bay from downtown, Coronado is its own island and really has that island feel. You can either drive over the bridge or take a short ferry ride (with a great view of the skyline). Hotel del Coronado - An iconic landmark in San Diego; definitely grab a drink or bite to eat at the beachfront bar or stroll the lobby and courtyards. Even just seeing it from the street or the beach is breathtaking. Orange Avenue - The main strip on Coronado with tons of shopping and restaurants. The Henry is a great spot for lunch or brunch, or stop by the Coronado Tasting Room for wine, whiskey, or olive oil tastings. There are lots of places on the island that rent bikes - would highly recommend biking around the neighborhoods because the houses are stunning!
Other
Not specific to any neighborhood, but these deserve an honorable mention! We would be remiss if we didn't recommend catching the sunset at Sunset Cliffs - which is what we were doing when we got engaged! If you're into golf you probably already know of Torrey Pines, which has two courses sitting atop the La Jolla cliffs. There are also tons of other beautiful golf courses in the area, especially North of the city. One of the best ways to see Mission Bay is by water and we would highly recommend renting a Duffy boat! You're able to take these out on the bay yourself and cruise around during the day or at sunset. Grab some friends, drinks, and snacks - the boats are pretty spacious and it's fun to be out on the water without having to have a captain. There are also water sport rentals through Paradise Point - check out our FAQ page and/or the Paradise Point website for more details.