Things To Do

Powerhouse Beach

My favorite beach of all time!

Del Mar Plaza

Open-air plaza, featuring gourmet restaurants, specialty boutiques and local shops, stylish European-inspired architecture, fountains and public viewing decks. Colin drove down to San Diego to meet me for our first date. At Del Mar Plaza, we had drinks at Monarch Ocean Pub and dinner at Tamarindo.

Del Mar Racing

Opened in 1937 by singer Bing Crosby, Del Mar Racetrack was once a playground to the stars who rode the train down from Hollywood for a day of fun on the turf. General admission tickets are just $6 and minimum bets can be made for only $2. So it doesn't cost much to put a little skin in the game by picking your favorite pony to win each race. The summer racing season runs July through September.

Balboa Park

San Diego is not short of beautiful parks, but Balboa is the undisputed king of them all. You’re going to want to factor in at least half a day for this, as the 1,200-acre park is home to 18 fantastic museums, some international houses and the unmissable Old Globe Theatre. You could get lost for hours strolling through its gardens and admiring its architecture, but if you want to do it properly, book a walking tour of the park.

La Jolla

Dubbed the “jewel of Southern California,” La Jolla is a curiously quaint Mediterranean-style village just a few minutes drive from downtown—but feels like you’ve accidentally taken the exit for Greece or Italy. There’s plenty to keep you entertained here, including some of the city’s finest restaurants like Nine-Ten in the Grande Colonial Hotel. Don't miss the nearby Legends Gallery, which boasts a nice collection of artwork by former La Jolla resident Dr. Seuss, or the Instagram-friendly La Jolla Cove, where you’ll almost always find groups of seals and sea lions sunbathing.

USS Midway Museum

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Although this park is located within San Diego's city limits, it remains one of the wildest landscapes along the Southern California coast, with miles of unspoiled beaches, chaparral, elegant Torrey Pine trees and a lagoon vital to many species of migrating birds.

Belly Up Tavern

Intimate music venue creates a lively yet casual scene with a rotating lineup of popular acts.

Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens

The Self-Realization Fellowship Encinitas Retreat, Hermitage, and Meditation Gardens is a spiritual retreat, monastic ashram, and meditation gardens in Encinitas, California, United States created by Paramahansa Yogananda. Its golden lotus towers rise above the white wall along Highway 101 near Swami's Seaside Park. The gardens are open daily for walking and meditation.