Things To Do
Torrey Pines State Reserve
Beautiful hiking near the beach along ocean bluffs, named after the rare and endangered coastal pine tree that occurs only in our little pocket of coastal San Diego. Torrey Pines is truly a gem and is luckily only about 10 minutes south of our house! Be warned, though, that this place can get extremely busy in the summertime. Try to Uber or Lyft there as parking is expensive and limited. Once on the trails, head up the hill, look at the pine trees, take some photos, and then head back down toward the beach and walk on the sand back to the parking lot. If you are feeling really adventurous, ask us about walking from Torrey Pines all the way to La Jolla through Black's Beach ( a famous surfing spot and an even more infamous nude beach). It's about a 6 mile walk that requires checking the tide to make sure certain sections of beach are passable.
Modern Times Far West Lounge
One of San Diego's most loved breweries, with an all vegan menu to munch on! These guys n gals seriously make some of the best beer in the world, in our opinion. Their hazy IPAs, in particular, are the thing to get here. But regardless of what you get, you won't be disappointed by the extensive beer list, the excellent food (try the potato croquettes and the bratwurst!), and the funky decor. The place is relatively small, though, so it can get crowded on weekends.
The Taco Stand
San Diego is known for having some of the best, most authentic Mexican food joints in the country and this place is no exception! It's our favorite place to grab amazing tacos or a burrito. Cody recommends the al pastor and for the vegetarians, Geertje loves the classic bean and cheese burrito. You can't go wrong here, just don't forget to visit their salsa bar and pig out! Plus, it's only a walk away from Modern Times! ;)
Swami's Meditation Gardens
Although this place is technically a temple for the Self-Realization Fellowship, it has an expansive garden area atop the cliffs in southern Encinitas with incredible ocean views and beautiful tropical plants and fish ponds. It is one of our favorite places to go on a sunny day to stroll through some peaceful greenery and watch the waves. While you are there, be sure to check out their pamphlets on the history of the center and their mission; we find it be very intriguing. Afterward, go for a walk down the stairs to nearby Swami's beach, a world-famous surf break. The garden hours are: Tuesday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Crest Canyon Park
One of Cody's favorite places because it's never crowded, this little park behind our house offers an incredibly beautiful and short hike in a canyon full of wildlife and local costal sage scrub plant species. Torrey Pines are found here in abundance along with various bird species that are unique to the San Diego coast. The hike is an easy 2 mile loop and the sign at the trail head has a simple map and some info about local wildlife. If you see something interesting, take a photo of it and Cody can try to help explain what it is and why it's special!
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
One of the most spectacular coastal hiking destinations near downtown San Diego! Walk along sandstone cliffs above the sparkling blue pacific. This spot is close to Ocean Beach, a very happening and funky little neighborhood closer to downtown San Diego that is home to surfers, artists, and party people. Del Mar (where we live) is really more part of northern San Diego and is considered to be a bit out of the way by the folks who live down in the area near Ocean Beach and downtown. So if you are looking for a taste of "true" San Diego, as some might consider it, try to visit this area while you are around!
Zel's Del Mar
Definitely our favorite restaurant in downtown Del Mar, Zel's has a creative menu with local seafood dishes, tasty flatbreads, and of course, good cocktails. Try to get there for their happy hour and if you're going for dinner, ask for a seat outside near the fireplace.
Cedros Avenue Design District
Cedros Avenue is a cute street in Solana Beach (one town North of Del Mar) lined with artist studios and eclectic shopping. One of Geertje's favorite stores is Leaping Lotus, which showcases a diverse mix of merchants in over 120 sections within a warehouse-style space. You'll also find one of our favorite breweries, Culture Brewery, along this street. For high-quality coffee, give Lofty Coffee a try.