Megan & Nick
Things To Do
Del Mar Dog Beach
A great beach spot if you're bringing your dog or you're a dog lover!
Powerhouse Beach
Great beach next to a park in Del Mar!
San Diego Zoo
We love the San Diego Zoo so much that we are members! Definitely check it out if you can.
Gaslamp Quarter
Less than 30 min south of Del Mar, the Gaslamp District has awesome restaurants, bars, clubs, live music, and comedy shows! You can get there by car or the train.
Petco Park
It's been named the best baseball stadium in the U.S. for a reason. If you can, check out a baseball game here -- it has great food and it's right there in the Gaslamp!
Solana Beach
Beautiful coastal city just north of Del Mar, with great beaches and the cute Cedros Design District with shopping and restaurants. FOOD: Alce 101 Kitchen + Taqueria, Claire's on Cedros, Tony's Jacal, Pizza Port
Cardiff / Encinitas / Leucadia
Megan grew up in Encinitas and has a lot of favorite spots along the 101 -- it's beautiful! There's also a great walking path along the coast and lots of cute shops up and down the 101. BREAKFAST: Swami's, Waverly, Pipe's, Honey's, Potato Shack Cafe, 101 Diner, Pannikin OTHER FOOD: The Taco Stand, Union Kitchen + Tap, Herb & Sea, Valentina, Buonna Forchetta, Pacific Coast Grill, VG Donuts & Bakery, Lourdes. Also lots of great bars and beer gardens. BEACHES: Beacon's, D Street, Moonlight, for surfing try Grandview, Swami's, Pipe's
Carlsbad Village
We may be biased because we live here, but if you drive 20 min north to Carlsbad Village (there's a train stop here, too!) this is where almost all our favorite spots are! FOOD: Campfire (get the broccoli), Via Vai, Nick's on State, Harumama, Barrio, Oak & Elixir, Paon, Jeune et Jolie (has a Michelin star), The Goods -- honestly everything you'll eat in the Village is great! BARS: Compass, Crackheads, Park 101, Grand Avenue BEACHES: Carlsbad State Beach is beautiful, and has a great seawall walking path
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Great hike with beautiful views. Note that parking fills up fast on the weekends! 5 min drive from Del Mar.
La Jolla Cove
You can go scuba diving or snorkeling, hang out with sea lions, check out tide pools, go kayaking, or explore the coast walk trail! There's also a cool sea cave. <20 min drive from Del Mar.
Mission Bay / Mission Beach
Although it may be crowded Memorial Day Weekend, we've staycationed in Mission Bay and it's a blast. Rent bikes, kayaks, or a boat, check out the Mission Beach Boardwalk and Belmont Park, or just relax on the beach! ~25 min drive from Del Mar.
Balboa Park
Great museums (Air & Space, Natural History, etc.), restaurants, trails and gardens. The Botanic Garden is gorgeous! You can also get a Balboa Park Explorer Pass to see more stuff for a discount. ~20 min drive from Del Mar.
Old Town
Fun fact - Old Town is the location of the first European settlement in CA, and the oldest neighborhood in San Diego! It has history, great food (and tequila), and shopping. There's a train stop here, but it's also a 20 min drive from Del Mar.