Alexa & Michael
THINGS TO DO
La Jolla downtown
La Jolla has a variety of great seafood restaurants and shopping along the coast. For brunch/breakfsat check out The Cottage, Parakeet Cafe, Herringbone and Cody's. For local seafood we enjoy Mermaids and Cowboys, Duke's and Eddie V's! Bobboi gelato is the best right near the hotel! Check out the beautiful coastal cliffs and watch the seals/pelicans off the cliffs near the water. Kayaking is available near the sea caves. There are a few small beaches you can access near the cliffs but for a larger beach nearby Windansea Beach is beautiful beach for spend the day! La Jolla is a perfect location for sunset over the ocean.
Del Mar
Del Mar is one of our favorite coastal towns. There is a small main street with great restaurants (Monarch and Beeside Cafe are our favorites) and cute shops minutes from the beach. In additions to the popular dog beach here, the Del Mar horserace track is also located here! Viewpoint Brewery is also a great place to enjoy a local beer on the patio!
Windansea Beach
this is a beautiful rocky like small beach that is a great place to spend a few hours or the day! It attracts mostly locals and never gets too busy which is nice to escape the crowds! The water colors here are breathtaking and a great place for sunset views.
Torrey Pines State Reserve
Accented by the cliffs and rare pine trees, this oceanfront state park is truly one of the most beautiful locations in all of San Diego, and is beloved by visitors and locals alike. Spend the day hiking the trails or just walk up to the top of the hill for a magnificent view. You can spend the day at the beach below the cliffs as well.
Torrey Pines Gliderport
Watch paragliders run off the edge of oceanside bluffs to soar even higher on the sea breezes. This place is great to relax and stroll along the cliffs. For a fee, you can even can even paraglide with a pro on a tandem flight. You can easily access Black's Beach down many stairs from the Gliderport. Free parking here.
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is full of 17 museums and various gardens to wander through. The main attraction is the Botanical Building and the Lily Pond filled with koi fish. Bring a blanket and some rose to spend the day here. There are a few vendors with food/drinks and some restaurants here as well. Some of the gardens include the Japanese Garden, Desert Garden and Rose Garden.
Coronado Island
From downtown SD, this is about a 15 minute drive. Coronado Island is great for a beach day, biking along the boardwalk and great restaurants/shops on the main street. The Del Coronado is a famous beautiful historic hotel on the beach that is great for people watching at the hotel pool or on the beach/boardwalk. They have a few beachside dining options: Sun Deck, Sheerwater and the Beach & Taco Shack .There is often live music here and events on the weekend for hotel guests and the public. If you choose not to drive over the bridge, Coronado is a quick ferry ride across the bay from downtown.
Downtown San Diego/Little Italy
The Little Italy Farmers Market is every Saturday 11-2 pm. Little Italy is full of small Italian restaurants/bars with GREAT food! Save your appetite for homemade pasta and gelato. The Gaslamp District attracts a younger crowd and is full of lively bars/restaurants great for late night music! The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park is downtown and considered one of the best zoos around!
Mission Bay Park
Rent boats, jet skis, sailboat and paddleboards at this location and enjoy the day on the water! This attracts many families and dogs as it is pet friendly! In the evening this location is popular for bonfires and grilling out.
Temecula Wine Country
There are about 40 vineyards/wineries in Temecula which is a short hour drive from San Diego. Bottaia (gorgeous view/setting; there is also a pool here so you can swim and enjoy your vino), Doffo (known for their red wine, this venue attracts motorcyclists, great empanadas!), Miramonte (restaurant at venue) are recommended! Wilson Creek is a huge vineyard with a restaurant (known for sparkling almond wine) and Pilsner Vineyard has live music! Oak Mountain Winery has great food as well as a cool cave you can wine taste inside of. After your wine tasting, downtown Temecula is lively with many shops and restaurants!
North Park
North Park is a hipster like area near San Diego. Rent a bike for the day and brewery hop from one to the next!. An's Dry Cleaning (former dry cleaner) is known for homemade gelato with fun flavors like "linen,", "tartan" and "cotton." This area has a bunch of cute stores with gifts as well!
Encinitas
Encinitas is a super cute town about 30 minute drive from La Jolla. It is known for its kid friendly beaches, cute shops and restaurants and draws smaller crowds as it is less touristy. There is a long walking/biking path that parallels the coast and beaches here. The restaurant Pacific Coast Grill has an awesome beach view with a deck overlooking the ocean. Best sushi rolls! The San Diego Botanic Garden is also here.