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Getaway Guide

San Diego

Coastal California city break with year-round sun and laid-back waterfront living

Take a scenic walk along the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail, nestled within an ecological reserve with seals and sea lions sunning on the beach.
Take a scenic walk along the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail, nestled within an ecological reserve with seals and sea lions sunning on the beach.

Sandy beaches, gorgeous parks, and a vibrant downtown.

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States beloved for its year-round warm and sunny climate. With white sand beaches hugging the Pacific, gorgeous public parks, and burgeoning foodie scene, San Diego is a favorite destination for travelers seeking a refined city break with a casual surf town vibe.

Begin your day soaking in San Diego’s natural beauty at La Jolla, one of the most photographed pieces of coastal land within the entire state of California. La Jolla beach is nestled within a 6,000-acre ecological reserve and is bursting with a spectacle of marine life - from seals and sea lions sunning themselves on the beach to barracuda, batfish, and giant sea bass gliding along under the surf. Park along Coast Blvd and take a walk along the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail, a scenic trail running from La Jolla Shores to La Jolla Cove.

Explore San Diego’s terrestrial wonders at the famous Balboa Park. This 1,200-acre urban oasis is known for its world-class zoo, sprawling gardens, and refined Spanish Revival-style architecture. Highlights include the Botanical House, fronted by an iconic lily and lotus pond and containing over two thousand individual plant species, and the California Tower, recently reopened to the public after being closed for 80 years. After walking up 125 steps, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the San Diego Zoo and the Coronado Bridge.

Finally, get to know downtown San Diego with a walk along the Embarcadero, a tribute to the region’s colorful maritime history located along the Big Bay adjacent to downtown. In addition to historic ships like the USS Midway, a working fishing harbor, and the San Diego Maritime Museum, you’ll find a vibrant commercial corridor brimming with shops, restaurants, and a new 12-acre waterfront park.

Explore San Diego's gorgeous public spaces with a visit to Balboa Park, an urban oasis on the California coast.
Explore San Diego's gorgeous public spaces with a visit to Balboa Park, an urban oasis on the California coast.

Whale watching, street festivals, museums & more.

If you want an up-close view of San Diego’s sea life, embark on a whale-watching tour. During your excursion, you’ll have the chance to spy gray whales, passing dolphin pods, and sea lion colonies. In the summer, you may even see a blue whale – the largest animals on Earth that commonly feed offshore of the San Diego coast.

Back on land, visit the San Diego Zoo, a world-renowned 100-acre wildlife park home to over 12,000 rare and endangered animals including cheetahs, jaguars, lions, leopards, and tigers. Take a Discovery Cart guided tour of the zoo led by a knowledgeable guide, or book an exclusive private tour guide for up to five hours for a more tailored and personalized experience. For a sense of the city, tour San Diego’s eclectic Gaslamp Quarter, heralded by a gateway arch on Fifth Avenue dating from 1867 when developer Alonzo Horton envisaged a new metropolitan center near the San Diego Bay. With 94 historic buildings in a 16-block heritage area bordering Petco Park and the Convention Center, this lively neighborhood features hundreds of sidewalk restaurants and cafes and plays host to large street festivals during Mardi Gras and St Patrick’s Day.

For indoor fun, visit one of San Diego’s many museums. At the Museum of Us, creative exhibits introduce local Native American and Mesoamerican cultures in engaging and innovative ways that tie into modern life. At the San Diego Air & Space Museum, you’ll learn about the evolution of human flight and can even give it a try yourself, with flight simulators, an “Action Hangar” play area for little ones, and a 3D/4D theater for all ages.

Discover the joys of San Diego's burgeoning foodie scene - from artisanal tacos to fresh seafood and craft beers.
Discover the joys of San Diego's burgeoning foodie scene - from artisanal tacos to fresh seafood and craft beers.

A burgeoning foodie scene with famous tacos & seafood.

There is no shortage of fantastic and unique dining experiences to be had in San Diego.

  • Start your day off right with a fresh cup of java from Café Moto, where knowledgeable baristas prepare drinks made from an impressive collection of globally imported house-roasted beans.
  • San Diego’s taco culture stands above the rest, offering the most authentic tastes this side of the border. For lunch, head over to Puesto, a casual sit-down Mexican eatery located within the former San Diego Police headquarters that serves up delicious award-winning tacos, Mexican street bowls, and margaritas.
  • If street food is more your style, try Oscar’s Mexican Seafood where owner Juan Bernardo Montes de Oca whips up some of the tastiest street tacos in the city using locally caught fish, fresh avocado, and Monterrey Jack cheese.
  • Craving fresh seafood? Don’t miss Point Loma Seafoods, the ocean-to-plate fish market located next to the sport-fishing docks, where you’ll dine at picnic tables while watching fishermen haul in their daily catches.
  • But be sure to save room for the ultimate seafood dinner at Ironside Fish & Oyster, located in an old ironworks factory. With different dining stations spanning a raw bar to a five-foot-long tank of live lobsters, a dinner at Ironside is a memorable experience.
  • Once you’ve had your taco and seafood fix, it’s time to explore San Diego’s craft beer scene. With more than 100 craft breweries in the area, it can be hard to figure out where to begin. We suggest starting with Stone Brewing Co. (two locations in Escondido and Point Loma) and heading over to 30th Street in North Park, where you’ll find more than a dozen beer-centric bars. In November, San Diego Beer Week is in full swing offering a great opportunity to sample a wide range of what local breweries have to offer.
Enjoy California coastal living at its finest when you stay in a private vacation home in San Diego. Featured Haven No. 370568
Enjoy California coastal living at its finest when you stay in a private vacation home in San Diego. Featured Haven No. 370568

From beach homes in La Jolla to Oceanside retreats, discover picture-perfect coastal California havens.

With white sand beaches hugging the Pacific, beautiful year-round weather, gorgeous public parks, and a burgeoning foodie scene, San Diego is a perfect city break with a casual surf town vibe. Explore our curated collection of private San Diego vacation rentals - beachfront condos, surf lodges, and spacious homes with rooftop BBQs and beautiful sunset views. Stay in the heart of La Jolla or find your haven in the surrounding area, where you can experience idyllic coastal living a short drive from San Diego city in the picture-perfect beach towns of Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Del Mar. Ready to find your haven in San Diego county? View some of our expert picks at the link below.

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