That Cool Travel Couple

San Diego is a quick two hour scenic drive down from Los Angeles, but feels like a world away! Here are our favorite things to do in this surf city. Read on to learn how to plan an awesome weekend trip to San Diego!

The Drive

Know that traffic can be quite variable on the way from Los Angeles to San Diego and can add several hours on to this two hour trip. We think that the worst times to leave are right after work on Friday, and in the early evening on Sunday. If you can’t head out early on a Friday, it’s best to wait a few hours until the traffic dies down, or plan to take some stops along the way to break up the journey.

Our favorite place to stop on the way to San Diego is Oceanside. This is an adorable coastal town that is almost at the halfway point. We like to get out and stretch our legs by walking around the Harborside Village. Harbor Fish and Chips is THE best fish and chips available in the continental US so we like to stop there whenever we can. We finish it up with ice cream from Nana’s and Pop’s Sweet Shop. We like to walk around the marina and catch the sunset at the beach across the street before hitting the road again.

La Jolla

La Jolla literally means the jewel, and this jewel of a town is the first you’ll hit along the coast on the way to San Diego. Check out the seals at La Jolla cove and wade in the tide pools. Stroll around the village area for upscale shopping. Finish it off with a meal at George’s, a beautiful restaurant overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean. Leave room for Bobboi Gelato which is some of the best gelato you can get outside of Italy. Be prepared to splurge if you spend more time in La Jolla! It can get pricey to eat and stay around La Jolla.

Before leaving, definitely check out Mount Soledad Veteran’s Memorial. This hill top memorial offers sweeping views of the Pacific and of San Diego down below. It makes an excellent sunset spot but is also very beautiful during the day.

Mission Bay

Mission Bay is our favorite place to stay in the San Diego area. This is also really close to Sea World, if that’s your thing. There are lots of cool resorts around the Mission Bay area. We have stayed at Paradise Point and Bahia Resort Hotel and have had great experiences at both. San Diego also has tons of amazing AirBnB options, so be sure to check those out as well!

Mission Beach Boardwalk is THE place to go. Picture classic Southern California beach city vibes. There are tons of people walking, biking, and running next to the sandy beach. It’s right next to Belmont Park, which has a few classic old-school coasters and retro theme park rides right on the beach. Grab lunch at Draft South Mission for amazing ocean views, or get some pizza to go from ZoZo’s and eat a picnic on the beach.

Honorable mention for Pacific Beach as well – lot’s of cool coffee shops and eateries line this classic San Diego beach. There are also interesting antique shops and vintage stores to wander into. This stretch of sand is particularly beautiful during sunset. It’s super close and just north of Mission Beach, so you can stay in Mission and be in Pacific Beach in just a few minutes.

Balboa Park

You could spend an entire day in Balboa Park alone if you wanted to. There are so many unique and interesting pockets to explore.

We never miss the Spanish Village Art Center. There are so many local studios along this colorful cobble stone lined village. Grab coffee from the trailer in the middle and walk around taking in all the colors and textures. Each studio has its own unique and creative niche, and many of the artists support local causes as well.

Balboa Park is also home to the San Diego Zoo, the Fleet Science Center and the San Diego Natural History Museum. We also love wandering through the Japanese Friendship Garden and checking out the beautiful bonsai trees and koi fish splashing around the ponds. Walk by the Old Globe which is an outdoor functional theater reminiscent of the Shakespearian Globe Theatre in London. 

The San Diego Museum of Art is another museum we love checking out. After, we like to grab some lunch or a drink at Panama 66 for the views. 

Downtown San Diego

Downtown San Diego has a few interesting pockets that are worth checking out. You can get amazing traditional tacos at many of the Mexican restaurants in the area. The Gaslamp Quarter is home to many upscale (and medium scale) restaurants and is famous for shopping and nightlife. 

We enjoy wandering around Waterfront Park, which often hosts food and drink festivals. If you wander further down the Embaradero you’ll hit the USS Midway Museum which is definitely worth a visit. You can board this aircraft carrier and learn more about naval history on board.

Stroll even further down, and you’ll get to Seaport Village. This adorable shopping area is set right on the waters edge and hosts a wide variety of specialty shops, ranging from toy shops to wind chimes to souvenirs. There are also multiple eateries in this area too. 

Coronado Island

Coronado Island is one of our favorite places to go. Yas grew up camping at Silver Strand State Beach, which is located a short bike ride away from downtown Coronado! To get to this “island”, you have to cross the iconic Coronado Bridge, which you’ll see on any skyline photo of San Diego. 

When you get to Coronado you’ll also recognize the “Del”, or Hotel del Coronado. This iconic San Diego hotel has catered to many a celebrity including Sylvester Stallone and Marilyn Monroe amongst many others! We didn’t want to splurge on the hefty price tag of staying here, but definitely make sure to grab a drink on their terrace and relax to the sounds of summer. 

Other fun things to add on to your weekend trip to San Diego!

• San Diego Wild Animal Park
• San Diego Zoo
• Legoland
• Temecula