Coronado Beach and Coronado Hotel
Dreaming of San Diego? Me too! I love everything San Diego, except the traffic of course. So, if you need tips of where to go and what to see for a family on a budget, I’m your gal. If you want fancy restaurants and shopping then I’m not! To me San Diego means all things outdoors and beach so where should you start when it comes to beaches?
Coronado
Hands down my favorite play on the beach kind of beach is Coronado! Why you say? I know, I know it’s known for being a girly beach as it has very calm waves, but as I’m a girl, I’ll tell you why it’s fantastic.
- First, Coronado has the perfect big sandy area for Frisbee, football, sand castles, volleyball, and spike ball. It’s nice and level without rocks. It’s perfect for the kids to play.
- Second, it has the most beautiful sand I’ve ever seen. It’s so stunning and honestly shimmers like gold when the sun seeps through the waves and touches the sand. It’s truly breathtaking! I promise you’ll find yourself touching the sand to find the glow. Plan to be there on a sunny day to get the full effect of the sparkles.
- Third, Coronado Beach has a very quaint feel with the backdrop of the old Coronado Hotel in the distance, making it feel very retro or VW Van-ish, like the classic California posters.
- Fourth, the water is shallow for forever; you can walk out in the calm waves and still just wade. As I’m not much of an ocean swimmer but a beach comber this is perfect for me.
- Finally, the bridge you take to get to the beach is amazing. The bridge makes me a little nervous for some reason, but alas, driving on it gives me a thrill.
Tide pools at Cardiff State Beach
Other Beaches
My other favorite beaches include:
- Imperial Beach at low tide for great sand dollar collecting
- Moonlight Beach for rock and seashell collecting as well as a perfect setting for a walk on the shore against the cliffs (wear good sandals as it’s rocky)
- La Jolla for up close sea-lion viewing as well as a great place for snorkeling
- Del Mar Beach, not the dog beach, but southern, for a calm more private beach with pretty beach houses in the background to dream about (quite picturesque)
- Carlsbad Beach for easy sand and beach access with parking close and free on the road parallel to the ocean
- Cardiff State Beach at low tide for easy access to tide pool exploring
- Carlsbad Cliffs for perfect sunset viewing
Views from Torrey State Reserve
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
After the beach, my next favorite San Diego adventure is Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. This is the jack pot when it comes to outdoor activities. This gem includes unique hikes, amazing views of the ocean from stunning cliffs, native plants and birds, and finally a gorgeous beach perfect for beach combing. Conveniently, it is located right in busy San Diego. I recommend parking on North Torrey Pines Road just before the entrance to the park as parking there is free. Next, walk up the road to the top of the reserve and begin your hikes. It is a good jaunt up the hill so be prepared. At the top of the hill, be aware that most of the hikes are interconnected so picking up a map is recommended to see where you have been and where you would like to go. If you have little ones with you, you do have the option of driving up to the top of the reserve to begin hiking which would be much easier but just plan on paying an entrance fee. Another plus for parking on the road at the bottom is that you have the option of finishing your hiking on the beach access trail which will lead you off the cliffs, to the water and then back to your car on a beautiful beach up against the bottom of the Torrey Pines Cliffs for an opposite view, down looking up. Don’t forget to check for high tide as the beach may be impassable at the highest tide but well worth the effort otherwise. Also, watch for seashells on the beach as it has a unique collection of spiral shells mixed in with the rocks.
Trail running at Torrey State Reserve
Other Favorites
Next are some of my other random San Diego favorites. Check out Old Town and make sure to visit the candle shop to watch the pros magically create beautiful seascape candles, stop by the candy shop to try some fresh homemade salt water taffy, and mosey into the shops that sell painted gourds which is such an interesting art base. Catch a baseball game at Petco Park as nothing is as American as baseball, especially on vacation. I love baseball at night with the big city lights in the background. Walk around the stunning Mormon Temple, and of course, take a stroll through Balboa Park which is park, museum, and gardens in one.
Finally, where should you eat while in San Diego? Well, I am all about fish tacos as I love to eat the local cuisine when playing the tourist. My favorite place for taste, location, and best of all price, is Bahia Don Bravo located at 5504 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla. Easy access parking is available in the back. The fish taco is superb, I think the best I’ve ever eaten, and at $1.49 each is well worth the stop. I suggest two tacos and well, your taste buds will thank you. Another option worth trying there is the California burrito, and yup it does have French fries wrapped up inside.
I hope these tips will help you with planning and enjoying your dream vacation to beautiful San Diego! Just remember to invite me to come along!
My Family in San Diego
