Sometimes you just want to get away for the weekend enjoy some beach time, stay in a swanky hotel, and dine at a new restaurant. San Diego is an easy two-hour drive south of Alhambra, making it a great place for a weekend getaway. Follow this guide to help plan the perfect escape to San Diego.
Book Your Hotel
The first thing you want to do when you are planning a weekend getaway is secure your hotel. There’s nothing worse than making plans, dreaming about the perfect room with a view only to check at the last minute and discover all of the best places are booked.
For a slice of boutique luxury, the Kimpton Solamar Hotel is a great option. They have spa rooms where you can soak in an oversized tub after a day of exploring the city. The hotel also has a rooftop pool, in-room massages, and bikes that you are free to use to explore San Diego.
Plan What You Want to Do
There is so much to see and do in San Diego, there’s no way you’ll be able to fit it all into one weekend. Prioritize the things that you really want to do while you’re there so that you can make a mini-itinerary and see as much as possible.
If you want to see a lot in a small amount of time, consider driving San Diego’s 59-mile Scenic Drive. This road loops its way around all of the major sights and attractions and you can get out and explore the ones that interest you most. You’ll pass the downtown area, Harbor and Shelter Islands, Ocean Beach, Mission Bay Aquatic Park, Soledad Mountain, La Jolla Cove Park and Cave, Mission Beach, and the San Diego Zoo.
Choose a Few Great Restaurants
San Diego is a bustling city with tons of great restaurants. If you’re heading to the city on a weekend, you’ll want to make reservations before you arrive so that you don’t miss out on the best places.
Snooze A.M Eatery in Hillcrest is a must for brunch. It’s set up like a retro diner, but the food is so much more creative than your average diner. If you’re feeling really hungry, go for the Snooze Classic, farm fresh eggs cooked just the way you like topped with your choice of ham, bacon, chorizo, pulled pork, chicken sausage, or soy sausage with hash browns and toast.
For great modern American fare in an upscale setting, go to Juniper and Ivy. The menu changes weekly, so locals flock here for the freshest seafood and farm-to-table meats they offer. They specialize in tapas-style small plates that make sharing their dishes easy. You’ll definitely want to try their menu staples like bone marrow tartare and chorizo stuffed squid.
There are so many reasons to take a weekend trip to San Diego. Whether you enjoy the beach, experience the big sights like the San Diego Zoo, or want a change of scenery, you’ll get it all with a quick trip down the coast. After you explore San Diego once, you’ll be making plans to visit again and again.
Image “Shelter Island Sunset” by Chad McDonald, used under CC BY-ND 2.0
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