Seven ways to experience San Diego

Holidays always seems to be about trade-offs and choices.

The beach or the mountains? Or the desert instead? Small town ambiance or big city vibes? Family friendly or action-packed nightlife?

When it comes to San Diego, travellers don’t have to choose only one option because it’s all right here. As a biodiverse region, San Diego has the beaches, bays, mountains, lakes and deserts within a short drive. But it is not just about the landscape, San Diego can deliver a variety of experiences. Here is how to have a have the perfect multi-faceted holiday.

1. Beaches and Bays

Even along its 70-miles of coastline, San Diego delivers diversity. For those looking for high-end accommodations and fashionable restaurants coupled with pristine sandy beaches, La Jolla is the place to go. Just south of La Jolla is Pacific Beach, which offers expansive beaches and a boardwalk along with a nightlife that will appeal to those who want a plethora of party options. For a more laidback, classic beach town vibe, visitors can head a little farther south to Ocean Beach to enjoy funky bars, surf and antique shops.

2. Lakes

While San Diego’s beaches and bays often get the attention, the region is also a land of lakes, with 20 freshwater lakes and reservoirs. One local favourite is Lake Murray in the centrally located Mission Trails Regional Park. There are options to fish, motorboat, rowboat, kayak or pedal boat. Located just 25 minutes northeast from downtown San Diego is the San Vicente Reservoir, the city’s largest. There are places to picnic and barbecue, but the real draw is fishing as the clearwater reservoir. It is also a great spot for boating, kayaking, waterskiing and wakeboarding.

3. Mountains

For the rustic feel of a mountain retreat, San Diego’s East County provides majestic ranges to explore. Located less than an hour from downtown San Diego is the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, which is home to more than 100 miles of hiking trails, many open to horseback riders, as well as campgrounds and picnic sites. On a clear day, the park’s highest viewpoint, Cuyamaca Peak (6,512 feet), reveals views of Mexico, mountain ranges near Los Angeles and wide expanses of desert. A little farther east is the pine-studded Laguna Mountains, located within the Cleveland National Forest’s 8,600-acre spread. It offers opportunities for hiking, biking, camping, fishing, and mountain climbing during the summer months and sledding and tobogganing in the winter.

4. Deserts

The San Diego region also offers up the dramatic beauty of the desert for visitors to explore. To the east is the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California’s largest state park. Filled with sweeping landscapes of cacti and other unique desert vegetation, the park is also home to roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, desert iguanas and lizards. For those looking for more pampering, the nearby desert community of Borrego Springs is home a number of hotels and resorts.

5. Small town

San Diego might be the country’s eighth largest city, but the region boasts a number of small towns for those looking to escape the hectic pace. To the east there is the historic town of Julian, which dates back more than a century and was home to the only gold rush in Southern California. The town is known for its apple pies, quaint shops, art galleries, wine tasting rooms, and charming hotels and inns. For those looking for small town beach feel, Encinitas to the north is worth checking out as it harkens back to the historic Highway 101 beach culture of yesteryear..

 6. Urban

For the more metropolitan-type traveller, downtown San Diego offers all the hustle, bustle and culture. The historic Gaslamp Quarter is home to a diverse line-up of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues as well as spas, art galleries and artisan shops. Nearby Little Italy has a lively neighbourhood feel fuelled by outdoor cafés, international restaurants, craft breweries, art galleries, and the festive Piazza della Famiglia.

7. International

The most distinctive destination that the region has to offer is that of Baja California, Mexico — allowing visitors the chance for a two-nation holiday. A short drive or trolley ride from downtown San Diego is the US-Mexico border providing access to Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada and Guadalupe Valley, a cluster of cities known for their rich artistic and culinary offerings. Tijuana is an energetic hub of activity day and night with duty-free shopping, Mexican cuisine and a tremendous arts and culture scene.

Rosarito is a resort community known for its beaches, oceanfront hotels, aquatic adventures, shopping, seafood dining and nightlife.

Ensenada, which is a 90-minute drive from San Diego, offers ocean vistas as well as taco shops, seafood carts, craft breweries and mescal and margarita bars.

Just outside Ensenada is the Valle De Guadalupe, considered the Napa Valley of Mexico as it produces 90% of the country’s wine and features over 100 wineries.

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