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If you’ve been following the talking heads of mainstream news, then L.A. probably isn’t the most appealing destination right about now.
Lucky for you, Southern California boasts far more than the glitz, glamour, and botox of Hollywood, with swank desert oases like Palm Springs, mountain hideaways like Big Bear, and delightful beach towns speckled throughout Orange County.
But, there’s one stunning beach city I’ve had *mostly* the pleasure of calling home (minus that one blip on the timeline starting in 2020) — and that would be “Sunny San Diego”.
Popular vacation rental platform Vrbo just released its top picks for ‘Top Beach Towns for Summer Vacation‘.
Believe it or not, the West Coast was lacking, but there’s no way to leave out the undisputed champ of California vacations with year-round pristine beaches, lush nature, exciting summer events, new resorts nearby, and world-class cuisine even Angelinos blush at.
Is San Diego Worth The Splurge?
From the moment you step outside at San Diego International Airport (SAN), the swaying palms and ocean breeze have you forgetting all about your travel budget.
Heck, that’s what happened to me but tenfold — I moved here 6 months later!
The goods news for vacationers is there are numerous reports stating San Diego’s prices are dropping not only for locals’ outrageous rental rates, but also hotels, according to Kayak.
Hotels can still be pricey, just not quite as much as you might think. That’s why many tourists opt for Hotel Circle as their base away from prime real estate beachfronts in favor of Mission Valley’s budget-friendly blah-ness.
If you’re renting a car, you’ll also have to factor in the new gas tax being implemented July 1st (as if we don’t pay enough!).
What this all boils down to is if you’re ready to fork over what San Diegans have long dubbed “the sunshine tax”, a made-up excuse to pay premium prices simply because San Diego is as close to Eden as the West Coast gets.
Whether it be the flawless shores of La Jolla, the storybook streets of Del Mar, or the laid-back “island” of Coronado (it’s really a peninsula), the fact is there’s no place like San Diego.
Despite L.A. thinking we’re always in their shadow, there could always be another L.A., but there’s only one San Diego.
Summertime Fun! New Resorts & Iconic Events
While it’s true that staples like family-friendly Mission Beach and the world-famous San Diego Zoo (pandas are back!) will top thousands of itineraries this summer, there’s more to this city than meets the eye.
In fact, it feels like San Diego is expanding. Much of San Diego is stacked on top of each other because you can only go so far west, but the south side (referred to as South Bay) is becoming San Diego’s new hotspot with the opening of highly-sought after Gaylord Pacific Resort & Conference Center as Chula Vista’ first-ever resort.
And to the North, San Diego also opened their first-ever adults-only resort, Alila Marea Beach Resort, in the idyllic beach town of Encinitas.
Even once run-down Oceanside is now becoming one of San Diego County’s trendiest and affordable getaways.
So, don’t judge a book by its cover when all you may hear about this summer are the same-o, same-o destinations and events like globally-renowned Comic-Con, set to invade downtown San Diego July 24 – July 27.
Even if you don’t have tickets, scoring a Gaslamp patio seat and people-watching is a blast! Who wouldn’t want to grab a beer with Batman?
“The summer vibes here are immaculate, and though there is no shortage of things to do (hello, Comic-Con!), it’s also the perfect time to just relax and take in everything the area has to offer – even if that means spending your days chilling at the beach with a good book and plenty of sunscreen.”
– Stephanie Arsenault, author of newly released guidebook, 111 Places in San Diego That You Must Not Miss
Though another downtown locale is perhaps the place that should be circled in red on your calendar — The Rady Shell. Here, you’ll find an impressive summer lineup for outdoor concerts featuring such acts as:
- Earth, Wind & Fire
- Alison Kraus
- Beck (w/ The San Diego Symphony Orchestra)
- Shaggy (w/ The San Diego Symphony Orchestra)
- Boyz II Men (w/ The San Diego Symphony Orchestra)
- Smokey Robinson
- “Weird Al” Yankovic
Venture Outside The Norm This Summer
Maybe I’ve lived here too long or maybe my mid 30’s are tapping into future geriatric grumpiness, but it drives me nuts when people refer to San Diego as a “small town” as if all they’ve ever done is ride a Mission Beach roller coaster thinking that’s all there is to do.
San Diego is one of America’s largest cities, covering an expanse of 372 square miles between the edge of Orange County and the border of Mexico.
So, here are a few fun facts you may not know and can easily take advantage of in San Diego:
City Heights: Want truly authentic cuisine? Visit City Heights, San Diego’s most cultural neighborhood off the typical tourist path where 30 languages and 80 dialects are spoken.
Kensington: Want to avoid the rowdy Gaslamp Quarter crowds? Find plentiful parking in a vibrant district where every restaurant has a patio.
Potato Chip Rock: Want the best views in San Diego County? Wake up early to beat the heat and hike Potato Chip Rock — it lives up to the name!
Travel Tip: If there’s one important thing first-time visitors should know is to check beach conditions as sewage flow from Tijuana is a consistent issue.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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