California
san diego
Less than 20 miles north of the US-Mexican border is San Diego. Touted as the city with the best weather in the country, its climate is ideal with mild temperatures, low humidity and an abundance of sunshine throughout the year.
imperial beach
We stayed on the south side of San Diego near Imperial Beach. It is a great area for families, with stretches of stunning beaches, restaurants and shops. We enjoyed walking out on the pier to watch the surfers and locals fishing. There were also groups on the beach doing yoga and walking while we were there in the morning. This sea side town is an ideal place to stay if you are looking for more of a relaxed, natural vibe not too far from the city center.
I recommend taking a short drive up the coast to Coronado, another beach area of San Diego that is on the ritzier side. Full of smaller boutiques and restaurants, it is a very expensive area to stay but a great place to visit. The island is known for the sprawling Hotel del Coronado that was built in 1888. with its famous white walls and red roof, it has been a popular beach retreat for celebrities through the decades. The extremely wide and pristine beach area is a perfect spot for a family beach day. From Coronado, it is easy to take the bridge across San Diego Bay into the downtown area.
I am a sucker for old roadside motels that have been rehabbed, so I was excited when we found this one on the south side of San Diego. The Rambler is a a boutique hotel designed in the boho style of the late 60’s and early 70’s. The check-in desk is located in the front building that also houses an arcade, coffee shop and a mini-cafe with hot items as well as grab and go selections. Each room is designed with its own hippie style vibes with cool, little details throughout. My favorite part though was the pool area with the colorful “chill” wall. It embodies the spirit of this fixer upper perfectly.
- Chula Vista (South San Diego)
- Cafe & Coffee Shop
- Pool: Yes
- Child Friendly: Yes
- Kitchenette: in Suites only
- Elevator: No
- Arcade: Yes
- Close to: Imperial Beach, Catalina Island
children's beach
La Jolla is a seaside suburb in Northern San Diego. It is known for it’s rugged coastline, the famed Torrey Pines golf course and marine life. We took our son to Children’s Beach, which was originally built in the 1930’s for families. Since the ocean is so rough in that area, a large barrier was built to make it calmer and safe for swimming. The beach was quickly taken over by seals though and remains one of the most popular and accessible places for seal watching. Visitors are allowed to walk down the stairs to the beach area as long as they maintain their distance from the seals and water. The beach is closed to the public from mid-December to mid-May for pupping season.
San Diego is home to the most visited zoo in the United States. It is privately owned by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, an international, nonprofit organization who is focused on conservation and education. Our son is an animal lover, especially penguins, so he was the most excited about this stop.
The zoo covers one hundred acres and is home to more than 12,000 rare and endangered animals representing over 680 species and subspecies. We spent around four hours there and saw the majority of the exhibits, but I definitely suggest planning your trip if you are short on time as the zoo is quite expansive.
Specializing in authentic Mexican bacon-wrapped hot dogs, owner Gus spent years traveling and perfecting his signature dish in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Returning to San Diego, he started at farmers markets and mobile food trucks before opening a brick and mortar shop.
While they are known for their doggos, they also other signature menu items like aguas frescas (fresh fruit drinks), Mexican chips (fries loaded with hot dogs slices, pico, grilled onion, chipotle and avocado crema) and dessert. We enjoyed their street corn and michelada, too.
This farm-to-table restaurant with two San Diego locations is where Southern California fare meets traditional Sicilian family recipes. While they are known for their brunch menu and famous bloody mary (voted the most over-the-top bloody mary by food network), we enjoyed a family dinner in the Chula Vista location. Their specialties are pasta and locally sourced wood-fired pizzas, but they also have a great selection of California and Mexican inspired entrees to please any palate. Even our eight year old son loved the pizza and calamari. It is a great place for brunch or dinner whether you are traveling solo, as a couple or with a family.
