Things You Must Do While In Del Mar California

Posted by Terry Hunefeld

June 19, 2009

by Terry Hunefeld

Del Mar California is a dream town - an upscale ocean-side community just north of San Diego. Within the Del Mar city limits, a quaint historical village serves as a backdrop to a small seaside resort first made famous in the 1930’s when Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante and other race horse lovers from Hollywood built the horse race track at the fairgrounds.

1. The Place To Be Is Epazote

Del Mar’s downtown area has a definite European flavor. More than seventy unique shops, cute hotels and 23 restaurants offer enough variety to please everybody. The artsy “Italian” outdoor mall, Del Mar Plaza, is at the north end of town at the corner of Highway 101 and 15th Street, where you will find trendy shops and unique bistros among the ironwork and tiled fountains of an Italian piazza.

The plaza is the home of Epazote, a local restaurant favorite. It’s a wonderful place for lunch or end of the day cocktails because it has an outdoor patio that swells with sunshine, sea breezes and enchanting panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. It’s also one of Del Mar’s favorite nightlife destinations with a contemporary, upscale vibe. Sleek and sophisticated, with a 180-degree views of the Pacific, hip bar and a cutting edge ocean view lounge, Epazote is a great day or night experience. Oh, and did I mention the food? All of it is creative, unique and wonderful.

2. Hike Through Abstract Red Rock Canyons

You can spend an entire day hiking up cliffs and down to the ocean, around and through ancient sculpted sandstone canyons at this San Diego treasure: Torrey Pines State Reserve. The reserve is enormous, nearly 1800 acres set aside to protect the rare and endangered Torrey Pine. You’ll find multiple trails for hikers and joggers, each affording a different yet phenomenal view of an other-worldly landscape. Here you’ll find wind bent trees, eerie sandstone formations and fields of wildflowers all framed by the Pacific Ocean below and beyond - it’s a constantly changing landscape depending on the movement of sun and clouds. Bring a camera - every trail has an awesome views and different perspective of the Pacific Ocean.

3. See The World From Way “Up There”

Soar through the sky in a hot air balloon as it becomes part of the wind and glides effortlessly above the hills and bed and breakfast inns - a calm, peaceful and relaxing way to panoramically take in the enormity of the Pacific Ocean and San Diego countryside. Hot air balloon companies offer daily sunrise and sunset tours from a site near the Del Mar fairgrounds and race track. You’ll float eastward towards Rancho Santa Fe and the Cuyamaca Mountains and experience rare views of the San Diego coastline from San Clemente all the way to Mexico.

Many describe flying in a hot air balloon as one of the most serene, enjoyable activities they’ve ever experienced. Sunny skies and heavenly sunsets allow you to experience what it’s like to float among the clouds. If you’re staying at a hotel in Del Mar, you can experience the views of a lifetime with Skysurfrer Balloon Tours, Magical Adventures or Sky’s The Limit Balloon Adventures. Google or Bing! them for more information.

4. World-Class Beaches

Del Mar beaches are very popular because the waves are usually gentle and it’s a great place to learn to surf. With more than two miles of sandy beaches and excellent conditions for swimming, body surfing, board surfing, boogie boarding, or just lounging in the sun, Del Mar beaches are a vacationer’s delight. A nearby bed and breakfast in Encinitas is located only a block from Moonlight Beach, and is appropriately named the Inn at Moonlight Beach. On some beaches, residents are allowed to bring their dogs and spectators enjoy great games of dog/human Frisbee. No matter what beach you’re on, you’ll see hundreds of people spending the whole day under the sun with friends and family. The best and most popular beach is at the end of 15th Street - crowded year around with families, couples, friends and surfers. A good selection of Del Mar hotels and inns can be found near the beaches.

5. Pedal Around Town

Historic Coast Highway 101 runs through the center of downtown Del Mar and is one of San Diego County’s best cycling routes. Distance bikers start their rides in Del Mar and head either south to Torrey Pines Reserve or north to Solana Beach, Encinitas and Carlsbad. For less intense riders, bicycling is one of the simplest ways to have fun, enjoy the wonderful Del Mar scenery and stay fit and in-shape, especially if you’re enjoying the breakfasts at one of the Del Mar Bed and Breakfasts, inns or hotels in town. With great biking weather all year, you can ride up and down quiet residential streets and along the ocean until you’re ready for lunch - Epazote anyone?

About the Author:

Several years ago Terry Hunefeld retired as a CEO from By Referral Only, Inc follow his bliss of pelagic birding - observing seabirds at sea. Terry and his wife Ann Dunham own and operate the Inn at Moonlight Beach near the sea in the Del Mar area. For more info, click Del Mar Bed and Breakfasts or B&B del mar.

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