Top-Rated Weekend Getaways from San Diego. When you determine it's time to escape the cozy climate and also attractive beaches of San Diego, the surrounding area offers a practically endless variety of choices. From treking with the rugged canyons of Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave Desert to angling off the coastline of Baja Mexico, it's all simply a short repel.
Natural wonders, like the large redwoods of Sequoia National Park are quickly available, as are city experiences like checking out the blowing up food scene of DTLA (Downtown Los Angeles).
Southern California's substantial freeway network, incorporated with some mindful planning, can also allow for two very different journeys in a single day. Quite conveniently, it's possible to surf at Pacific Beach in the early morning and invest the mid-day skiing in the mountains of Huge Bear.
Plan your experiences with our listing of the very best weekend break escapes from San Diego.
1. Catalina Island
Catalina Island
Just 26 miles off the coastline as well as with regular Catalina Express catamaran service departing from Dana Point, this trip is just two hrs from San Diego (a 90-minute boat ride plus half an hour to drive to Dana Point).
Catalina Island is full of small resorts, fantastic dining establishments, and a variety of outdoor activities. You can delight in the sunlight on one of the island's beaches or hang around out on or under the water angling, kayaking, snorkeling, or diving. If you like jazz, the Catalina Island JazzTrax Event occurs each October.
Catalina Island was when owned by the Wrigley household (Wrigley as in the eating periodontal), and their estate is now a luxury store bed-and-breakfast called Mt Ada. It sits high up on a hill overlooking the harbor.
Mr. Wrigley ensured his home had the best views on his island, and visitors currently benefit with sweeping postcard views of Avalon (the island's main community); the Pacific; as well as on clear days, the coast of Southern California, 26 miles away. The Wrigley house is one of the a lot more pricey hotel choices on the island, however this is a very unique location.
Accommodation: Where to Stay on Catalina Island
2. Idyllwild
Idyllwild
This summer-only weekend location is high in the San Jacinto mountains of Riverside Region, yet only a two-hour drive from downtown San Diego. The hill resort has a few streets of eclectic stores and also art galleries, together with dining establishments as well as cafés.
You can see during the winter months, but there are no ski resorts in the area, and the mountain roads can be tough to drive on in the snow. Some organizations shut down too.
Idyllwild is a jumping-off place for hundreds of miles of treking tracks, for all degrees of walkers. The alpine landscape, loaded with massive pine trees, is beautiful and also appears like something out of north Alaska, rather than Southern California. To prolong your vacation, you can drive down Freeway 74, known as the Palms to Pines Beautiful Byway, which links Idyllwild with Palm Desert, near Palm Springs It's less than a hr drive away.
The Quiet Creek Inn is a rustic, pet-friendly bed-and-breakfast in Idyllwild, with a boutique hotel really feel. You're snuggled in the forest, with vintage (however well designated) cabin accommodations. It's serene and separated yet within strolling range of the community's many galleries and also stores.
3. Palm Springs
Palm Springs.
Likewise about 3 hrs by auto from San Diego, this desert hotel location boasts more than 100 fairway in the Greater Hand Springs location (comprised of the cities of Hand Springs, Hand Desert, Indian Wells, and also La Quinta). It also standards concerning 350 days of sunshine each year.
The Coachella Valley area has an excellent dining establishment scene, numerous deluxe as well as hotel hotels, and also a great deal more to do than just golf. Air travel fans will certainly love the vintage planes of the Palm Springs Air Gallery, as well as the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is another must-do. It blends you from the desert floor to a hill top practically 9,000 feet high, in just 10 mins. It's feasible to play in the snow on top, while it's over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) down below in Palm Springs.
Go beyond vintage and also remain at the Ingleside Inn, one of the city's oldest (as well as coolest) hotels. Integrated in 1925 as a private https://travelingunitedstatesofamerica.blogspot.com/ estate, it was after that the city's most special personal club (preferred with celebs and also film stars as a result of its privacy) till ending up being a hotel in the late 1960s. Make certain to have dinner at Mervyn's, their old-fashioned dining establishment as well as dinner club.
Accommodation: Top-Rated Resorts in the Hand Springs Area
4. Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Forest
The majestic, huge redwood trees of Sequoia National Park are about a six-hour drive from San Diego. Sequoia National Forest remains in Central The golden state, in the southerly component of the Sierra Nevada hills. Site visitors get 2 national parks right next to each other, as Kings Canyon National forest is adjacent to Sequoia.
The large redwood trees are spectacular, as well as at around 3,500 years of ages, some are the oldest creature on Earth. These redwoods, a few of which have expanded to be 300 feet high, with a trunk practically 30 feet in size, are fascinating to check out and also stroll underneath. There are a number of camping areas, as well as four lodges, situated inside Sequoia and also Kings Canyon National Park.
Wuksachi Lodge is right in the Giant Woodland area, inside the park, where some of the largest trees can be discovered. The rock and cedar hill lodge is open year-round, but tire chains may be required to access it throughout the winter. The lodge has a ski store and a full-service restaurant.
5. Waterfront
Riverside
Riverside may feel like an uncommon weekend vacation destination as it doesn't have a credibility for resorts, but a remain at the Objective Inn Resort & Medical Spa deserves the journey alone.
The architecturally fascinating home has actually been welcoming visitors for more than 100 years and also is right in the heart of the city. After you've explored the building (get a totally free tour from one of the hotel's ambassadors), there are a couple of galleries to visit: the Riverside Metropolitan Gallery, concerning the city as well as area; the Riverside Art Museum, with a wonderful choice of generally The golden state and also American painters; and the University of The Golden State, Riverside Gallery of Photography.
The Goal Inn is also appropriate nearby from the city's historical Fox Performing Arts Center, a classic cinema that hosts real-time occasions and preferred music performers.
Read More:
Premier Attractions & Things to Do in Waterfront, CA.
6. Joshua Tree.
Joshua Tree.
When you desire your weekend break vacation to include some camping as well as strikingly stunning all-natural scenery, a trip to Joshua Tree National Park is the best destination. It's simply outdoors Palm Springs as well as about a three-hour drive from San Diego.
Below, you'll find numerous countless square miles of raw desert landscape, with beautiful campgrounds and also hiking trails. The small town of Joshua Tree appears intentionally caught in a 1960s time warp as well as can be nearly as fun to see as the national forest.
The Joshua Tree Inn is a seriously diverse hacienda-style shop hotel situated right in the heart of the little community outside the park.
You can likewise do Joshua Tree as an excursion from Hand Springs. The park entry is only half an hour from Hand Springs, as well as many of the park's highlights come to site visitors that drive. You can drive from the park's major entryway near the community of Joshua Tree with the park to the other entry in about two hours. The park's other entry is near the Cottonwood Visitor's Facility and very near the 10 highway.
7. Rosarito Coastline, Mexico.
Rosarito Coastline, Mexico.
Just half an hour from the U.S. - Mexico boundary, Rosarito Beach provides an authentic Mexican beach getaway, complete with tasty freshly-caught fish and shellfish, strolling Mariachi musicians, and also vast sandy coastlines.
Park on the U.S. side of the border, walk over the bridge, and also take a taxi (or Uber or Lyft) into Rosarito. It's just about thirty minutes away and also ought to cost about $30 per taxicab (not per person). When right here, you'll find a vibrant seaside holiday city. Why not take a full- or half-day fishing expedition on one of the many visitor fishing watercrafts, or attempt a whale-watching journey, likewise offered.
The Rosarito Beach Resort is a large mid-priced mega-resort, precisely the coastline in the facility of town. Aside from its own stretch of beach, there are numerous pools, a medical spa, a number of restaurants, and all examples to do on-property.
8. Solvang.
Solvang.
Although mostly an invention for tourists, this quaint Danish community is about thirty minutes from Santa Barbara and also a five-hour drive from San Diego. It's all about Denmark below - the shops as well as little enterprise zone is totally performed in Danish/European style, as well as it feels like you remain in Copenhagen.
The main draw right here are the lots of Danish dining establishments, shops, galleries, and also pastry shops - it's fun just walking as well as exploring. A journey to Solvang is additionally an excellent day journey throughout a weekend trip to Santa Barbara.
The Royal Copenhagen Inn is a fun and preferred bed-and-breakfast, precisely Objective Drive in the heart of town. Keep right here, and also you can stroll to whatever.
9. Ojai.
Ojai.
This picturesque valley in Ventura County is near Santa Barbara and also a five-hour drive from San Diego. You'll discover a cool, New Age town, filled with special stores and various types of healers.
The surrounding location is mainly farming, as well as the neighborhood fruit and vegetables and also foodstuff are specifically fantastic. Attempt to see a regional farm represent some fresh fruit or produce.
The Ojai Valley Inn is a true destination resort and a fantastic place to stay for a vacation. Initially opened up in 1934, the 220-acre hotel is a miniature city, with multiple sorts of lodgings and plenty of activities and also facilities. The hotel has an acclaimed health facility, an 18-hole fairway, and 8 different eating options, from official to casual.
10. Los Angeles.
Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is just three hours north of San Diego, and it makes a wonderful weekend break escape location. It's possibly best to concentrate on a solitary area, like a coastline escape to Santa Monica or a city food lover getaway to DTLA (downtown Los Angeles).
The midtown location of LA is flourishing - it has plenty of road after street of brand-new restaurants, as well as building after developing exchanged deluxe loft apartment or condos or high end purchasing. A dish at the Grand Central Market, currently a gastronomic food hall, is a must-do, as is a browse through to Disney Hall for a songs show. DTLA's remodelled Regent Theater holds extra contemporary musical performers.
If you don't want to drive, Amtrak trains run from San Diego's Santa Fe Depot right to Union Station in DTLA. It's after that simple to take the City system throughout downtown and all over Los Angeles including vacationer destinations like Hollywood, Universal City, and also the Santa Monica Beach.
The Ace Resort Downtown Los Angeles was developed from an early 20th-century office building and also theater, and the theater continues to be a popular venue for concerts and performances. The trendy hotel is centrally located right on Broadway in the heart of DTLA making it very easy to stroll to all the amazing shops and also restaurants.
Holiday accommodation: Where to Stay in Los Angeles: Best Areas & Hotels.
11. Lake Arrowhead.
Lake Arrowhead.
Found high up in the San Bernardino hills, Lake Arrowhead is only a two-hour drive from San Diego. In the wintertime, it's a popular spot for skiing - the Snow Valley ski resort is only half an hour away, but in the summertime, it's a lovely, rustic family-friendly getaway location.
There's a big lake, obviously, in addition to numerous miles of hiking as well as hill biking routes. The town of Lake Arrowhead has a great choice of resorts, dining establishments, shops, as well as art galleries.
The Lake Arrowhead Hotel and also Health facility is a big, extravagant, lakeside resort. It has its own marina and also supplies all kinds of fun on the water. During the winter season, it's an excellent alternative, with very easy access to regional ski resorts.
12. Temecula.
Temecula.
This attractive rural area, only an hour from San Diego, has actually changed itself from an agricultural region right into a prominent tourist destination. The Temecula Valley is filled with golf courses as well as now also several resort options. It's also a preferred place in Southern The golden state for hot air ballooning.
Temecula's Old Town location pays homage to its farming previous and maintains some of the initial design. The compact downtown area has lots of restaurants and also antique shops, in addition to a couple of museums, including Pennypickle's Workshop, a hands-on youngsters's science museum.
The Trademark Temecula is an excellent choice for those intending to invest more time in the Old Town area. It's next door to Lienzo Charro, took into consideration one of the very best Mexican restaurants in the area, as well as a brief stroll from the Old Community location.
13. Monstrous Lakes.
Mammoth Hill Ski Area.
This mostly wintertime hotel location is high in the Eastern Sierra hills. It's a day's drive (regarding eight hrs) or a short flight away. You can fly to Mammoth from San Diego with a connecting flight, or in the winter season, drive about 90 mins and also fly direct from John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County.
In the winter months, it's all about snow, and also Mammoth obtains a great deal of it. The Mammoth Hill ski hotel boasts California's highest lift-serviced ski hill. There are 28 lifts taking you to 150 runs, the longest of which is 3 miles.
Mammoth is additionally a wonderful place for a summer escape. The hill hotel is filled with hiking trails, first-rate mountain cycling, as well as some fantastic golf courses. Some of the ski lifts operate, so you can check out greater elevations.
Accommodation: Where to Remain In Mammoth Lakes.
14. Santa Barbara.
View over Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara is a beautiful four-hour increase the coast from San Diego and also is an outstanding location for a weekend vacation. The city's downtown area, focused around State Street, uses visitors an assortment of locally-owned shops, dining establishments, and also art galleries.
When you obtain hungry, head down to the city's Funk Area, a former industrial warehouse area currently loaded with hip restaurants as well as art galleries.
For a cool, deluxe store hotel experience in the downtown location, the Kimpton Canary Resort is just one of the city's newest buildings. Aside from glamorous, yet comfy areas, there's a popular restaurant, Finch & Fork, as well as the resort likewise has the city's only roof swimming pool.