Top-Rated Weekend Getaways from San Diego. When you decide it's time to avoid the warm climate as well as gorgeous beaches of San Diego, the surrounding region provides a practically countless range of alternatives. From treking with the tough canyons of Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave Desert to angling off the coast of Baja Mexico, it's all just a brief repel.
All-natural wonders, like the huge redwoods of Sequoia National Park are easily accessible, as are metropolitan journeys like checking out the taking off food scene of DTLA (Downtown Los Angeles).
Southern The golden state's substantial freeway network, incorporated with some mindful preparation, can also allow for two very various adventures in a single day. Fairly quickly, it's feasible to surf at Pacific Beach in the early morning as well as spend the afternoon snowboarding in the mountains of Large Bear.
Plan your experiences with our list of the best weekend break getaways from San Diego.
1. Catalina Island
Catalina Island
Just 26 miles off the coast and with regular Catalina Express catamaran service departing from Dana Factor, this vacation is only 2 hours from San Diego (a 90-minute boat flight plus half an hour to drive to Dana Point).
Catalina Island is full of small resorts, terrific restaurants, and also a variety of outdoor activities. You can delight in the sun on among the island's coastlines or hang out out on or under the water fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, or scuba diving. If you love jazz, the Catalina Island JazzTrax Celebration takes place each October.
Catalina Island was as soon as owned by the Wrigley family members (Wrigley as in the eating gum), as well as their estate is now a deluxe store bed-and-breakfast called Mt Ada. It sits high up on a hill overlooking the harbor.
Mr. Wrigley made certain his residence had the best views on his island, as well as guests now profit with sweeping postcard sights of Avalon (the island's major community); the Pacific; and on clear days, the coastline of Southern The golden state, 26 miles https://travelingunitedstatesofamerica.blogspot.com/ away. The Wrigley home is just one of the extra pricey resort options on the island, but this is a very special area.
Lodging: Where to Stay on Catalina Island
2. Idyllwild
Idyllwild
This summer-only weekend break location is high in the San Jacinto hills of Riverside County, however just a two-hour drive from midtown San Diego. The mountain hotel has a couple of roads of diverse shops as well as art galleries, together with restaurants and also cafés.
You can check out throughout the winter, however there are no ski resorts in the location, and also the mountain roadways can be difficult to drive on in the snow. Some businesses shut down also.
Idyllwild is a jumping-off point for hundreds of miles of hiking tracks, for all degrees of walkers. The alpine landscape, loaded with big pine trees, is stunning as well as looks like something out of northern Alaska, rather than Southern California. To expand your vacation, you can drive down Freeway 74, called the Palms to Pines Beautiful Byway, which connects Idyllwild with Palm Desert, near Palm Springs It's less than an hour repel.
The Quiet Creek Inn is a rustic, pet-friendly bed-and-breakfast in Idyllwild, with a shop resort really feel. You're snuggled in the woodland, with vintage (yet well designated) cabin lodgings. It's peaceful as well as isolated yet within strolling range of the community's numerous galleries as well as shops.
3. Palm Springs
Palm Springs.
Additionally concerning 3 hours by vehicle from San Diego, this desert resort destination flaunts more than 100 golf links in the Greater Palm Springs area (comprised of the cities of Palm Springs, Hand Desert, Indian Wells, and La Quinta). It additionally standards concerning 350 days of sunlight each year.
The Coachella Valley location has an outstanding restaurant scene, numerous deluxe and resort hotels, as well as a whole lot even more to do than simply golf. Aviation followers will certainly like the vintage planes of the Palm Springs Air Museum, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is one more must-do. It whisks you from the desert floor to a hill summit nearly 9,000 feet high, in only 10 mins. It's feasible to play in the snow at the top, while it mores than 100 levels Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) down below in Palm Springs.
Go beyond vintage as well as stay at the Ingleside Inn, among the city's earliest (as well as coolest) hotels. Integrated in 1925 as a personal estate, it was after that the city's most special private club (prominent with celebrities and movie stars because of its personal privacy) until ending up being a resort in the late 1960s. Make sure to have dinner at Mervyn's, their vintage restaurant and also supper club.
Lodging: Top-Rated Resorts in the Palm Springs Area
4. Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Forest
The marvelous, large redwood trees of Sequoia National Park have to do with a six-hour drive from San Diego. Sequoia National Forest remains in Central The golden state, in the southern component of the Sierra Nevada hills. Visitors get 2 national forests right alongside each various other, as Kings Canyon National Park is adjacent to Sequoia.
The large redwood trees are spectacular, and also at around 3,500 years old, some are the oldest living things on Earth. These redwoods, a few of which have actually grown to be 300 feet high, with a trunk almost 30 feet in size, are interesting to check out and also walk under. There are a number of camping sites, along with 4 lodges, situated inside Sequoia as well as Kings Canyon National Park.
Wuksachi Lodge is right in the Giant Woodland location, inside the park, where some of the largest trees can be discovered. The rock as well as cedar hill lodge is open year-round, but tire chains may be required to access it during the winter. The lodge has a ski shop and a full-service restaurant.
5. Riverside
Riverside
Riverside might appear like an unusual weekend getaway location as it does not have a credibility for resorts, however a stay at the Objective Inn Hotel & Day Spa deserves the trip alone.
The architecturally remarkable residential or commercial property has rated visitors for greater than 100 years and also is right in the heart of the city. After you've explored the building (obtain a free trip from among the resort's ambassadors), there are a couple of galleries to check out: the Riverside Metropolitan Gallery, about the city and area; the Waterfront Art Gallery, with a wonderful choice of mostly California and also American painters; and the University of California, Riverside Gallery of Digital Photography.
The Goal Inn is also appropriate across the street from the city's historical Fox Carrying out Arts Center, a vintage theater that hosts real-time occasions and also prominent music entertainers.
Learn more:
Top-Rated Attractions & Points to Do in Waterfront, CA.
6. Joshua Tree.
Joshua Tree.
When you desire your weekend break trip to include some camping and noticeably beautiful all-natural surroundings, a journey to Joshua Tree National Park is the best location. It's just outside Hand Springs as well as about a three-hour drive from San Diego.
Below, you'll find numerous hundreds of square miles of raw desert landscape, with stunning campgrounds as well as hiking tracks. The small town of Joshua Tree seems purposefully caught in a 1960s time warp and also can be almost as fun to see as the national forest.
The Joshua Tree Inn is a seriously eclectic hacienda-style store resort located right in the heart of the little community outside the park.
You can likewise do Joshua Tree as a field trip from Palm Springs. The park entry is only 30 minutes from Hand Springs, and a lot of the park's highlights are accessible to visitors that drive. You can drive from the park's major entrance near the town of Joshua Tree via the park to the other entry in about two hrs. The park's various other entryway is near the Cottonwood Site visitor's Center as well as very close to the 10 highway.
7. Rosarito Beach, Mexico.
Rosarito Coastline, Mexico.
Just thirty minutes from the U.S. - Mexico border, Rosarito Beach supplies a genuine Mexican beach trip, full with delicious freshly-caught fish and shellfish, walking Mariachi musicians, and also wide sandy beaches.
Park on the UNITED STATE side of the boundary, walk over the bridge, and also take a taxi (or Uber or Lyft) into Rosarito. It's just around half an hour away and must cost concerning $30 per taxicab (not per person). Once here, you'll discover a dynamic seaside getaway city. Why not take a full- or half-day fishing trip on one of the several vacationer angling boats, or attempt a whale-watching experience, likewise readily available.
The Rosarito Coastline Hotel is a big mid-priced mega-resort, right on the beach in the facility of community. Other than its own stretch of coastline, there are several pools, a health club, a bunch of restaurants, as well as all kinds of things to do on-property.
8. Solvang.
Solvang.
Although mainly an invention for visitors, this charming Danish community is about half an hour from Santa Barbara and also a five-hour drive from San Diego. It's everything about Denmark below - the stores and little business district is completely performed in Danish/European architecture, as well as it feels like you're in Copenhagen.
The primary draw below are the many Danish restaurants, shops, galleries, and also bakeries - it's enjoyable simply walking around and discovering. A journey to Solvang is also a good day trip throughout a weekend break trip to Santa Barbara.
The Royal Copenhagen Inn is a fun and also prominent bed-and-breakfast, right on Objective Drive in the heart of community. Stay right here, and also you can walk to everything.
9. Ojai.
Ojai.
This attractive valley in Ventura County is near Santa Barbara and a five-hour drive from San Diego. You'll locate a cool, New Age community, filled with distinct stores as well as numerous kinds of therapists.
The surrounding location is generally farming, and the local produce and food products are specifically fantastic. Try to see a local ranch mean some fresh fruit or create.
The Ojai Valley Inn is a true destination resort as well as a terrific area to stay for an escape. Initially opened up in 1934, the 220-acre resort is a miniature city, with several sorts of lodgings as well as a lot of activities as well as features. The resort has a prize-winning health facility, an 18-hole golf links, and also 8 different dining options, from formal to informal.
10. Los Angeles.
Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is only 3 hours north of San Diego, and it makes a wonderful weekend break getaway destination. It's possibly best to focus on a solitary location, like a beach escape to Santa Monica or an urban food lover escape to DTLA (downtown Los Angeles).
The midtown area of LA is growing - it has lots of road after street of brand-new dining establishments, and also structure after developing exchanged deluxe loft space houses or high end shopping. A meal at the Grand Central Market, now a gastronomic food hall, is a must-do, as is a browse through to Disney Hall for a songs performance. DTLA's refurbished Regent Movie theater hosts much more modern musical entertainers.
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 then easy to take the City system around midtown and also all over Los Angeles including traveler locations like Hollywood, Universal City, as well as the Santa Monica Beach.
The Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles was developed from an early 20th-century office complex as well as cinema, and the theater stays a preferred location for performances and also efficiencies. The fashionable hotel is centrally located right on Broadway in the heart of DTLA making it easy to walk to all the great stores as well as restaurants.
Holiday accommodation: Where to Remain In Los Angeles: Finest Locations & Hotels.
11. Lake Arrowhead.
Lake Arrowhead.
Located high up in the San Bernardino mountains, Lake Arrowhead is only a two-hour drive from San Diego. In the winter season, it's a prominent area for snowboarding - the Snow Valley ski hotel is just half an hour away, but in the summer, it's an attractive, rustic family-friendly getaway location.
There's a substantial lake, naturally, along with thousands of miles of treking and also mountain biking routes. The small town of Lake Arrowhead has a nice choice of resorts, restaurants, shops, as well as art galleries.
The Lake Arrowhead Hotel as well as Medical spa is a huge, glamorous, lakeside hotel. It has its own marina and uses all kinds of fun on the water. Throughout the winter season, it's a superb alternative, with simple access to neighborhood ski resorts.
12. Temecula.
Temecula.
This lovely backwoods, just a hr from San Diego, has actually transformed itself from a farming area into a prominent tourist location. The Temecula Valley is full of golf links and now also numerous hotel options. It's also an incredibly popular place in Southern California for warm air ballooning.
Temecula's Old Community area admires its farming previous as well as keeps some of the initial architecture. The small midtown location has lots of dining establishments as well as antique stores, in addition to a couple of galleries, consisting of Pennypickle's Workshop, a hands-on kids's science museum.
The Signature Temecula is a great choice for those wanting to spend even more time in the Old Community area. It's next door to Lienzo Charro, took into consideration one of the best Mexican restaurants around, and also a brief walk from the Old Community area.
13. Massive Lakes.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.
This primarily winter season hotel location is high in the Eastern Sierra hills. It's a day's drive (about 8 hours) or a short flight away. You can fly to Mammoth from San Diego with a connecting flight, or in the winter, drive about 90 mins as well as fly straight from John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County.
In the winter season, it's everything about snow, and Mammoth obtains a lot of it. The Mammoth Mountain ski hotel boasts California's greatest lift-serviced ski mountain. There are 28 lifts taking you to 150 runs, the longest of which is 3 miles.
Mammoth is additionally a great place for a summer getaway. The hill hotel is full of treking trails, first-rate hill cycling, and some terrific golf courses. Several of the ski raises run, so you can check out greater altitudes.
Accommodation: Where to Remain In Mammoth Lakes.
14. Santa Barbara.
Sight over Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara is a picturesque four-hour drive up the shore from San Diego as well as is an exceptional destination for a weekend trip. The city's downtown location, focused around State Road, offers site visitors a melange of locally-owned shops, dining establishments, and also art galleries.
When you obtain starving, head down to the city's Funk Zone, a former commercial warehouse location now filled with hip restaurants as well as art galleries.
For a cool, luxury store hotel experience in the midtown location, the Kimpton Canary Resort is one of the city's newest properties. In addition to extravagant, yet comfy areas, there's a prominent restaurant, Finch & Fork, as well as the resort additionally has the city's only roof swimming pool.