DH and I will have 2 days (sat and sun) anywhere in Southern California. I have a Monday business meeting in Carlsbad. We've been to LA/Long beach many times before and done a lot of the touristy stuff. I'm also 20 weeks pregnant, so not the most energetic.
We could fly into LA or San Diego. What are some good Oceanside resorts or towns like La Jolla? How would you spend 2 days?
We just got back from spending a long weekend at the Ritz Laguna Niguel in Dana Point and it was amazing. The area and hotel are beautiful, and I know there are a few resorts around there. The only really active thing we did was a day trip to Catalina Island, but I wouldn't say that's a must. There was a lot of good food in the area, too.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. Mark Twain
Post by alleinesein on Sept 2, 2013 11:20:37 GMT -5
Fly into SAN if you need to be in Carlsbad. Its on the coast so you can just stay there and visit San Diego for a few days. There is plenty to do inthe area to keep you busy.
I just got back from San Diego on Sept. 7th. We stayed there for a 6 days.
We got a 5th floor corner suite at the Hyatt in Mission Bay for $130 a night through Priceline's 'name your price' section. I liked Mission Bay because it's pretty centralized to downtown and about a 10-15 minute drive to La Jolla.
This was the view from our balcony. I loved the hotel, I have no complaints about it. We stayed there with a 3.5 year old and 18 month old.
If you like pizza, I recommend hitting up a place called Pizza Port in Ocean Beach....easily the best pizza I've ever had. I think they have one in Carlsbad too.
Check out La Jolla. Cute little town and you get to watch the seals play. Beautiful scenery. If you want to really play in the water that may not be the place though. Can't boogie board, surf, etc. Plus as of last weekend one of the coves was closed due to construction or for some other reason. This is the place to go to take a stroll, eat, maybe shop, take in the beauty etc. Pay for parking in one of those parking garages. Trying to find street parking is a mess.
We live in So Cal so when we go to the beach we go to Oceanside because it's closest and way more chill of a drive than going to OC (from where I live). I wouldn't stay in Oceanside but that may be because I used to live there. Not much to see in Oceanside though. It's a military town so there's a lot of shops geared toward military. We go there for beach play and not for the scenery or shops.
You can try Pacific Beach in SD. That place has a "fun" feel and the crowd is younger. It's a party area so at night it's hoppin'. Down a little way is Mission Beach which has carnival type rides and such. Shops along both.
You will be in Carlsbad which is next to Oceanside so maybe just hitting the beach for a little while there is doable but don't expect much from the town part. BTW the house that was in Top Gun is still there. It's abandoned and gone to crap but it's there.
I agree with the PP's, I would fly into SD and stay in either the gaslamp downtown, la jolla or Carlsbad. I recommend staying at the la Costa resort, the Sheraton in Carlsbad, either Marriott or Hyatt in the gaslamp, or the lodge at Torrey pines in la jolla.
As far as things to do there are tons of beaches to visit. Some of my favorites are la jolla shores, del mar, Cardiff and moonlight in Encinitas (just south of Carlsbad).
I highly recommend checking out Balboa Park. There are some very good museums and the park is absolutely beautiful. You can also explore the gaslamp area. If you have time visit the Cabrillo monument at the tip of point loma. Make sure you explore the tide pools they are beautiful.
If you are in the mood for a beautiful beach walk my favorite is to hit up moonlight beach in Encinitas and walk south towards Cardiff reef. The reef is uncovered at low tide and there is lots of sea life to explore and see.
Have a great time and PM me if you want some restaurant recommendations. I lived in Carlsbad for 7 years and still visit the area frequently.