San Diego was another destination on our ✔️ list of things to do while living in California, so we decided to venture there for our November getaway! We extended this trip longer than our normal weekend trips by traveling Friday and Monday which allowed for a fun, relaxing, fall vacation. We loved the experiences and the time of year we chose to go, so I wanted to share our vacation with you! This trip was full of sunshine and beautiful sights. The coastal drive into greater San Diego area was gorgeous with all of your So-Cal vibes–crazy how close to the water you drive!
We chose to go in early November because we’ve heard how perfect the weather can be for Pacific Coast cities in the fall, but didn’t realize how true that was until this trip. Beautiful sunshine and warm air made exploring the city wonderful.
We started our getaway in San Diego Friday evening by checking into our accommodations at the Marriott Mission Valley, a great venue for relaxation along with the Mexico-resort feel. (I mean we were almost in Mexico, so it makes sense!) I love looking for a venue that is a central location to the sites and activities we hope to visit on a trip, the Marriott fit that criteria perfectly, not to mention all of the other great amenities!
Brunch is how we started our Saturday. #ourfavorite We headed to La Jolla where we ate at The Cottage. The atmosphere was cute and quaint–hence the fitting name, but the crowd was unreal! This place was packed. I wouldn’t recommend taking a stroller there, absolutely no room to maneuver it. Ours ended up staying on one of those mini 1 person elevators while we ate.
Next, we strolled for a couple of blocks to see what cute boutiques and sites we might stumble upon. We found this adorable Sweet Paper shop–mostly known for their customizable invitations and greeting cards but also had unique treasures you may not find elsewhere.
Then we headed to La Jolla Point which is also home to La Jolla Cove and Children’s Pool. A great grassy boardwalk with amazing views of the Pacific. The water was impeccable with the deep blue tones and the bright sunshine beaming off of it!
Next stop the beach for some laying in the sand! 🙌🏼 The G’s were a little exhausted… Our time of catching some rays was amazing as always but didn’t last as long as I would’ve hoped– Grayson Quinn couldn’t handle mommy’s amount of layout time. My fault for not bringing him an umbrella or something to escape from the sun.
That evening Grant chose our activities and dinner venue. He took us to Balboa Park–which we quickly realized is = to Central Park after dark! 😳 So we didn’t walk around, but this park was very unique and definitely a place to visit during the day time! Made me think of a jungle with the roping. As we continued on through the park we reached the other area he had chosen– Old Globe Theatre, San Diego Museum of Man and Museum of Art, and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. This was a fun evening activity–strolling through the sites!
Dinner was here at The Prado at Balboa Park— located inside the House of Hospitality, a National historic landmark. It was a beautiful setting and we were pleasantly surprised by the menu–Grant prefaced it thinking it was Mexican Cuisine but it turned out to be California Cuisine. This was a great ending to the evening.
Sunday morning we ventured to brunch at a local cafe. We loved the outdoor seating!
Grant had to catch up on a little work so we made a pit stop in a nearby hotel lobby where we ended up parking for the day. Grayson and I hung out which ended in an 8 month photo shoot #hotellobbystyle💁🏼♀️ #momlife
We then headed to Seaport Village! This place was adorable and is definitely a must see when in San Diego.
USS Midway and Tuna Harbor Park were a short walk from the village–another amazing place to visit! {You might even recognize the famous kissing statue💏 = Victory over Japan in 1945}.
Hotel Del Coronado was next on our list! This immaculate hotel on Coronado Island (just outside of San Diego) is known for many historical marks, one being the filming of Marilyn Monroe’s “Some Like it Hot” movie! (Then again this was in 1958 so probably not.) We didn’t stay too long, just saw the gorgeous beach views, snapped the typical pics, and went on our way!
To complete our last evening in San Diego, we went to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park which was very authentic! Then for dinner we went to Mission Beach Boardwalk and ate here!
Monday morning we headed north towards home, but of course couldn’t leave without a few stops along the way. Brunch here at Farmer and the Seahorse👌🏼
And then a drive to Torrey Pines–I’d say we saved the best for last! This was the area I was most looking forward to, but we kept it for our route home since it was on the way!! It is gorgeous☀️
San Diego is a beautiful city with numerous pockets of adventure and perfect for a family vacation because there is something for everyone! {Of course there is the San Diego Zoo, which is #1 in the country and we didn’t even make it there… #priorities🙈}
10 Tips for a San Diego Get
1. Visit Torrey Pines and eat at the Farmer & the Seahorse.
2. Visit La Jolla–unlimited options🌊
3. Stroll through Seaport Village–seafood for dinner.
4. Take the classic picture at Tuna Harbor Park–“Kissing Statue.”
5. Accommodation suggestion for a resort feel: Marriott Mission Hotel
6. Travel between September-November for beautiful weather☀️ {of course check the weather before you go}
7. Visit Balboa Park in the daylight, and be sure to check out the San Diego Zoo too.
8. Choose a beach & relax in the sand–take an umbrella for the littles👶🏼
9. Have a flexible schedule so if you see something fun to-do you can be spontaneous and do it!
10. Spend more time on Coronado Island🌴– fun shops, restaurants, and attractions.
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