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California Questionnaire: Annie Lawless
Southern California
Discover San Diego County

Imagine 70 miles of sun-drenched coast, an inviting ocean, and a year-round daily forecast of 70°F, and you’ll understand why this southernmost stretch of the state is all about outdoor fun. Discover top theme parks and attractions like SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and LEGOLAND California.
The first European explorer to land in California, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, came ashore in San Diego in 1542.
Relax at legendary retreats like Hotel del Coronado, find art and culture in San Diego and surrounding cities like luxurious La Jolla, and enjoy world-class golf at Torrey Pines, and enjoy culture and diversity, all at the edge of a sparkling blue sea.
Planning a fall family vacation? Save money and head to San Diego, where kids eat, stay, and play ...
Journeys: San Diego

There are two picturesque luxury hotels for you to choose from: the...
Your fourth and final day in San Diego should be all about pampering. Start the morning with brunch in the Hotel del Coronado’s Crown Room, one of the oldest parts of the resort. The brunch boasts a chilled seafood bar, a gourmet Bloody Mary bar, and made-to-order mimosas. It is regarded as one...
Spotlight: San Diego
As if all that sunshine isn’t enough, here’s a waterfront city brushed by perfect breezes, the light just right, the beer perfectly hoppy after a...
Insider’s Guide to La Jolla
Warwick’s
The nation’s oldest continuously family-owned and -operated bookstore is...
Why San Diego is the Perfect Wellness Destination
California has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to healthy living. Today there’s no better place to experience the best of wellness...
L’Auberge Del Mar
L’Auberge Del Mar creates the illusion that you’re staying at your personal seaside villa, but it has all the amenities of a...
3 Cool Places to Shop in San Diego
The nation’s oldest continuously family-owned and -...
Spotlight: Balboa Park
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Boasting old-world ambience and a foodie-magnet restaurant, San Diego’s Fairmont...
Spotlight: Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail extends for a whopping 2,650 miles from Mexico to...
4 Fantastic Resorts in San Diego County
With a temperate climate and beautiful Pacific beaches, it’s no wonder San Diego...
5 Great Restaurants in San Diego County
San Diego County’s Best Beaches
Seventy miles of coastline makes San Diego County a shining destination for...
Carlsbad
Carlsbad’s legacy as a tourist hot spot dates back to the 1880s, when a local farmer tapped into mineral springs and a spa town...
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
Mornings at Rancho Valencia start with fresh-squeezed orange juice...
Oceanside
It doesn’t take an etymologist to figure out how Oceanside got its name:...
Encinitas
Encinitas isn’t just a city; it’s a vibe. Visit the coastal community 25 miles north of downtown San Diego and you’ll instantly...
Del Mar
Despite Del Mar’s idyllic oceanfront setting, this little town just north of San Diego was, in many ways, born around horses. The...
Chula Vista
About seven miles from downtown San Diego in one direction and the Mexican border in another, Chula Vista is quickly developing its own strong...
Escondido
About 30 miles northeast of downtown San Diego, Escondido is the best little...
Coasterra
Got a boat? That’s the only way you’ll get a better view of San Diego’s waterfront skyline and twinkling bridges than the panorama you get from...
While probably most recognizable as the winner of Bravo’s Top Chef: All-Stars, Richard Blais is also the wildly creative and irreverent executive chef of San Diego’s Juniper & Ivy and...
Where to Watch a La Jolla Sunset
As a San Diego concierge for more than a decade, Brett Hamblen is well versed in sunset recommendations. For his role as the chief concierge at...

You don’t need a high tolerance for open fields, concession-stand dining, or possibly mud to enjoy KAABOO Del Mar, a unique...
Spotlight: San Diego Zoo
Visiting this expansive zoo in San Diego’s Balboa Park is more than a chance to see animals from all over the world: it’s a chance to see one of...
Spotlight: SeaWorld San Diego
From swooshing and swooping rides to interactive animal experiences and world-class attractions,...

Your trip begins in California’s largest city. L.A. has nonstop action and things to do, but it can be a challenge to navigate, so planning your trip in advance is a big plus. Start in the coastal city of Santa Monica, with a wide, uncrowded beach, a signature pier topped by carnival rides and...
Famous for their giant sequoias, soaring mountains, deep canyons, and roaring rivers, this tandem set of parks have plenty to see, even though they are less well known than Yosemite, roughly 75 miles/120 kilometers north. Within the borders of...
La Jolla
Although technically part of San Diego, the community of La Jolla...
Spotlight: Legoland California
It’s hard to say who enjoys LEGOLAND more: the little ones running around in a magical world created by 60 million LEGO plastic bricks, or their...
Take one part water, one part sand, one part sun-soaked coastal charm, and you’ve got the recipe for some of the Golden State’s most appealing destinations....
Where to eat, what to drink
With its endless sun and oceanfront location, as well as strong influences from Mexico, San Diego offers plenty of dining options—from flaky fish...
Sure wine country is romantic, but now it’s a surprisingly great destination for families too, with a growing number of vineyards trading in elegant tasting rooms for kid-friendly fun zones that...
Kiss a beluga, see cool movie props, and learn about Walt’s secret hideaway on exclusive and behind-the-scenes tours at California’s theme parks and attractions. Here’s a roundup of worth-the-...
From Disneyland classics to beachfront carousels, the Golden State’s best-in-class theme parks deliver something for everyone. Take a tram ride to tour movie back lots at Universal Studios...

San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Like a journey to Africa, a day at this spectacular park lets you see some of the world’s most magnificent—and endangered—animals at close range...
Juicy heirloom tomatoes and just-picked strawberries. Super-sweet peaches shaped like mini UFOs. Artisanal cheeses, emerald-green olive oils, local wildflower honey—California’s farmers’ markets...
Sand, water, and kids—it’s a natural combination for easy family fun. This sandy dozen offers appealing, family-friendly features, such as calm water for new swimmers, tide pools for intrepid...
San Diego Surfing & Surf Culture
Sometimes it seems as if everyone surfs in San Diego County. When the surf is up, there’s a steady stream of dudes (and plenty of dudettes, too)...
With more than 900 breweries statewide according to the California Craft Brewers Association (...
Head to the heart of California’s cities for luxurious stays at world-class accommodations. From San Francisco’s historic hotels to celebrity hot spots in Hollywood and Beverly Hills, California’s...
Local and international talent gathers at the gustatory tribute to all that’s good about wine & food (and there’s beer too); the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is San Diego’s largest ...
Mission & San Diego Bays
Mission Bay and San Diego Bay trim the edge of the city like sparkling gems. Dozens of outfitters can get you out amidst the blue via every...
Trip 5-7 days 10 stops
Highway One Classic

Finish your trip in one of the world’s great cities. For a novel way to visit “the City by the Bay” park your car and explore San Francisco by foot, bike, and unique public transportation. Pedal bikes across the...
From a candy-colored pastry shop to Michelin-starred dining rooms, top restaurants run by celebrity chefs dot the Golden State. And even if you don’t know these chefs from the TV...
San Diego Golf
Perfect weather, challenging course, and incredible settings make San Diego County a golfer’s dream destination. It’s not surprising that many of...
Julian
Poised between the desert and the coast, a little more than an hour’s drive east of San Diego, this surprising mountain town makes a great day...