A last minute trip to California means attempting to fit all of the “touristy” things into such a short window. Join me on this 3-part series as I travel up the California coast from San Diego to San Francisco, with multiple stops in between. If you find yourself short on time, there are some must see places on each itinerary to maximize your time, and trip. Without further ado, let’s embark on part 1, 48 hours in San Diego!
48 Hours in San Diego
DAY 1: Buffalo --> San Diego
My family and I flew from Buffalo, NY to San Diego, California to start our trip. Picking up our rental car was such a breeze as it’s a separate hub from the airport, easily accessible by the free provided shuttle. We were offered a free rental car upgrade upon arrival! Such a great start to the trip. After a quick stop for coffee, we started our 48 hours in San Diego with a stop at the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, widely considered one of the top zoos in the world! Keep reading for some highlights from day 1 below.
Invigatorium Coffee Shop
Invigatorium Coffee Shop was a cool pitstop to start our trip. Numerous pieces of art and picture worthy objects may be seen throughout the shop. Their cold brew was great along with their All Day Breakfast Sandwich. Pro tip, I recommend adding their homemade hash brown to the sandwich. Such a game changer!
San Diego Zoo, Safari Park
This is a separate park location from the main zoo itself. I would allow at least 3-4 hours to experience the Safari Park. You may purchase tickets ahead of time here or at the park itself. Of note, show your AAA membership at the park to save 10% on your ticket purchase! The park itself is over 1,800 acres with multiple sections and separate exhibits. There are plenty of volunteers throughout the park who were extremely helpful with any questions we had and some of the nicest people ever. I highly suggest going on the African Tram ride, regardless of the wait! Well worth the time for some amazing sightseeing and Safari facts along the way.
Hotel Check-in/Dinner
Surprisingly, it was cheaper for us to stay at multiple hotels throughout this trip versus Air Bnb, which I typically utilize for traveling. We stayed at a Hampton Inn, which was more than adequate for our overnight stay. This included a free breakfast and a nice pool/hot tub area outside. We headed down to Old Town San Diego, where there was an abundance of free public parking lots. A short walk down their main strip offered numerous shops and restaurants. We ate at Cafe Coyote, which was incredible! Never a bad sign when they’re making fresh homemade tortillas, right in front of you, while sitting outside. If you decide to grab a margarita (of course we did) this will easily be the size of your face and worth every penny! Before heading back to the hotel, we walked by the infamous Cosmopolitan Hotel, which is believed to be haunted. Just admiring the architecture and structure from outside will instantly take you back in time to the 1800s.
48 Hours in San Diego
DAY 2: San Diego --> Los Angeles
Balboa Park
Our morning started by walking around Balboa Park, taking in the breathtaking views and glimpses of paradise. Unfortunately, the botanical garden area was closed for construction. I did buy a painting from one of the street vendors/artists, telling my family it reminded me of my trip to Hawaii. Lo and behold, the artist grew up in Hawaii and visits yearly, stating the inspiration for some of his art is based on his Hawaiian memories. This park was so diverse, with something for everyone. Outdoor yoga practitioners, runners, street artists and vendors were seen going about their daily routines and small cafes, tables and chairs were available to relax while taking in the warm sun.
La Jolla
We continued our 48 hours in San Diego by driving up towards La Jolla, finding trail and walking along the coast and parkway. Here there are multiple areas that are perfect lookout points for sea lions. A must see is Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave. Walk inside The Cave Store, where you’ll walk down steps and a man-made tunnel from 1902. Amazing views of the La Jolla Cove and surrounding sandstone cliffs await. The tunnel can become a tight squeeze in certain areas with some slippery steps; however, in our opinion it is well worth the trek down.
Eppig Brewery
At this point, we had worked up quite a thirst and therefore stopped briefly at Eppig Brewing. There was definitely a German vibe to this brewery, which made us feel right at home after our recent family vacation to Germany! (read that post HERE) The beer flight was perfect to try some amazing IPAs and a refreshing sour on a hot summer day.
Torrey Pines State Park/Reserve
Our journey continued to Torrey Pines State Park, just north of the famed PGA golf course of the same name. Here, we were able to grab a street parking spot on the side of the cliff and highway. There’s also a paid parking lot, further down, heading closer to the beach and trail access points. Multiple trails are available, depending on your timeframe and skill level. We chose the Guy Fleming Trail, a quick and rather even terrain trail just under 1 mile. There were 2 easily accessible lookout points with surreal views off the coast of the Pacific Ocean. If time is short, I recommend this quick trail which provides plenty of picturesque ocean views.
Hotel Check-in/Dinner
Another Hampton Inn stay was just as good as our first night. We were treated to welcoming staff, free breakfast, and another outdoor pool. This stay was outside of LA, closer to Arcadia and Pasadena. Before calling it a night, we had another great meal at Villa Catrina Mexican Restaurant. Attempting to walk off part of our meal before bed, we stumbled upon a REI store right across the street. Of course I had to walk around and browse one of my personal favorite shops!!
That concludes 48 hours in San Diego, the first leg of our trip to California! Hopefully you enjoyed the quick hit bullet points for recommendations. Please tune in tomorrow for Part 2-Los Angeles, which will include the likes of Warner Bros Tour, Griffith Observatory, and the Santa Monica Pier!
For more awesome content out of California, click HERE!
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