Discover San Diego’s Mediterranean charm

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Discover San Diego’s Mediterranean charm

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With gas prices being what they are, you may be considering a vacation or getaway just a short drive from the Coachella Valley. The good news: If you’re craving a little slice of European adventure, you can experience a bit of Mediterranean charm in just 2 hours’ drive.

Since Southern California and Spain are in the same general latitude range, they have many similarities, from climate to vegetation. San Diego offers all the charm and mystery of Spain without the time and expense of flying.

So why not plan a little Mediterranean adventure in San Diego, where a short drive will take you to another world?

San Diego’s rich history and cultural heritage

The historic Spanish Revival style architecture of Balboa Park in San Diego, California recalls the beginnings of California heritage.

Be sure to put Balboa Park on your San Diego itinerary. Named for Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the first Spanish explorer who discovered the Pacific Ocean in 1513, Balboa Park is a 1,400-acre urban park. With stunning Spanish Revival architecture designed to host the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, Balboa Park is home to 18 museums, the San Diego Zoo, expansive picturesque gardens, and many other amenities. Balboa Park is the second largest urban park in the country behind Central Park. There is therefore a lot to see: one day is not enough to enjoy its vast grounds.

A few days also isn’t enough time to explore the variety of things to do and explore around San Diego, but luckily we desert dwellers are only a short drive away.

La Jolla – California’s coastal gem

The nonchalant sea lions of La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California easily fascinate onlookers.

To fully immerse yourself in a Mediterranean experience, discover the beauty and romance of La Jolla. Located just 14 miles from downtown San Diego, La Jolla sits on one of the most beautiful coastlines in California. Fittingly, the name La Jolla means “the jewel” in Spanish.

One of La Jolla’s most popular attractions is La Jolla Cove, inhabited by its famous residents, nonchalant sea lions who seem to regard visitors as usual. You can get a bird’s eye view of the Cove and sea lions from the newly renovated patio at George’s at the Cove, a longtime La Jolla restaurant. Watching sea lions lazily basking in the sun on the rocks is some of the best free entertainment around.

La Jolla also has a charming village within walking distance for walking and shopping. Near the village is the Museum of Contemporary Art, an airy collection of galleries, sculpture gardens, and a courtyard café. Try to make time to sample the museum’s adjacent restaurant, Kitchen, to enjoy stunning ocean views from the terrace and a surprisingly inventive and flavorful menu.

San Diego has plenty of beaches to choose from

A tile depicting a Spanish galleon at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club pays homage to San Diego's history. — A tile depicting a Spanish galleon at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club pays homage to San Diego’s history.

For my Mediterranean getaway, I decamped to the classic La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, a historic family beachfront resort dating back to 1935, now run by the fifth generation of the Kellogg family.

The resort features a golf course, 13 championship tennis courts, pickleball courts, a spa and a long private beach. Accommodations range from hotel rooms at adjacent sister property La Jolla Shores to 1, 2, or 3-bedroom suites located just steps from the sand. Featuring a fully equipped kitchen and living room, the suites cater to families of all sizes.

The Marine Room in San Diego, California offers a perfect vantage point for a spectacular sunset.

The resort will arrange a beach barbecue for you and your group with tables, chairs, linens, etc. directly on the sand. For more refined dining, the resort’s famous historic Marine Room is a La Jolla tradition. At high tide, it’s a local tradition to watch the waves crash against the restaurant’s windows at the Marine Room. It’s also a great vantage point to watch the sunset with a cocktail or two.

The La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club offers several other more casual dining options, including a take-out Club Market, Club Dining Room and the new wood-fired pizza oven.

Other San Diego Highlights

San Diego is both a city and a county, and within the county limits you’ll find several other notable attractions. Whale watching will definitely give you a memorable thrill. San Diego Whale Watch runs 2.5-hour ocean tours from the marina; the onboard naturalist provides educational and enlightening commentary. We spotted a pod of dolphins but no whales on the day we went out, but it was still an exhilarating experience. The company’s policy is that if you don’t see any whales, your next excursion is free. Maybe better luck next time.

This mother and her 7-year-old calf are part of a herd of eight African elephants living large in their new Elephant Valley habitat at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California.

A little east of downtown San Diego, in Escondido, is the 1,800-acre Safari Park, part of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. The new Elephant Valley was three years in the making and is destined to become one of Southern California’s most popular attractions. Home to the park’s herd of eight African elephants, on more than 13 acres, Elephant Valley authentically replicates an African savannah habitat. Elephant Valley’s avant-garde design allows spectators to observe the majestic pachyderms up close, a fascinating and inspiring encounter.

The flower fields of Carlsbad, California feature an impressive collection of ranunculus flowers.

In North County, in the town of Carlsbad, you’ll find the famous Flower Fields (March through May), a breathtaking display of buttercup flowers on 55 acres. The flowers are arranged in ribbon-like rows of dazzling colors. When not in bloom, the flower fields feature other fun attractions such as the sea of sunflowers, pick-your-own blueberries, butterfly encounters, the Cymbidium orchid greenhouse and tractor wagon rides.

Also nearby in Carlsbad is Legoland California Resort, a theme park with 30,000 LEGOS models, 60 rides, a water park and an aquarium. The resort offers convenient accommodation in two on-site hotels.

Returning to Greater Palm Springs, you’ll likely gain a new perspective on the desert’s accessibility to the incredible diversity and beauty of our Golden State. Venture out.