Del Mar, California
Del Mar, California sprang from humble beginnings. According to the Del Mar Visitors Center, Theodore Loop, who worked for the Southern California Railroad, fell in love with the area in 1882. He and his wife built a tent city along the beach; his wife named the area "Del Mar" after a poem The Fight on Paseo Del Mar. Del Mar is evidence that the old adage "from small things, big things one day come" has gigantic merit. Today, Del Mar has garnered a well-deserved reputation as an upscale resort community. The pricey real estate has earned the area the nickname "Malibu South". Like its northern cousin, Del Mar boasts beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and cultural and sporting events that will quench any vacationer's thirst. A day's itinerary in Del Mar can include swimming, hiking, surfing, body boarding, and even grunion hunting.A day in Del Mar isn't complete without visiting the Del Mar Race Track and Fairgrounds, which was founded by such stars as Bing Crosby and Pat O'Brien. From its beginnings in the 1930s, the race track served as a second home for Hollywood's elite, who came to Del Mar to enjoy the scenic environment and lay down a few bucks on their favorite horse. Today, the attraction known as "where the surf meets the turf" is alive and kicking, bringing in visitors in droves. The nearby fairgrounds host the Del Mar Fair, which takes place from mid-June to July 4. This is one of the largest county fairs in the entire United States.
Sun worshippers can find plenty to keep them busy during a Del Mar visit. Del Mar City Beach stretches over 2.5 miles, and is great for families and small children due to the gentle slope of the beach and the relatively calm waves. Swimming, surf fishing, boogie boarding, and even grunion hunting are popular beach pastimes. Two seaside parks, Seagrove and Powerhouse, have magnificent ocean views and provide amenities such as lifeguards and picnic spots. More beach time can be spent just south at Torrey Pines State Beach. Hiking trails lead visitors past Torrey Pine groves, one of the rarest pine varieties in the country. The uncrowded beach is backed by sandstone cliffs that rise 300 feet above the sand. This is a great spot for a relaxing day at the beach away from all the crowds.
Del Mar can stand alone as your vacation destination, or serve as a jumping off point into nearby San Diego. You should start your visit to San Diego by visiting beautiful Balboa Park, the cultural heart of the city. The park is one of the largest in the country and houses more than 20 museums and various attractions devoted to fine art, folk art, astronomy, history, aerospace technology, sports, and model railroads. The most popular attraction is the world famous San Diego Zoo. More than 4000 animal species call the zoo home. The most famous residents, the Giant Pandas, were acquired from China in 1996 in an effort to help China's conservation efforts. The zoo is also a botanical garden, housing more than 6000 species of flora, planted in part to help the animals adjust to their new environment.
Del Mar has something that will appeal to every vacationer. Go shopping in the Tudor-influenced Stratford Square. Head to Encinitas, just a bit further up the coast, and see the area that is known as the "Flower Capital of the World". You will understand this well deserved reputation if you visit the Quail Botanical Gardens, a 30 acre park that displays thousands of tropical and subtropical species. Rent a charter boat for some deep sea fishing or a moonlight sail.
