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Three Days a Charm - Cruise Itinerary
Spend three days in San Diego before or after your cruise.
By Sandiego.org Staff
San Diego County is as large as the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. In addition to mixing and matching the aforementioned one- and two-day itineraries, the following suggested three-day itineraries are perfect for sightseeing the more outlying areas of San Diego, home to scenic mountains, deserts and a picturesque 70-mile coastline.
COASTAL HIGHWAY 101
Historic Highway 101 (www.drivethe101.com), linking La Jolla to Oceanside, is a scenic drive hugging the San Diego coast. In three days visitors can discover a number of beach communities reflecting the sun-kissed Southern California lifestyle:
- Day 1: La Jolla sights and Del Mar, home of the Del Mar Racetrack ("where the turf meets the surf") and upscale shopping at Del Mar Plaza along Camino Del Mar.
- Day 2: Solana Beach, home of Cedros Design District, a hip unique enclave of home furnishing stores, galleries and designer studios (www.cedrosdesigndistrict.net), and Encinitas, home of tranquil Quail Botanical Gardens and Swami Beach, made famous by the Beach Boys’ song “Surfin’ USA."
- Day 3: Oceanside, home of Mission San Luis Rey (the largest California mission, called the "King of the Missions"), California Surf Museum, Oceanside Pier and picturesque Oceanside Harbor.
CARLSBAD FUN IN THE SUN
The city of Carlsbad, located along the coast in San Diego's North County, has so much to offer that visitors need at least three days to see it all:
- Day 1: LEGOLAND California (www.lego.com) and the Museum of Making Music, a unique interactive journey through a century of musical instruments (www.museumofmakingmusic.org).
- Day 2: Golf and a luxurious spa treatment at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara (www.fourseasons.com/aviara). Afternoon shopping at Carlsbad Premium Outlet Stores (www.premiumoutlets.com/carlsbad) and downtown Carlsbad Village (www.visitcarlsbad.com). Dinner at Bellefleur Winery & Restaurant (www.bellefleur.com).
- Day 3: Thrilling open cockpit biplane ride with A 1 Biplane, Air Combat & Warbird Adventures (www.barnstorming.com). Then visit The Flower Fields of Carlsbad California, open seasonally in the spring (http://visit.theflowerfields.com/index.html).
NORTH COUNTY INLAND
San Diego's Inland North County is a beautiful and diverse region of coastal canyons, rolling hills and mountains. Many popular attractions and activities can be found here, including:
- Day 1: San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park in Escondido (www.sandiegozoo.org) and the historic Palomar Observatory (www.astro.caltech.edu/observatories/palomar) on Palomar Mountain, housing one of America's largest telescopes. At night, enjoy gaming action at Harrah’s Rincon Casino and Resort in Valley Center (www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/rin).
- Day 2: Other Escondido attractions, including Queen Califia's Magical Circle, artist Niki de Saint Phalle's largest American sculpture garden with nine whimsical large-scale works (www.queencalifia.org); Welk Resort San Diego, featuring a Broadway-style theater and the "bubbly" Lawrence Welk Museum (www.welkresort.com/sandiego), and the California Center for the Arts, Escondido where top-name performers grace the stage nightly (www.artcenter.org).
- Day 3: The famous Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center (just north of Escondido), featuring fresh delicious nuts, candies and dried fruits, as well as a popular farm zoo (www.batesnutfarm.biz); wine tasting at Bernardo Winery, Southern California's oldest operating winery (www.bernardowinery.com) or award-winning Orfila Vineyards (www.orfila.com), and a romantic, sunset hot air balloon ride with California Dreamin Balloon Adventure (www.californiadreamin.com).
EAST COUNTY'S RURAL PLAYGROUND
The visitor offerings of San Diego's East County are as varied as the terrain, ranging from rolling hills and mountains to the expansive desert. Following is a suggested three-day tour:
- Day 1: Golf at the rustic Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino in Lakeside (www.barona.com) or Sycuan Resort & Casino/Singing Hills Country Club at Sycuan in El Cajon (www.sycuancasino.com), shopping at the popular Viejas Casino and Outlet Center in Alpine (www.viejas.com) and then nighttime gaming fun at Golden Acorn Casino Travel Center in Campo (www.goldenacorncasino.com).
- Day 2: Julian, San Diego's historic gold mining town in the Cuyamaca Mountains, known for its famous apple pies and cider, quaint village setting, antique stores and charming bed & breakfast inns. www.julianca.com
- Day 3: Borrego Springs (www.borregosprings.org), San Diego's pristine desert getaway town located in the middle of the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (www.anzaborrego.statepark.org). Enjoy the Park's hiking trails, underground visitor center and off-road jeep tours departing from La Casa del Zorro Desert Resort (www.lacasadelzorro.com). Each spring the park boasts a breathtaking wildflower display. In town, shop in the art galleries and sample delicious ruby red grapefruits and figs.
PLAY IN SOUTH BAY
San Diego's South Bay, encompassing south San Diego Bay and the cities of Chula Vista and Imperial Beach, is also the gateway to Mexico. A suggested three-day itinerary includes:
- Day 1: Chula Vista attractions, including U.S. Olympic Training Center, the first warm weather, year-round Olympic training facility in the United States (www.usolympicteam.com/12181_19097.htm); Knott's Soak City USA water park, open summers (www.knotts.com/soakcity/sd), and Coors Amphitheatre, a state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue (www.hob.com/venues/concerts/coors).
- Day 2: Chula Vista Nature Center features aquariums, a shark and ray petting pool, bird-watching platforms, aviaries and hiking trails in the marshlands of San Diego Bay (www.chulavistanaturecenter.org); followed by a bird and sea turtle kayak tour on San Diego Bay with Hike Bike Kayak San Diego (www.hikebikekayak.com). Catch the sunset in Imperial Beach.
- Day 3: Daytrip to Tijuana, Mexico (www.tijuanaonline.org).
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