Getting there & back
Flights
OutboundFriday, July 10— to the coast
CHO
2:40 PM
Charlottesville, VA
ATL
4:30 PM
Atlanta · South Terminal
Seats 15C · 15D
Economy
CRJ-900 · Delta Connection
Non-stop
ATL
6:10 PM
Atlanta · South Terminal
SAN
7:35 PM
San Diego · Terminal 2
Seats 29E · 29F
Economy
Airbus A321
Non-stop
75 min layover in ATL
ReturnFriday, July 17— heading home
Live forecast
Weather & Delay Outlook
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San Diego · your week
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On the ground
Stay & Wheels
Airbnb · Entire home
North PB Gem, Close to the Beach
Self check-in with keypad
Address1180 Turquoise St, 92109
Check-inFri Jul 10 · after 2:00 PM
Check-outFri Jul 17 · by 10:00 AM
Guests2 adults · no pets
Hertz · Rental Car
Nissan Altima
Large Sedan (F0) · Free unlimited miles
Pick-upJul 10 · 7:30 PM
SAN Airport
SAN Airport
Drop-offJul 17 · 12:00 PM
SAN Airport
SAN Airport
Wheels down → front door
Getting to the Cottage
7:35 PMtouchdown
Land at SAN · Terminal 2
Deplane and head straight out — carry-on only, so you skip baggage claim.
~7:50 PM+15 min
Ride the Rental Car Center shuttle
Heads up: Hertz is not in the terminal. Catch the free red "Rental Car Shuttle" bus at the curb — it loops to the off-site Rental Car Center in about a 10-minute ride.
~8:15 PM+25 min
Pick up the Nissan Altima
Hertz counter at the Rental Car Center. Booking slot was 7:30 PM, but with flight details on file they hold the car for your delay. License + credit card in the driver's name.
~8:33 PM+18 min drive
Drive up I-5 to North PB
~9 miles north, exit Grand/Garnet Ave. Evening traffic is light — an easy run.
~8:40 PMhome
Keypad in at the cottage
Self check-in, so no host to meet. You're two blocks from the sand.
Realistic arrival ≈ 9:00–9:15 PM. Everything on Garnet Ave (5 min away) will still be open for a first-night dinner — or swing by the Vons / Trader Joe's on Garnet to stock the kitchen before you settle in.
Things to do
Out From the Airbnb
Out the front door
Walk / under 5 min5 min walk
Tourmaline Surfing Park — mellow longboard beach with a big lot, right down the hill
5 min
Crystal Pier & the PB boardwalk — classic Pacific Beach, pier cottages over the water
5 min
Garnet Avenue — PB's main strip: taco shops, breweries, coffee, nightlife
6 min
Kate Sessions Park — hilltop lawn with skyline + bay views; a top sunset spot
5 min
Mount Soledad — drive up to a 360° panorama of the whole coast; the local’s viewpoint
Ten-minute radius
10–15 min drive10 min
Windansea Beach — dramatic surf break with the iconic palm-shack
12 min
Mission Beach & Belmont Park — boardwalk and the vintage Giant Dipper coaster
12 min
La Jolla Cove — sea lions, snorkeling, tide pools, Ellen Browning Scripps Park
12 min
La Jolla Coast Walk Trail — easy clifftop path above the Cove; the experts’ pick for the best first-timer coastal walk
12 min
La Jolla Shores — calm swimming beach; kayak the Seven Caves
12 min
SeaWorld San Diego — on Mission Bay, a short hop south
13 min
Birch Aquarium at Scripps — cliffside aquarium, great mellow morning
Half-hour out
15–30 min drive15 min
Old Town San Diego — historic state park, Mexican food and margaritas
18 min
Torrey Pines State Reserve — clifftop trails high over the ocean
20 min
Balboa Park & the San Diego Zoo — museums, gardens, the world-famous zoo
20 min
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park — Point Loma bluffs; arguably the city's best sunset
20 min
Downtown, Gaslamp & Little Italy — dining, nightlife; Padres at Petco Park if they're home
20 min
Embarcadero & USS Midway — waterfront walk and the aircraft-carrier museum
28 min
Cabrillo National Monument — Point Loma tip: tide pools, lighthouse, harbor views
30 min
Coronado & Hotel del Coronado — wide beach and the landmark red-roofed hotel
Day trips
40 min +22 min
Del Mar — beach village and the seaside racetrack
30 min
Encinitas & Cardiff — surf towns, Swami's, Self-Realization gardens
30 min
Tijuana, Mexico — cross on foot at PedWest; passport required
40 min
Carlsbad & Legoland — beaches, the resort, seasonal flower fields
1 hr
Temecula wine country — vineyards and tasting rooms inland
1 hr 20
Julian — mountain town famous for apple pie and small wineries
The lay of the land
San Diego by Neighborhood
Your stay (the coral pin) is on every map. Switch categories with the tabs above; tap a pin or a list row for its website & directions.
Beaches
Where things are, from North Pacific Beach
Tap a neighborhood to fly the map there ↑
Pacific Beach home baseYour boardwalk, taco shops, and breweries — all walkable.
La Jolla 12 minSea-lion coves, tide pools, Birch Aquarium, an upscale village.
Mission Beach 12 minBoardwalk and the vintage Belmont Park roller coaster.
Point Loma & Sunset Cliffs 20 minOcean bluffs, Cabrillo National Monument, tide pools.
Old Town 15 minThe historic, Mexican-food heart of San Diego.
Balboa Park 20 minMuseums, gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Downtown & Gaslamp 20 minUSS Midway, the Embarcadero, dining, Padres at Petco.
Coronado 30 minWide flat beach and the landmark Hotel del Coronado.
Move every day
Walks, Runs & Trails
Solid lines are the routes. The PB Boardwalk and Torrey Pines routes are traced from Overture Maps path data; the rest are approximate route sketches — check the exact line on the day.
Six routes, none over 6 miles
PB Boardwalk — Ocean Front Walk Run / Walk
Flat paved beachfront from Crystal Pier to the Mission Beach jetty. Crystal Pier to Belmont Park and back is ~4 mi.
Sail Bay & Mission Bay path Run / Walk
Paved bayfront path around calm Sail Bay and Mission Bay — flat, car-free, the easy four-miler.
La Jolla Coast Boulevard Walk
The clifftop Coast Blvd walk past the sea-lion cove and Children’s Pool. Short — stack it with the village.
Sunset Cliffs bluff walk Walk
Flat walk along Sunset Cliffs Blvd on the Point Loma bluffs — the city’s best sunset.
Torrey Pines Reserve loop Hike
Guy Fleming, Razor Point and Beach Trail over the ocean — the signature San Diego hike. Go early; the lot fills.
Cabrillo Bayside Trail Hike
Point Loma tip — harbor views, WWII bunkers, and tide pools at low tide. Pairs with the $20 park entry.
Your 4-mile-a-day plan
- SatBoardwalk out-and-back — 4 mi right from the cottage.
- SunLa Jolla Coast Walk + village stroll — ~3.5 mi.
- MonBalboa Park & the Zoo — you'll clock 4+ mi without trying.
- TueCoronado beach walk (or Tijuana on foot) — easy miles.
- WedEmbarcadero + Old Town wandering — a walking day.
- ThuTorrey Pines hike ~3.5 mi, or Sunset Cliffs + Cabrillo.
Six days averaging ~4 miles ≈ 24+ miles on foot for the week.
Sun, surf & sand
Tide Chart
Fri · Jul 10Arrival
Sat · Jul 11
Sun · Jul 12
Mon · Jul 13
Tue · Jul 14
Wed · Jul 15
Thu · Jul 16
Fri · Jul 17Departure
Tidepool timing: the best daytime low tides for the Cabrillo & La Jolla tide pools are Tue Jul 14 (~3:24p) and Wed Jul 15 (~4:16p) — arrive about an hour before the low. Thursday’s 5:10p low runs close to Cabrillo’s gate, so hit the pools at Bird Rock or False Point (2 min from the cottage) that evening instead. A red NOW line marks the current time on today’s chart while you’re on the trip. high low
Pack smart
What to Wear & Bring
🌤️ Every day
- Layers. Mornings are gray and ~63°F (the marine layer) and burn off to sunny ~76°F by late morning. A light jacket or hoodie you can peel off.
- Sun protection. The sun burns through the gloom — sunglasses + sunscreen even when it’s overcast.
- A layer for evenings. Sunset is ~8pm and it cools off on the coast.
- Refillable water bottle for beach and trail days.
🏖️ Beach days
- Sandals, a hat, a towel, and a light cover-up.
- Reef-safe sunscreen (required at some California beaches, and better for the tide pools).
- Water is ~68°F — since you’re not big swimmers, no wetsuit needed; just wade and lounge.
🥾 Hikes
- Trail runners or grippy closed-toe shoes — no flip-flops.
- Torrey Pines: exposed and sunny; bring a sun hat + water. Rolling to ~330 ft, with a steep Beach Trail down to the sand and back.
- Cabrillo Bayside Trail: you head downhill first, then climb ~250 ft back up — save water for the return.
🦀 Tide pools
- Closed-toe shoes with grip that can get wet — old sneakers or water shoes. Never flip-flops on the slick rock.
- Go about an hour before low tide (see the Tide Chart) and never turn your back on the surf.
- Best spots: Cabrillo, plus Bird Rock & False Point 2 min from the cottage.
🛂 Tijuana
- Comfortable walking shoes — lots of walking, plus standing in the return line.
- Passport (book or card) each, a secure crossbody bag, and some cash. Light layers.
🍽️ Dinners out
- San Diego is casual — smart-casual is plenty anywhere, even at Cesarina. No need to pack anything dressy.
Elevation quick-reference — Flat & easy: the PB Boardwalk, Sail Bay, La Jolla Coast Blvd, and Sunset Cliffs (a ~70 ft clifftop). Real climbing: Torrey Pines (rolling, tops ~330 ft) and Cabrillo Bayside (~250 ft back up). Mount Soledad’s 360° view is a drive-up — no hiking required.
While you’re there
This Week in San Diego
Jul 10–12
Padres are home vs. Toronto
The one to grab: Sun Jul 12, 1:10pm day game (easier parking than the Sat night game). They leave town after the 12th. Tickets ↗
Tickets
Sun Jul 12
PB Concerts on the Green
Free evening concert at Kate Sessions Park — walkable from the cottage. Bring a blanket.
Walkable
Jul 11–17
San Diego Pride
Pride week overlaps your stay — Hillcrest gets livelier as the week goes on. Details ↗
Festival
Check what’s on: San Diego Reader events calendar ↗ (deepest local listings) · backup: sandiego.org events ↗
Weekend Mass
Catholic Churches & Missions
Our pick — Mary, Star of the Sea (La Jolla). The best beauty-per-mile: a landmark Spanish-Deco church with a monumental carved Madonna façade, just a ~10-minute drive straight up La Jolla Blvd. Easiest options are the Saturday 5:00 PM English vigil or Sunday 9:00 / 10:30 AM. marystarlajolla.org ↗
★ Our pick
Mary, Star of the Sea
La Jolla · 10 minLandmark 1937 Spanish-Colonial/Art-Deco church, famed for the monumental carved “Star of the Sea” Madonna on its façade — one of the prettiest coastal churches in the county.
Sat vigil 5:00 PM (English)
Sun English 7:30 · 9:00 · 10:30 AM · 12:00 PM
marystarlajolla.org ↗ · 7669 Girard Ave
St. Brigid Parish
Pacific Beach · 5 minYour neighborhood parish, three blocks from the ocean — comfortable and simple rather than grand, but by far the most convenient.
Sat vigil 5:30 PM
Sun English 7:30 · 9:00 · 11:00 AM · 5:30 PM
saintbrigidparish.org ↗ · 4735 Cass St
The Immaculata
USD · 12–15 minGrand domed Spanish-Renaissance church crowning the USD campus — its blue-and-gold dome is a skyline landmark, with a soaring, ornate interior. The “wow” option.
Sat vigil 4:30 PM
Sun English 8:30 · 11:30 AM
theimmaculata.org ↗ · 5998 Alcalá Park
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá
Mission Valley · 15–18 minCalifornia’s first mission (1769) — a whitewashed adobe minor basilica with the iconic bell-wall, lush gardens, and deep historic gravitas.
Sat vigil 5:30 PM
Sun English 7:30 · 9:00 · 10:30 AM · 12:00 PM
missionsandiego.org ↗ · 10818 San Diego Mission Rd
Our Lady of the Rosary
Little Italy · 15–20 minA jewel box — the 1920s interior is completely covered in richly colored murals, arguably the most beautiful church interior in San Diego. Pick a morning Mass for English (noon is Italian; 5:30 PM is partly Latin).
Sat vigil 5:30 PM
Sun English 7:30 · 9:00 · 10:30 AM
olrsd.org ↗ · 1668 State St
Cathedral of St. Joseph
Downtown · 15–20 minThe diocese’s mother church — an 1894 Victorian/English-Gothic cathedral with pointed arches, stained glass, and a tall spire in the heart of downtown.
Sat vigil 5:15 PM
Sun English 7:00 · 9:00 · 10:30 AM · 12:00 PM · 5:15 PM
sdcathedral.org ↗ · 1535 3rd Ave
All six are English Novus Ordo parishes — none is a Traditional Latin Mass. If you specifically want to avoid the Latin Mass, the diocese’s Traditional Latin Mass (FSSP) is at St. Anne’s (~20 min south of you), so you won’t wander into it at any church above. Mass times shift for summer and holy days — always confirm on the parish’s own site before you go.
Six days, easy pace
A Loose Plan
Fri · Jul 10
Land & settle in
arrival night- ~9:00pKeypad into the cottage, drop the bags.
- ~9:30pLate tacos two blocks up on Garnet, or a burger run.
Eat Tacos El Gordo · or In-N-Out on Damon Ave
Day 1 · Sat
Pacific Beach, on foot
ease into it- morningCoffee on Garnet, then walk out to Crystal Pier and down the boardwalk.
- middayBeach time at Tourmaline — mellow, big lot, easy from the house.
- lunchOscar's Mexican Seafood for the fish tacos SD is famous for.
- sunsetDrive up to Kate Sessions Park for the skyline-and-bay view.
Eat Oscar's Mexican Seafood · The Fishery
Day 2 · Sun
La Jolla
first-timer wow- 9:00 AMSunday Mass at Mary, Star of the Sea — the beautiful La Jolla church, right where today is headed (also 10:30 AM).
- morningLa Jolla Cove — sea lions, tide pools, Ellen Browning Scripps Park.
- late amBirch Aquarium on the bluff, an easy, air-conditioned hour.
- lunchVillage stroll and lunch; shops and ocean views.
- sunsetWindansea Beach — the iconic surf shack and rocks.
Mass Mary, Star of the Sea · 9:00 / 10:30 AMBook Birch Aquarium timed ticketsEat Bahia Don Bravo
Day 3 · Mon
Balboa Park & the Zoo
the big day- openSan Diego Zoo early while it's cool and the animals are active.
- afternoonBalboa Park — gardens, Spanish architecture, a museum or two.
- eveningDinner in Hillcrest or Little Italy on the way home.
Book Zoo tickets in advance (timed entry)
Day 4 · Tue
Tijuana — or Coronado
choose your adventure- option ATijuana day trip — tacos, Avenida Revolución, the Caesar salad's birthplace. See the full writeup below.
- option BCoronado — the wide flat beach and Hotel del Coronado, a mellow island afternoon.
Bring passports if crossing to Mexico
Day 5 · Wed
Downtown & the harbor
city day- morningUSS Midway aircraft-carrier museum on the Embarcadero.
- middayWalk the waterfront and Seaport; lunch in Little Italy.
- eveningOld Town for a classic Mexican dinner and margaritas — or a Padres game at Petco if they're home.
Book USS Midway · Padres (if home)Eat Old Town Mexican Cafe · Cafe Coyote
Day 6 · Thu
Point Loma & the cliffs
last full day- morningCabrillo National Monument — tide pools, the old lighthouse, harbor views.
- afternoonSunset Cliffs walk, then a wander through Ocean Beach.
- eveningFarewell seafood dinner; start the easy pack.
Fee Cabrillo $20/vehicle (7-day)
Fri · Jul 17
Wheels up
departure- to 10aBreakfast burrito, check out by 10:00 AM.
- ~10:30aReturn the Altima at SAN, shuttle to Terminal 2.
- 12:59pFly home.
Eat Broken Yolk · a Garnet Ave breakfast burrito
Where to eat
Cuisine Picks
⭐
Local experts’ picks
what San Diegans told us to add🍳
Breakfast
start here🥙
Lunch
midday, casual🍽️
Dinner
sit down🌮
Mexican & tacos
you asked🍜
Asian & Uyghur
Convoy St + Linda Vista · ~10–15 minSan Diego's Asian food district is Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa — ramen, Korean BBQ, dumplings, Taiwanese, pho, all in a few blocks about 13 minutes from you.
🍔
The In-N-Out run
you asked🦞
Seafood & the beach
ocean-sideSights with a gate
Museums & Attractions
| Place | Typical summer hours | Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Marquee attractions | ||
San Diego Zoo Balboa Park · world-famous | ~9:00 AM – 8:00 PM | sandiegozoo.org ↗ |
USS Midway Museum Embarcadero · aircraft carrier | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:00) | midway.org ↗ |
Birch Aquarium at Scripps La Jolla bluff · 12 min | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | aquarium.ucsd.edu ↗ |
Cabrillo National Monument Point Loma · tide pools + views | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | nps.gov/cabr ↗ |
Maritime Museum of San Diego Embarcadero · historic ships | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM | sdmaritime.org ↗ |
Belmont Park Mission Beach · rides & coaster | ~11:00 AM – 10:00 PM | belmontpark.com ↗ |
SeaWorld San Diego Mission Bay · 12 min | ~10:00 AM – 10:00 PM | seaworld.com ↗ |
| Balboa Park museum row — all along El Prado, ~20 min from PB | ||
San Diego Natural History Museum "The Nat" | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | sdnat.org ↗ |
Fleet Science Center hands-on + IMAX | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | fleetscience.org ↗ |
San Diego Museum of Art European & American collections | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | sdmart.org ↗ |
Museum of Us anthropology · in the iconic tower | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | museumofus.org ↗ |
San Diego Air & Space Museum aviation history | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM | sandiegoairandspace.org ↗ |
Timken Museum of Art small, free, closed Mondays | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | timkenmuseum.org ↗ |
Japanese Friendship Garden koi, bonsai, tea garden | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | niwa.org ↗ |
Heads-up on hours: these are typical summer hours for general planning — the map dataset doesn't carry live hours, so click through to each official site (linked above, pulled from the data) to confirm the day you go and to buy tickets. A Balboa Park Explorer Pass covers many of the El Prado museums if you'll visit several.
Cross the border?
A Day in Tijuana
Tijuana is a genuine culinary destination these days — the birthplace of the Caesar salad, a world-class street-taco scene, and Baja-Med cooking. As a first big San Diego trip it's an optional, adventurous day: hugely rewarding if you're up for it, easy to skip for a mellow beach week. Here's the honest playbook.
🚶 Getting across
Don't drive the Hertz over. Rental agreements generally prohibit Mexico and your US insurance won't cover it. Instead park on the US side at a San Ysidro lot (~$12–18/day) and walk across at PedWest — or take the Blue Line trolley to the last stop (San Ysidro) and walk over. Driving from PB to the border is ~30 min.
🛂 The catch: coming back
Walking into Mexico takes minutes. The bottleneck is re-entering the US — pedestrian lines run 30 min to 2+ hours. Go early, head back by mid-afternoon before the peak. Both of you need a passport book or card to cross back; a Global Entry card lets you use the faster Ready Lane.
🌮 What to do
Street tacos (adobada off the trompo), Caesar's for the original tableside Caesar salad, Avenida Revolución and Plaza Santa Cecilia, the Telefónica Gastro Park food hall, Mercado Hidalgo, and a growing craft-beer scene in Zona Centro and Zona Río.
🧭 Staying smart
Stick to the tourist zones (Centro / Revolución, Zona Río). Use Uber or authorized taxis and agree the fare first. Carry some pesos though USD is widely taken near the border. Glance at the current US State Dept advisory for Baja California before you go.
A relaxed version: cross around 10 AM, spend the morning on tacos and Revolución, sit down for a Caesar-salad lunch, and be back across the border by 3–4 PM. Half a day, one great story, home in PB for the evening.
Before you go / on arrival
Tickets & Reservations
San Diego Zoo
Buy timed-entry tickets online in advance — it's cheaper and skips the gate line. Peak-summer mornings sell through.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Reserve a timed slot online; the small bluff-top lot fills on summer afternoons.
USS Midway Museum
Buy online to skip the ticket window; open daily, last entry late afternoon.
Cabrillo National Monument
$20 per vehicle, good for 7 days — pay at the gate or on the NPS app. Tide-pool timing is best at low tide (check the chart).
San Diego Padres @ Petco Park
If they're home the week of Jul 10–17, grab tickets — a downtown night game is a great outing. Check the schedule.
Balboa Park museums
Individual admissions, or an Explorer Pass if you'll hit several. The gardens and grounds are free to wander.
Passports for Tijuana
Not a booking, but non-negotiable if you cross — a passport book or card each to re-enter the US. Pack them even if you're undecided.
Popular dinners
Most PB taco spots are walk-in, but book ahead for a weekend dinner in La Jolla or a sit-down Old Town table.
At a glance
Travel-Day Timeline
Dig deeper
Local Guides & Links
Bookmark these
- San Diego Reader — Events ↗The best week-by-week local events calendar.
- Eater San Diego ↗Restaurant news and the city’s best dining maps.
- San Diego Union-Tribune ↗The regional daily — news, dining, things to do.
- San Diego Magazine ↗Food, lifestyle, and monthly things-to-do features.
- KPBS ↗Public media — local news, arts, and culture.
Worth a read
- The 40 Best San Diego Tacos ↗SD Magazine’s current county-wide taco roundup.
- 28 Best Fish Taco Spots ↗Fish-taco-specific, Barrio Logan to La Jolla.
- Discover the Convoy District ↗The Kearny Mesa pan-Asian restaurant row.
- 5 Summer Hikes with Coastal Views ↗Easy coastal trails incl. Sunset Cliffs & Cabrillo.
- Best Tide Pools Guide ↗Where & when to go, plus etiquette.
- Tijuana Tacos to Try ↗A food companion for the border day trip.
Keep handy
Good to Know
Getting in
Self check-in · keypad
No host to meet — the code is in your Airbnb messages.
Don’t forget
Layers, sunscreen, passport
Gray mornings; a passport each if you cross to Tijuana.
At the counter
Driver's license + credit card
Name must match the booking