A luxury stay at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, great restaurants and miles of beaches make San Diego the perfect summer getaway.

San Diego’s beautiful beaches, majestic resorts, botanical gardens and restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisines make it a perfect summer getaway destination.

STAY

The Fairmont Grand Del Mar houses everything needed for a perfect weekend getaway stay.

The Grand is an understatement when describing this luxury resort. Located 20 miles north of San Diego in the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, the Mediterranean style hotel offers a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, tennis courts, fitness center, hiking and walking trails, four heated swimming pools and a Center for Well Being. The beautiful 21,000 square foot spa features lounges with fireplaces, serene patios and indoor Jacuzzis. There is also a quiet relaxation pool and salon. For guests who want to head to the beach, the resort offers free transportation and chairs, umbrellas and water for the day.

Inspired by the villas of Spain and France, the resort’s 249 rooms are lavishly decorated with golf brocaded chairs and loveseats, separate soaking tubs and showers, crystal lamps, antique furniture and Pratesi linens. Some rooms also feature patios and fireplaces. For a truly luxurious stay, guests can reserve the Prado, Toscana or Palazzo suites for 1,000 to 1,500 square feet of comfort. The Prado suite includes huge separate living and sleeping spaces, both beautifully furnished; two flat screen televisions plus tv’s in the two bathrooms, dual master bathrooms with expansive spaces and deep soaking tubs with marble finishings and cotton Italian woven towels, bathrobes and slippers. There’s also a Nespresso coffee machine with plenty of capsules for afternoon cappuccinos by the fire, a private wet bar area and a huge pillow-top bed with goose-down pillows and comfy linens.

The resort also offers yoga, fitness and Floatfit classes at their Center for Wellbeing. The Fitness Center has state-of-the-art workout equipment and weights, complimentary to all resort guests 16 years of age and older.

Guests can also head to the Grand Golf Club which houses San Diego’s only Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole course. Golfers at all levels can enjoy the private golf course and learn tips from PGA-certified instructors, try out the latest golf clubs and gear or relax at the expansive 50,000 square-foot Clubhouse.

Food lovers can spend much of their stay enjoying the culinary options at the resort’s dining venues. Elegant fine dining at Addison, the Grand’s signature restaurant features seasonal inspired menu. Housed in a building away from the main resort, Addison’s big leather banquettes, wooden floors, high ceilings and wooden chandeliers offer a regal old-world atmosphere.

Equally beautiful is the on-site restaurant Amaya offering views of the Mediterranean-inspired architecture and golf course. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner the Italian-inspired menu includes a variety of dishes.

The Grand Del Mar has several more dining options including the elegant regal lobby lounge with serves a wide variety of seasonal cocktails and small bites and a brand new beautiful afternoon tea service; the Clubhouse Grill serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner dishes; the dark wood accented Cent’Anni Café serving gourmet coffees, teas, pressed sandwiches and gelato. Guests can also dine poolside or enjoy a large in-room dining menu.

Located at 5300 Grand Del Mar Court in San Diego, reservations at 1.858.314.2000 or at https://www.fairmont.com.

EAT

ZAMA

Head to the Gaslamp area to enjoy South American cuisine at Zama Restaurant and Bar. Diners can sit outside on the patio or head inside with plush green couch or table seating. Lush greenery and a long bar are housed in the open space, creating a cozy natural rainforest setting. In addition to the menu, cocktails also include Japanese and South American influences. Try the Junglerita with tequila, a pineapple serrano mix, lime and curacao or the Zama-Tini made with tamarind mezcal, pomegranate, lemon, St. Germain foam and hibiscus powder. Owned by The San Diego Dining Group, Zama offers a wide variety of raw and marinated ceviche and crudo, as well as small bites including Wagyu and toro tartare, caviar and sashimi for starters. Mains include a wide variety of specialty rolls with tuna, shrimp, crab, yellowtail and other seafood as well as a variety of steaks, short ribs and a burger and salmon, scallops, sea bass and lobster. Their grilled Mexican corn and lobster mashed potatoes are great for side options. Located at 467 Fifth Street, 619.915.5789 for reservations, https://zamasandiego.com.

Greystone

If you are looking for a traditional steakhouse with big martinis and porterhouses, Greystone is the place. Also located in the Gaslamp, the white tablecloth restaurant houses a bar for giant martinis and an upstairs and downstairs dining room. The main downstairs space is a bit more lively and noisier, with the impressive staircase leading to a more romantic atmosphere upstairs with a fireplace and tables overlooking the downstairs space. There’s also a front patio. Start dinner with a shellfish platter, oysters, crab cake, braised short rib, one of their delicious salads or shrimp and grits. The menu offers steaks, including Wagyu options, grilled under a 1,200 degree boiler with a variety of sauces and additions including Maytag blue cheese and a fried egg. They also offer a unique roasted elk chop, chicken, pork, duck and lamb main dishes. Sides include a variety of potato options, lobster mac and cheese, baked green bean casserole, cream spinach and grilled asparagus. Located at 658 Fifth Street, 619.232.0225 for reservations, https://greystonesteakhouse.com.

658 Fifth Avenue 6192320225 https://www.greystonestekhouse.com.

VISIT

San Diego Botanical Gardens

Explore 29 themed gardens and a glass conservatory at the 37-acre San Diego Botanical Garden. Get your steps in following 4 miles of trails leading to pretty ocean views through a big children’s garden and huge bamboo forest. Lush tropical rainforests lead to waterfalls and a variety of vistas, palms, desert gardens and native plants. Located at 300 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas, visit https://sdbg.org for tickets and more information.

The Flower Fields

Stroll through 50 acres of ranunculus in spring from March to May. There is also a wagon ride, guided walking tours, a sweet pea maze, an artist garden, an orchid greenhouse, a sunflower field and butterfly garden. More information at https://www.theflowerfields.com.

Carlsbad Premium Shopping Outlet

Located next to The Flower Fields, the Carlsbad Premium Shopping Outlet offers more than 85 designer and name brand outlet stores and is perfect for shopping for yourself or finding the perfect gift for someone. The outdoor space is open and easy to navigate and includes a variety of fast food and restaurant dining options. Located at 5620 Paseo del Norte in Carlsbad, visit https://www.premiumoutlets.com.

We drove the Cadillac 2023 XT6 Premium Luxury AWD from Los Angeles to San Diego and loved the leather accents, roomy interior, adaptive cruise control and 14 speaker sound system.

Whether you are looking for a family friendly getaway; a romantic weekend with your significant other, or a just need a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, San Diego is the perfect escape.