San Diego in photos - La Jolla - Sunshine with Savannah

Six days in San Diego were an adventure-filled dream. We started in Solana Beach and moved our way downtown, trading in our seaside Airbnb for a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter.

Once again, in lieu of a lengthy and wordy post, here are some photos I took during our trip, from our day spent in La Jolla and Del Mar. Soon, I’ll post others, from Balboa Park, Little Italy, Seaport Village, and the Gaslamp Quarter.

Day-trip to La Jolla and Del Mar

After we checked out of our Solana Beach Airbnb, we realized that we had nearly an entire day until we could check into our downtown hotel. Not wanting to carry our bags but still eager to explore more of San Diego, we decided to rent a car for a day.

Our first destination was La Jolla, a scenic and upscale beach town located about 20 minutes north of San Diego. This is a hugely popular destination, with a bustling downtown, great seafood, and amazing nature views.

We went to La Jolla Cove, where we spent the morning checking out visible slot canyons, tide pools, perched sea lions and seals (my absolute favorite), and watching the intense waves crash from the sea. After a casual lunch and a walk around downtown, we headed toward Torrey Pines State Park for some hiking. It seemed on the full side, so we decided to keep driving until we hit another idyllic town, called Del Mar. We stopped for smoothies and a leisurely walk on their gorgeous beach until it was time to return our rental car.

These destinations had incredible natural beauty, which is in-part why I feel so drawn to them. As you might know—I’m a mountains gal (it’s branded on my skin, even), but given the choice, I am all about the soothing and restorative properties of water and the beach. The mountains are high-effort and high-reward, but the sea is easy and rejuvenating and accessible. I’m easy-going, and visiting these beachside communities offer a deep connection for me.