Field Guide · 2026

San Diego
by sea & summit

Tuesday Jun 2 → Friday Jun 5

⚑ Read this first

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Flight: Arival is Tuesday at 9am, and departure is Firday at 5pm.
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Base: Hilton Garden Inn, Old Town - 10 min from SAN and central to everything below.
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Transportation: Need a rental car.
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Walking: You are going to walk nearly 100k steps this trip. Have good shoes!
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California Forest Adventure Pass. You can buy one in Alpine on the way to the Cleveland National Forest.
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Book ahead: the La Jolla kayak tour (Wed afternoon)
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Daily carry: water, sunscreen, a hat, a light layer (mountains run cool + breezy), and a waterproof phone pouch for the kayak. Camera charged.
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Sunset in early June runs ~7:55 PM all week.
02
Tuesday · Arrival
Balboa, Little Italy, and Coronado sunset
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10:30 AM
Arrive in San Diego
Land at SAN. It's almost lunch time back home, so get your rental car and head to the nearest In-N-Out on Sports Arena Blvd. There's a 7-Eleven nearby to buy toilitries and snacks.
11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Explore Balboa Park
Walk around Balboa Park. We visited the Botanic building, and the Japanese Garden. You can also walk across the street to a rose garden for some nice pictures. There are several museums to explore too. You could spend all day here, but we stopped after this.
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Parking: Pay to park on the street.
3:35 - 4:25 PM
Reset at the hotel
Check-in, drop the bag, recharge with a nap. Make a dinner reservation in Little Italy.
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Parking: The hotel has paid parking, but you can park on the street for free.
4:30 PM
Drive into Little Italy
If you're early, walk the Piazza della Famiglia and the waterfront before dinner. Check out the Maritime Mueseum on the water.
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Parking: Pay to park on the street.
5:00 PM
Dinner - Juniper & Ivy Reserved
Your set reservation.
📍 Map 📞 Call
6:45 PM
Cross to Coronado
20 min over the Coronado Bridge (free, and a view in itself). Head for Coronado Beach by the Hotel del - it faces due west for the sunset. Grab gelato at Hotel del.
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Parking: Free street parking along Ocean Blvd
7:15 - 8:15 PM
Golden hour on Coronado Beach Photo
Mica-flecked sand that literally sparkles, the Hotel del as a backdrop. Sunset ~7:55. Then a relaxed ~15-min drive back to the hotel.
03
Wednesday -- Coast
Torrey Pines & La Jolla
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7:45 - 10:00 AM
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Photo
Beat the heat and the crowds. Do the Razor Point → Beach Trail loop - sandstone badlands, the rare Torrey pines, and the ocean the whole way down. Check out the visitor center on the way back. Then drive over to the Guy Fleming trail.
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Tickets: Sold at the gate. $15 per car.
📍 Map
10:30 AM - 12:15 PM
La Jolla Cove coast walk Photo
~12 min south. Sea lions and seals on the rocks, the cliff path, tidepools.
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Parking: Free 1-3 hr street along Coast Blvd / Prospect. Paid parking isn't worth it, you can find a spot.
📍 Map
12:30 PM
Lunch - Birdseye Meal
Rooftop bar and grill with panoramic ocean views.
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Parking: Remember that parking is 90 minutes here, so you may need to reset your timer at a new spot.
1:00 - 2:00 PM
La Jolla
Continure exploring La Jolla. Check out the Sea Lions and the Seals if you haven't already. Get a coffee. Go to the store for more supplies, if needed.
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Parking: Free 1-3 hr street along Coast Blvd / Prospect. Paid parking isn't worth it, you can find a spot.
📍 Map
2:00 - 5:00 PM
Sea-cave kayak tour Highlight
Head over to the north end of La Jolla. Check out the beach, and try the water (it is cold). Be at the kayak rental place 30 min early.
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Bring the waterproof pouch - you will want to take pictures.
5:30 PM
Dinner - Rosemarie's in Mission Beach
Head over to mission beach for dinner. Grab sliders at Rosemarie's, then an ice cream sandwhich at Baked Bear. Walk the pier.
04
Thursday -- Summit
Laguna Mtns, Cuyamaca, and Julian
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6:45 AM
Fuel up and load out
Pack water + snacks - no food between here and Julian so grab a coffee and breakfast on the way. On the road by ~7:15 to hike before it warms up, and buy and Adventure Pass in Alpine.
9:30 AM
Desert View overlook Photo
Quick stop on the ridge - an easy loop with sweeping views over the desert and Salton Sea. Stretch the legs, work the camera.
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Parking: Small signed lot off Sunrise Hwy. Adventure Pass required.
📍 Map
10:15 - 11:15 AM
Garnet Peak Photo
Continue following the Sunrise Highway up to Garnet Peak trailhead. Get ready for a tough hike. It is worth it.
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Little shade and rocky footing near the top - water, hat, decent shoes. Bug spray is nice too as there are lots of flies and ants.
📍 Map
11:45 AM
Lake Cuyamaca Photo
Roll north where Sunrise meets Hwy 79 - a calm pine-rimmed mountain lake with mirror reflections and an easy shoreline stroll.
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Parking: Free lot by the lake store/restaurant.
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Optional add: Legs still good? Stonewall Peak (~4 mi, 360° granite summit) is 5 min south at the Paso Picacho lot ($10 state-park day-use).
📍 Map
1:00 PM
Lunch - Julian Brewing Company Meal
BBQ and pizza in Julian.
📍 Map 📞 Call
2:15 PM
Julian - pie and stroll Dessert
The reward. Grab a slice (+ apple-cider maple donuts to go) at Julian Pie Company on Main St, then a short wander through the old apple town. Be sure to stop at the book store across the street.
📍 Map 📞 Call
3:15 PM
Cruise back to the city
~1 hr 15 down Hwy 79 to I-8. Freshen up at the hotel. Take a nap, you earned it.
6:30 PM
Dinner - Puestos Sliders
Time to double back to La Jolla for some Cali-Mex tacos at Puestos. After dinner, stroll through the shops, and along the shore for awesome sunset views.
05
Friday -- Departure
Sunset Cliffs, Point Loma, Coronado, and back home
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7:30 AM
Check out and load the car
Bags in the trunk so the morning's hands-free. Everything today funnels right back toward the airport.
7:45 AM
Pour-over and Breakfast Coffee
Head over to Ocean Beach for breakfast at OB Beans Coffee Roasters.
8:00 - 8:45 AM
Sunset Cliffs
Stroll along Ocean Beach and checkout the sunset cliffs.
9:00 - 10:45 AM
Cabrillo National Monument Photo
Opens 9. Your NPS site on the tip of the peninsula: the Bayside Trail, the old lighthouse, tide pools, and the best skyline-over-harbor view in the city.
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Entry fee: $20/car.
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Check a tide chart for this morning - tide pools only reveal at low tide.
📍 Map
11:00 - 12:00 PM
Coronado Lunch
Back to Coronado for some shopping and a quick lunch.
12:15 - 12:45 PM
Coronado Ferry Landing
Drive over to the ferry landing for nice views of the city, and boat watching.
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Parking: Free parking on the street, and a large lot if you want to pay.
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Scenic Drive to the Airport
Head to the airport, but take the scenic route down the Silver Strand highway down to Tijuana. Refill the rental car with gas in Chula Vista for good prices.
4:00 PM
Wheels up ✈️
That's the trip: coast, summit, and a camera full of San Diego. Safe travels.