Top 5 Fun Stops: San Diego to Los Angeles Drive
Okay, so you are thinking about driving from sunny San Diego to the sprawling city of Los Angeles? The drive itself? Well, it’s almost a pretty straight shot up the I-5, yet that doesn’t mean there aren’t a ton of opportunities to make the drive more interesting! It could be that you’re looking to stretch your legs, grab some interesting food, or maybe just soak in a little bit of California culture along the way, you know? Whatever the reason, here’s a list of five places you could stop to spice up that SoCal road trip!
1. Laguna Beach: Art, Beaches, and Coastal Views
First up is Laguna Beach! It’s very a must-see for anyone doing the San Diego to LA drive. A bit south of Los Angeles, it makes, like your first stop, if you left early from San Diego, right? It’s known for, almost, its art scene, its beaches of course, and well, coastal views that will absolutely take your breath away. So, the town has this laid-back vibe, a real artsy community with tons of galleries to pop into, showing off local talent, actually. You could stroll down the main street, check out the artwork, and soak up the chill atmosphere, you know? The beaches? We, definitely don’t need to skip those! Main Beach is very right in the middle of town, an easy walk, typically.
Yet, there are a bunch of smaller, quieter coves all the way along the coastline too! Places maybe, like, Thousand Steps Beach (be ready for a climb!) or even the beautiful coves down by the Montage Hotel are something else, honestly! After soaking up the sun, that is that you could grab lunch at one of the cafes with an ocean view, or more or less wander through Heisler Park for some amazing panoramic shots of the Pacific! Laguna Beach has some cute shops and restaurants! So it may be good to stop!
2. San Juan Capistrano: History and Charm
Okay, next up? We’ve got San Juan Capistrano! San Juan Capistrano, is that a little inland, and is very perfect for anyone interested in California history with that small town feel. At the center of San Juan Capistrano is the Mission San Juan Capistrano. Founded way back in 1776, it’s basically one of California’s oldest buildings, literally, right? That’s home to “the swallows,” who seemingly come back every year around Saint Joseph’s Day, typically. That’s March 19th for everyone interested!
The Mission’s very gardens? So beautiful and, the old church is quite amazing. When the weather’s kind. You know that’s most of the time here! The old Los Rios District is basically the oldest neighborhood, arguably, still in use in California! It’s like going back in time with all the adobe buildings, basically little shops, too it’s almost perfect. So it would be something new after the highway right? Plus there are a bunch of restaurants for lunch!
3. Oceanside: Surfing and Pier Views
Further south, closer to San Diego, alright we’ve got Oceanside, so Oceanside offers something completely different. Is that about sun and fun. It’s really known for its great surfing scene, and also it has an iconic pier stretching far out into the ocean, might be something for you. You, can take a walk on the pier, enjoy the views back at the coast. The surfers, maybe, like watch them catch some waves. Plus that sea air is great isn’t it?
So, you can always check out the California Surf Museum! It’s full of stories about surf history with all old boards, like we. From what people were doing through all the different styles of surfing to, maybe, how the surf clothes kind of morphed, too it’s almost educational you know? This could be, like your surfing lesson, without water. Oceanside Harbor Village? Worth a bit too! This might mean good places, so Oceanside Pier is good but, might not, you know. Plus with all the shops here and more or less, restaurants it’s somewhere to maybe get refreshed, yeah soak up Oceanside! It’s certainly good place!
4. Carlsbad Village: Shopping and Flower Fields
Okay, getting back on the road north, next up it is Carlsbad. Okay Carlsbad Village! Maybe it’s an understated stop, kind of, so the heart and soul of Carlsbad! Carlsbad village might be good to spend a bit if your up for wandering around a place that has something unique to offer!
State Street and Carlsbad Village Drive, the two major drags of the city, are packed pretty solid with boutiques. Places selling stuff, of course like clothing and artwork but you could basically fill your backpack to, say it another way: “shopping till you drop” might work out really well if your that type of person, typically, and the streets might have that cool little shop nobody else knows but your friend right, and of course for some food options it could mean local brews like Karl Strauss with, for example Pizza Port that makes something interesting, yeah Carlsbad village? Not quite big or little, and still lots, like really lots going on in that village of Carlsbad!
5. Temecula: Wine Country Escape
For the final stop, maybe a slight detour inland brings you into Temecula. Okay so here’s the deal this whole valley with all its little restaurants and local boutiques? Is pretty okay really but, is certainly something other than sitting behind the wheel. Now that does almost describe something different with rolling hills and so wine tasting rooms here with loads that are more interesting than just wine. Temecula Old Town area? Now that really is great! Is that with all sorts of, well everything almost from gifts to whatever else so, you might want to check that out!
Well, the area that is home to award-winning restaurant and of course more shopping and gifts and all of the normal tourist trinkets with more and more wine spots being opened or upgraded means, finally some other spots to hit between Disneyland. Actually? I just read one reviewer, is almost screaming because they had such an experience but okay, Old Town really shines there too in Temecula. So, after some California beach views from San Diego area going into LA county or LA, getting wine is really Temecula’s big hook with plenty!
