Del Mar California is an upscale residential a beach resort town set on the coast (its name is Spanish for "By the Sea") and is located about halfway between Carlsbad and downtown San Diego. It is noted for its fabulous Del Mar beaches as well as for its thoroughbred racetrack (which inspired the lyrics "Where the Surf Meets the Turf" made famous by Bing Crosby and Jimmy Durante) and the annual San Diego County Fair that is held nearby. If you want your vacation to Del Mar to coincide with the County Fair, it is held for three weeks from mid-June through the first week of July. There are numerous other events held at the fairgrounds throughout the year, including professional soccer matches, numerous expositions, and a beautiful Holiday of Lights Festival over the Christmas season. If things to do in Del Mar for you include taking in a few horse races, the circuit season is from the end of July through the first week of September.

The coastal ecosystem of the Del Mar California area resembles that of Carmel near San Francisco, but with more sunny days and warmer weather. In fact, one of the neighborhoods in town is called Carmel. It is the beautiful Del Mar beaches along this coast that draw most visitors. The most famous beach area here is at Torrey Pines State Park, a large wilderness park with bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and deer, as well as nearly five miles of beach frontage. In addition to the beaches, popular things to do in Del Mar here are hiking and bird watching. There is no overnight camping in the park, but there are several private campgrounds near its boundaries.

The lovely Lodge at Torrey Pines is located on the eastern edge of the park, and sits at the eighteenth hole of the Municipal Golf Course, one of the most important and famous of the golf venues in Southern California. There are several other golf courses and country clubs in town for enthusiasts to enjoy. The Del Mar California City Beach is nearly as long as the one in Torrey Pines and is quite beautiful. You will find a number of Del Mar hotels and motels along it.

San Diego Map

Other things to do in Del Mar include whale watching, and you will find several operators who offer cruises in town. You can also see the magnificent spectacle of blue and gray whales migrating from land at several points along the Del Mar beaches and in Torrey Pines Park. The best time for this spectacle is in the early winter as the great marine mammals head south to Baja Mexico for calving and in the spring when they head back north with their babies. Surfing is also popular here, and there are surfing schools in town. Scenic hot air balloon (and biplane) rides have become increasingly popular here. The route is generally over the ocean and the beautiful wineries and vineyards of the Temecula Valley. Several of the wineries here are producing some of the most famous vintages in the United States, including Callaway and Wilson Creek.