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Visiting San Diego, Del Mar, Carlsbad & La Jolla California

San Diego and it's surrounding cities are where the blue skies, sandy beaches & Mediterranean-like climates can give you a day of everything and nothing all at the same time. In this article you'll find everything from great beaches to visit as well as other attractions in and around San Diego, Carlsbad, La Jolla, San Elijo and Del Mar.

La Jolla Cove is a beautiful place. It's a small beach that's tucked in between sandstone cliffs. It's known as "one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California" and is only a short distance from the community of La Jolla. So make sure to bring your cameras. The Cove is a popular location for scuba divers because water visibility at the Cove has been known to exceed 30 feet! Scripps Park is right next door and makes the perfect place for picnicking.

San Elijo State Beach offers swimming, picnicking, surfing and this "bluff-backed" stretch of sand is very popular with scuba divers and snorklers. The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Preserve is a 1000-acre wildlife reserve that is popular with migrating and nesting waterfowl. There are many species of birds that have been counted there. 270 species so far.

If you're up for more than just relaxing then you should take a visit to K1 Speedway in Carlsbad. It's the "largest indoor karting facility on the west coast" and they have over 2000 feet of racing! Their Italian karts are totally computerized and electric so they have much more horsepower than a gas one and no fumes. Each kart comes complete with a roll hoop, racing harness and a reverse gear in case you get stuck. To top it all off there's even a scoreboard that will keep track of your lap times, speed and positions of you and other racers and even give you a detailed result card at the end of your trip!

Ballooning in Del Mar is a one of a kind experience at Sunballoon. Each flight is around three hours total and depending on which balloon you charter, you can have from two to sixteen passengers altogether. Don't forget your cameras! The views from above are unbelievable. However, they ask that your camera bags aren't huge because space is limited. When the flight is over, pilot and passengers gather around a picnic table for an "after-flight" party. This creates the perfect time for hanging out over a bottle of champagne or sparkling cider. After the toast, the pilot gives a brief history of ballooning and a special presentation of an "aeronautical bonus gift."

If resort living is your thing, then you absolutely must visit the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. This stunning piece of architecture is noted as one of "America's most beautiful beach resorts." Built in 1888, it was designated as an historic landmark in 1977 and to this day offers luxury in an amazing and enchanting Victorian atmosphere. Located right on the beach, it's a great location for a romantic retreat and was voted "the number one wedding destination in America." Aside from that it's also a great family destination as well with it's children and teen seasonal programs. The resort features a spa with everything from massages and body wraps to facials and teen spa packages, four different locations for a wedding reception, many dining options and year-round activities.