Del Mar California is a dream town - an upscale ocean-side community just north of San Diego. Within the Del Mar city limits, a quaint historical village serves as a backdrop to a small seaside resort first made famous in the 1930’s when Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante and other race horse lovers from Hollywood built the horse race track at the fairgrounds.

1. Where To Shop & Dine

Del Mar’s historic downtown village dates back to the 1880’s and offers over sixty unique shops, quaint inns and hotels and twenty five restaurants with enough variety to please even the pickiest of shoppers and eaters. A great place to begin or conclude your shopping and dining tour of Del Mar proper is at the impressive Del Mar Plaza at the corner of Camino del Mar (old Highway 101) and 15th Street.

The plaza is the home of Epazote, a local restaurant favorite. It’s a wonderful place for lunch or end of the day cocktails because it has an outdoor patio that swells with sunshine, sea breezes and enchanting panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. It’s also one of Del Mar’s favorite nightlife destinations with a contemporary, upscale vibe. Sleek and sophisticated, with a 180-degree views of the Pacific, hip bar and a cutting edge ocean view lounge, Epazote is a great day or night experience. Oh, and did I mention the food? All of it is creative, unique and wonderful.

2. Take A Hike Through Time

At the southern edge of Del Mar, along the Pacific Coast, Torrey Pines State Park is a 1700 acre natural habitat to the rare Torrey Pine. The park offers seven hiking trails with stunning views of wind bent trees, abstract sandstone formations, wildflower fields and the sea below, all of which is constantly changing as the sun and cloud formations move to change the lighting. Locals park just outside the park in the free parking lot along the ocean and Highway 101 and walk up the hill to the Nature Center. In spring and early summer the hillsides are covered with native plants and spectacular blooms of wildflowers. You can easily spend a whole day hiking up the cliffs and down to the ocean through red sandstone canyons carved thousands of years ago.

3. Up, Up and Away

Soar through the sky in a hot air balloon as it becomes part of the wind and glides effortlessly above the hills and bed and breakfast inns - a calm, peaceful and relaxing way to panoramically take in the enormity of the Pacific Ocean and San Diego countryside. Hot air balloon companies offer daily sunrise and sunset tours from a site near the Del Mar fairgrounds and race track. You’ll float eastward towards Rancho Santa Fe and the Cuyamaca Mountains and experience rare views of the San Diego coastline from San Clemente all the way to Mexico.

Many describe flying in a hot air balloon as one of the most serene, enjoyable activities they’ve ever experienced. Sunny skies and heavenly sunsets allow you to experience what it’s like to float among the clouds. If you’re staying at a hotel in Del Mar, you can experience the views of a lifetime with Skysurfrer Balloon Tours, Magical Adventures or Sky’s The Limit Balloon Adventures. Google or Bing! them for more information.

4. Life Is A Beach

Located just north of Torrey Pines reserve, Del Mar Beach is a beach-lover’s delight, a great spot for families, friends and surfers who enjoy its wide expanse of soft sand. Swimming, loafing, sunning, walking, jogging, surfing, body boarding, boogie boarding and even grunion hunting are just a few of the activities you will enjoy here. In town, the most popular beach is at the end of 15th Street. Crowded year-around with families, couples, friends and surfers, parking can be a problem at 15th Street, and even if you find a space, you must feed the meters. Parking is free on 17th Street if you get there early in the day - during the summer the parking spaces fill early. Lodging and accommodations can be found throughout the area, from cute and intimate Del Mar bed and breakfasts to the more traditional hotels in Del Mar.

5. Pedal Around Town

Bike riding is one of the simplest ways to have fun, enjoy the wonderful Del Mar scenery, especially if you’re staying at a Del Mar B&B or other vacation lodging. With near-perfect weather all year, enjoying the great outdoors is a way of life for most Del Martians who enjoy riding down quiet residential streets along the ocean. Del Mar is full of paths and trails that give cyclists an opportunity to relax, exercise and explore. Any way you cut it, Del Mar is a great place to have fun, get fit, and relax!