Concierges' Favorite Daytrippin' Adventures

“We’ve got it all, San Diego!  Ocean, desert, mountains, even another country just minutes away! Five of our local hotel concierges got into the spring spirit by sharing their favorite jaunts and getaways. 

Stacy Levesque of  Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina likes a bike ride from her office to Cabrillo National Monument. Her guests enjoy touring the historical lighthouse, then hike along the cliff-side trails, where the dramatic ocean views demand dozens of photos. The trails meander down to the shore, where visitors poke around the tide pools to discover small sea creatures, such as star fish and hermit crabs. 

The trails at Torrey Pines State Park often beckon Margaret Clive of Morgan Run Resort. She parks at the bottom and has an energetic walk up the hill, then down to the beach. For an all-day adventure, she often sends her guests to the wine country for daily wine-tasting tours and a nice lunch at one of the wineries. On the way, she suggests they stop off for breakfast at Old Town Temecula and browse the antique stores there.

Alex Garcia encourages his guests at Coronado Island Resort Marriott to head south on one of California Motor Sports’ all-day ATV tours. The scenic coastal route takes you all the way into Mexico and is so much fun, he’s been on it three times! He also enjoys riding horseback at Sweetwater Farms in Bonita, where the woodsy trails wind around pre-settled Chula Vista. For first-time visitors, Alex recommends the Old Town Trolley for an overall view of what our town has to offer.

Guests at Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter who follow Mike Denton’s day-trip itinerary will find themselves driving to Palm Springs on the beautiful Pines to Palms Highway. The Living Desert Museum in Palm Desert and the aerial tramway up the mountain in Palm Springs are two of his favorites. If you take the tram, you can enjoy two climates in one day. Hike in the snow at the top, have lunch, and come down in time for an afternoon hike in the balmy desert. If you’re too tired to drive back to San Diego, spend the night and catch the Palm Springs Follies vaudeville show at the McCallum Theatre.

Another mountain calls to Jason Graham of the Hilton Del Mar. He loves to get away to the untrammeled forests, meadows and streams on Palomar Mountain. For an extra treat, stay a day or two in the private old-world cabins where guests build fires in the rock fireplaces and nestle into big comfy chairs. The world-famous Palomar observatory is usually open to day visitors and offers tours by reservation.

For directions and reservations to any of San Diego’s many destinations and attractions, just ask your concierge. Who knows, you may even learn about another special place.