Fun On & Off the Beach
Torrey Pines State Beach is accessed from I-5 via Carmel Valley Road; take a left on McGonigle Road to a large parking area to the south. For Del Mar State Beach take 15th Street west to Seagrove Park, where college kids can always be found playing volleyball and other lawn games while older folks snooze in the shade. Just past the park is the sand, though parking spaces are in short supply on weekends and any day in summer. There are free concerts in the park during July and August; for information, contact the City of Del Mar (tel. 858/755-9313). There are restrooms and showers near the park.
Beyond the surf and the turf is Del Mar Plaza, a multistory structure at the corner of Camino Del Mar and 15th Street. This is one stylish shopping center. Its collection of restaurants and shops, coupled with the ocean views, make it a great place to while away an afternoon. Also check out the Del Mar Library, built in 1914 as St. James Catholic Church and restored in the 1990s by the city. For many years it was the only place of worship between San Diego and San Clemente. Back then, Jimmy Durante and Desi Arnaz were parishioners; the ushers included Bing Crosby and Pat O'Brien.
Most evenings near dusk, brightly colored hot-air balloons punctuate the skies just east of the racetrack; they're easily enjoyed from the racetrack area (and by traffic-jammed drivers on I-5). If you find a balloon ride appealing, this is a great place to do it.
