Day Trips from San Diego (2025)

A third-generation Japanese American farmstand famed for peak-season produce celebrated by chefs and covered by the Los Angeles Times and Eater San Diego; go early because the sweetest corn and Mara des Bois strawberries often sell out.

A day in Julian isn’t complete without a slice here; this family-run bakery has drawn lines for decades and gets regular love from the Los Angeles Times and local critics for flaky crusts and tart-sweet apple pies using nearby mountain fruit.

Explore Anza-Borrego with a permitted local outfitter praised by Sunset and the San Diego Union-Tribune; guides blend geology, stargazing, and backcountry routes into safe, small-group adventures that run year-round with climate-controlled options.

A family-run estate known for bold reds and the quirky MotoDoffo motorcycle collection; highlighted by Food & Wine and praised by Wine Enthusiast, it’s a welcoming stop for tastings and vineyard tours just over an hour from San Diego.

This regenerative 28‑acre farm and community hub hosts chef-led Community Table dinners and an excellent daily farm stand; lauded by the Los Angeles Times for its education and food culture programming linked to the region’s agricultural heritage.

Watch artisans at work or book a Make Your Own session at this independent glassblowing studio in Carlsbad’s historic Barrio; featured by Visit Carlsbad and local arts groups for hands-on programs that engage the community.

Run by devoted volunteers, this backcountry museum operates vintage weekend excursions on the historic San Diego & Arizona Railway; a perennial local favorite often noted by regional media and family guides for fun, affordable rides.

Meet the artist behind Borrego Springs’ famed metal sculptures at his open-air gallery east of Temecula; frequently profiled by San Diego outlets and magazines for its immersive, family-friendly display of monumental works.

Birthplace of the Caesar salad and revived by the Plascencia family, this historic dining room is celebrated by Eater and The New Yorker; tableside salads are a ritual. Bring your passport and allow extra time at the border.

Set in an 1881 cottage on Los Rios Street, this brunch favorite earns enduring praise from the Los Angeles Times for Southern-accented dishes and garden seating steps from the train station—an easy car-free day out.