The Ultimate Del Mar Village Day Trip Guide for Fall

While fall means cooler weather in the majority of the country, Del Mar delivers summer sun with crisp breezes during the Halloween and Thanksgiving months, perfect for an indulgent day trip. From dawn to dusk, we’ve laid out the most relaxing and fun guide for your day trip to Del Mar this fall.

9:00 am – Coffee and Pastries at Darshan Bakery

Start your day with treats from Darshan Bakery. Grab a hot coffee or espresso and either a chocolate almond croissant or a savory cheese croissant – or both! Darshan’s classical French viennoiseries and pastries are inspired by seasonality and baked daily.

10:00 am – Spa at L’Auberge Del Mar

Once you’ve settled into the neighborhood, take a relaxing detour to Condé Nast Traveler’s “Top 25 Spas in the US,” the Spa at L’Auberge Del Mar. Relieve overworked or aching muscles with a full-body massage, or exfoliate and refresh the skin with a customized facial and body treatment. You’ll leave feeling revitalized and ready for a delicious lunch!

12:00 pm – Lunch at Jake’s Del Mar

The award-winning Jake’s Del Mar boasts a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and features a menu highlighted by fresh seafood. Try the BBQ Ribs to start and the Togarashi Spice Crusted Ahi, all washed down with one of Jake’s famous Mai Tais or one of their “Zero Proof” cocktails sans liquor.

2:00 pm – Walk the Beach (any beach!)

Is there anything finer than a leisurely post-lunch stroll along the beach? With two miles of coastline at your feet, walk south toward La Jolla or north to North Beach, locally known as Dog Beach, which features beach volleyball courts and plenty of room for furry friends to run freely. North Beach is also the best place to take pictures of the beautiful low tides and north bluffs to share on Instagram or Facebook.

4:00 pm – Shopping on Camino Del Mar

Del Mar Village features many locally-owned boutiques. Shop for cozy fall staples at Sea Biscuit Del Mar, Durante’s Del Mar and Sundancer Boutique, peruse accessories at Alexander Daas Opticians, and find the perfect Del Mar-inspired home goods at Urban Girl Accessories and Julie’s Beach Life. Not to be missed are staple surf shop Rusty Del Mar and, for the pets, Dexter’s Deli. It’s never too early to start shopping for the holidays!

Sunset – Del Mar Plaza Ocean View Deck

Enjoy the array of colors in the sky and the stretch of the Pacific from the Ocean View Deck at Del Mar Plaza, whether you order food to go from any of the Plaza’s restaurants and enjoy it on the deck’s lounge furniture or whether you gather around a table at Il Fornaio or Monarch Ocean Pub. Del Mar Village has myriad ocean view dining options and you absolutely can’t go wrong.