It is indeed difficult to imagine wanting to leave San Diego given how wonderful the city is and the wealth of recreational opportunities that seem to exist just about everywhere you look. While this may be true, even the most contented of residents will sometimes want to get out of town for a few days of relaxation or excitement in a different setting. Given San Diego’s proximity to so many interesting locales, the city is an excellent starting point for a quick and refreshing weekend trip. The ideas that follow only represent a small sampling of the available options, but they also reflect the diversity of choices available to those looking to depart San Diego for a relatively short vacation away from home.
MLB Spring Training in Arizona
The border of Arizona is within relatively short driving distance of San Diego, so baseball fans can take a nice weekend road trip to check out some of Southern California’s most popular teams as they prepare for the regular season. The Padres make their spring home in Peoria, Arizona, in a facility they share with the Seattle Mariners. For fans of the Dodgers who happen to live in San Diego, the club trains in Surprise, Arizona at Camelback Ranch, which is also a shared facility that features the Chicago White Sox as well.
Given that many households are split in their loyalties to the Dodgers and Padres, fans of San Diego’s home team can explore lift kits Surprise AZ while the rest of their family heads to a game to root for the Dodgers. The opposite is also true, as fans of the Dodgers can look into all that Peoria has to offer while their friends and family go to the park to root for the Padres. Of course, members of the household can always split up or agree to reach some sort of compromise, but given the limits of a weekend trip this may not always be feasible.
Surfing in Baja, Mexico
San Diego’s surf breaks are undeniably impressive and it is somewhat surprising that surfers would have any desire to go anyplace else for a nice wave. While that is true, San Diego’s beaches can get quite crowded and the relative tameness of the breaks means that there are many beginners out in the water on a frequent basis. This can be something of an irritant to veteran surfers, so it is fairly common for more advanced surfers to head south of the border in search of more challenging breaks.
Fortunately, Baja is home to one break in particular that features some of the biggest swells around when the conditions are just right. For surfers with the skill set necessary to thrive in these conditions, the 20-foot waves are an ideal challenge that ensures the lineup will not be in the least bit crowded and that there will be plenty of opportunities for adrenaline-pumping excitement. Since Baja is just a short drive south from San Diego, surfers looking for a change of pace can get all the excitement they need in a single weekend.
Las Vegas or Los Angeles
Depending on the traffic heading north, a trip to Los Angeles offers more than enough change in scenery from San Diego for a weekend getaway. Strolling the boardwalk at Venice Beach or exploring the promenade in Santa Monica can be an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon or evening, but there are a number of drawbacks that may cause any San Diego resident to recoil at the thought of heading north.
For those looking for the opportunity to strike it rich at the gaming tables, a trip to Las Vegas is also within driving distance, but relaxation is certainly not the name of the game in this particular location. Since a weekend in Las Vegas is more than enough time to get the full experience but also not enough time to lose your life savings, a brief drive from San Diego for just a few days may be the ideal way to check out this popular destination.