Del Mar

Just up the coast from La Jolla lies Del Mar, a charming community whose Spanish name appropriately translates "of the sea."

While San Diegans flock to the Del Mar Fairgrounds during the summer for the annual Del Mar Fair and the horse racing season, held at the Del Mar Race Track from late July through mid-September, there are also many reasons to visit Del Mar year round. Walk along Camino Del Mar, the Del Mar equivalent to Main Street USA, and spend the day shopping around Del Mar seaside village galleries, boutiques, outdoor cafes and restaurants. Tucked tastefully and unobtrusively into the eastern slope of Camino Del Mar, Del Mar Plaza has filled its several levels with some of the most individualistic and interesting shops around, including a number of galleries worth viewing. Often the always fascinating view in Del Mar is supplemented in late afternoon when the skies are dotted with brightly colored hot-air balloons.

Del Mar residents are active, involved people, conscious of the environment, as well as their own well-being. Consequently, the residential Del Mar architecture here is some of the most interesting in San Diego county; many of the Del Mar homes were designed to preserve rather than disturb the natural beauty of the terrain.

Click here to contact the city of Del Mar.