The beach at Torrey Pines

Downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town, Balboa Park, Coronado Island—a whole feast of nearby San Diego delights beckon to you from the doorstep of the historic Sofia Hotel. And you can happily spend your entire stay with us wining, dining, shopping, and sightseeing entirely in our greater neighborhood, which encompasses some of the best-known attractions in America’s Greatest City.

But for those keen on venturing just a little farther afield, it’s all the more amazing what fabulous scenery and destinations await you on a daytrip from the Sofia, one of the premier hotels in SanDiego. Here are a few easy-to-reach highlights of our gorgeous backyard of the Southern California coast!

Cabrillo National Monument

Here on the Point Loma Peninsula, a European—Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, to be exact—first stepped foot on West Coast soil. Cabrillo National Monument dazzles not only because of that history (and vintage landmarks such as the Old Point Loma Lighthouse), but also on account of breathtaking Pacific vistas, some of the region’s best seasonal land-based whale-watching, and the enchanting microuniverse of the Point Loma tidepools.

La Jolla

This fabled seashore comes steeped in Southern Californian ambience and splendor. Doze on the beach, go surfing or standup paddleboarding, snorkel with snazzy leopard sharks, or admire La Jolla’s famous sunbathing seals and sea lions. And don’t forget a sidetrip up to the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial, which affords one of the finest panoramic views in San Diego County.

Torrey Pines

Few sites better showcase the primordial beauty of Southern California’s Pacific strand than Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. The namesake pines are only found here and in the Channel Islands, making this a must-visit for nature lovers. And the scenery—from pine-studded cliffs to golden sands—is absolutely first-rate.

San Diego Botanic Garden

Whether or not you’re a particularly gung-ho plant buff, the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas makes a wonderful destination for a tranquil, fresh-air stroll amid a resplendent landscape. The plots range from native-vegetation and ethnographic plantings to Mediterranean, Australian, African, and other global gardens—plus the biggest bamboo collection in the United States!

California Surf Museum

Now, what could be a more quintessentially Southern Californian daytrip destination than a surf museum? This Oceanside institution—which celebrated its 20^th year in 2016—provides a fascinating overview of a sport that originated in Polynesia but whose modern mien also owes much to the Golden State. From the evolution of surfboards to surfing’s place in pop culture, the California Surf Museum covers some impressive wave-riding territory!

Naturally we’ve only scratched the surface of daytrip possibilities for your Sofia getaway—Tijuana, anyone? Use one of the finest hotels in SanDiego to explore the many and varied marvels of Southern California’s sparkling seacoast!