San Diego County’s Best Beaches

May 20, 2022

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Seventy miles of coastline makes San Diego County a shining destination for lovers of sand and surf. And with all that shore, there’s something for every sort of beach goer. From budding marine biologists to experienced shredders, here are five of the best beaches to please them all. Insider tip: Always stay for sunset to see if you can catch a glimpse of the ephemeral green flash.

Swami’s Beach

The surf culture is strong in Encinitas, a beach community in San Diego’s North County. The city offers plenty of breaks for the catching—Seaside, Pipes, D Street to name a few. But with big swells and high performance waves, Swami’s is a local favorite. Try this recipe for a truly rad morning: surf a dawn patrol session followed by a massive breakfast burrito at Pipes Cafe, coffee from local roaster Zumbar, and a peaceful walk through the Self Realization Fellowship Gardens from which Swami’s Beach gets its name.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

This reserve, which protects 1,500 acres of land along La Jolla’s coast, is one of the only places where you can see the country’s rarest conifer, the torrey pine. Explore groves of jutting pines as you hike from the top of sea cliffs all the way down to the shore on the aptly named Beach Trail. Celebrate your efforts with a root- or ginger-beer float. There are six to choose from on the menu at the Lodge at Torrey Pines. Or better yet, spend the night at this five-star resort.

Belmont Park at Mission Beach

Click, click, click, click, weeee! The Giant Dipper at Mission Beach’s Belmont Park delivers buzzing anticipation and stomach flips drops for $6 a pop. Built in 1925, it’s one of the last two wooden roller coasters still in operation on the west coast. The oceanfront amusement park brings nostalgia-inducing staples—including mini golf, carousel rides, and arcade games—to the sands of Mission Beach for a day of boardwalk fun.

Coronado Beach

Often voted one of the top beaches in America, Coronado Beach’s wide span, calm waters, and soft golden sand is a favorite of couples and families. Hotel del Coronado, the massive Victorian confection overlooking the beach, has been impressing guests since 1888. Sixteen presidents and hundreds of celebrities have enjoyed the hotel’s beautiful beach views, which were featured prominently in the classic film Some Like It Hot. An impressive dedication to modernization has allowed the hotel to stay completely current. The resort now offers yoga on the sand as well as mermaid fitness classes, tail rental included.

La Jolla Cove

San Diego is known for its award-winning zoo, but some of the very best animal watching is right along the shore. La Jolla Cove is home to sea lions (large, dark brown, big flippers) as well as seals (smaller and more mottled), and it’s easy to spend hours watching them swim, play, and sunbathe along the rocky coast. Admire the creatures from land at Shell Beach, Children’s Pool, or after a journey down the stairs into Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave. You can also choose to swim or kayak with your newfound friends by renting gear from outfitters including La Jolla Kayak and Everyday California.

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Harrah’s Cherokee New Convention Center and Renovations Elevate Mountain Resort

Located in beautiful North Carolina, Harrah’s Cherokee is the perfect mountain getaway with breathtaking views of the Great Smoky Mountains and new additions to its resort and conference spaces sure to elevate any meetings or event. Completed in 2021, Harrah’s Cherokee’s latest $330 million expansion project introduced an entirely new fourth hotel tower, The Cherokee, as well as an additional 83,000 square feet of meeting space with the Cherokee Convention Center. The Cherokee tower brings with it 725 rooms and 70 luxurious suites spread out over 19 floors for a grand total of 1,800 rooms across the entire resort. The new rooms feature a sleek design with an earth-toned color palette and modern amenities. In addition to the new rooms, the expansion also brought with it a luxurious new lobby and lobby bar, a fitness center, a coffee & pastry bar, and a second pool. Conventions, trade shows, banquets, receptions, and even the smallest, most intimate gatherings can find the perfect arrangement at Harrah’s Cherokee with its 130,000 square feet of flexible meeting space – including the Cherokee Convention Center. The resort offers a myriad of different spaces and configuration options for events, but the largest spaces include the following: 32,000-sq-ft Cherokee Convention Center ballroom with 22 meeting spaces 11,100-sq-ft Cherokee Convention Center ballroom pre-function space 33,000-sq-ft Cherokee Exhibit Hall 6,000-sq-ft Cherokee Exhibit Hall Pre-Function 13,801-sq-ft Council Fire Ballroom able to be reconfigured into as many as four ballrooms from 3,100 to 3,529-sq-ft each 16,815-sq-ft Event Center able to be configured in six different ways to accommodate 100 to 1,500 guests and offers four VIP suites, box seating, and more than 1,100 balcony seats. In addition to the new accommodations and meeting space, Harrah’s Cherokee has also opened several new restaurants as part of the expansion including Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen + Bar which includes the chef’s award-winning burgers and barbeque on the menu. Another celebrity chef has also made their mark on the resort with the opening of Gordon Ramsay Food Market which features eight dining concepts ranging from sushi to New York-style deli sandwiches and classic fine-dining fare. Longtime Asheville favorite, Wicked Weed Brewing Pub has also debuted a new location next to Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center creating the perfect after-event center with its bright and bold design, over thirty different beers, and live music on weekends. An easy drive from many of the largest cities in the Southeast, Harrah’s Cherokee provides the perfect blend of majestic mountainscapes, luxurious new accommodations, and authentic Native American culture.