By Last Updated on May 29, 2023
Off come the sandals and the worries when you enter this San Diego Mission Beach vacation rental. It’s time for some beach time fun in the sun – with a few sunrises and sunsets thrown in for good measure.
Often called America’s Finest City, San Diego is known for its charming beachside communities. As the largest waterpark of its kind in the world, the area known as Mission Bay comprises a vast 4,200 acres of land and water, surrounded by 27 miles of sparkling ocean, white sandy beach and an endless meandering shoreline.
The positive energy of a coastal beach community can be felt instantly as my husband and I cruise through adjacent Southern California towns to our weekend vacation home-away-from-home in Mission Bay.
Surfers and beach goers, all clamoring to catch some rays fervently head to the water. Skateboarders, beach cruisers and walkers happily share the boardwalk. Fisherman on the pier casting their poles are hoping for a lucky catch. The smell of fresh grilled seafood wafts through the air.
Welcome to The Beach House
San Diego Mission Bay Beach, situated directly on Sail Bay, could not have been a more perfect home base from which to explore the area. The owner, Kelly Garman, could not have been a more perfect host. Sharing a glass of wine with her and meeting her lovely friends and family during the visit was a special treat, as was hearing the story of how she and her husband came to purchase the San Diego Mission Beach vacation rental home.
Kelly furnished the home herself, explaining that it was important to capture the laid-back, easy beach feel for guests.
Upon entering third floor villa, we were immediately awe-struck by its spectacular panoramic views of the bay. The breezy, beachy, nautical-inspired décor is a perfect complement to the home’s natural aquatic surroundings. Stepping out onto the tiled balcony furnished with a table, chairs and portable grill offered even more stunning sand and water views with palm trees swaying in the gentle breezes and sailboats berthed in the nearby marina.
The Pacific Ocean beaches? A mere two blocks over our shoulder.
Fresh sunflowers on both the dining and living room tables provide a personal touch. Two bottles of wine, one white and one red, wrapped with ribbon were our welcoming gift. The kitchen included everything needed to cook a full meal if necessary. The sparkling white cabinets and appliances were perfect accompaniments to the ocean-y kitchen.
The two-bedroom, two-bath condo setup is ideal for a relaxing couple’s getaway or a family vacation. The living room’s leather sofa bed can open to accommodate two additional guests and a matching leather chair was great for reclining in comfort while watching the sail boats go by on the bay.
A gas-burning fireplace for cool San Diego evenings provides additional ambience to an already delightful environment. Completely furnished to the nines with all the amenities of home, the villa also includes beach chairs and mats, sand toys, and colorful beach towels.
The master bedroom of this San Diego Mission Beach vacation rental features casually elegant decor with its king-sized sleigh bed. Closet and dresser space is more than ample. The beach theme follows through in the master bath and shower as well as the second bedroom with even more beach flavors and furnished with two twin beds with separate bath and shower.
Book your stay at The Beach House in Mission Beach!
On a Mission for Fun and Adventure
Mission Bay and beaches beckon water sports enthusiasts of every kind, from jet-skiers, kayakers, and kite boarders riding on the waves of the Pacific. Numerous water sport rental shops are located both in town and at the beach. For those wanting to really catch a wave, surf lessons are available. Virtually anything you want to do is within walking distance.
No beach vacation would be complete without a bonfire in a beach firepit after watching a stunning sunset. Toes in the sand, we listened to the crashing waves, the crackling of the fire and the stars twinkling in the nighttime sky.
It just doesn’t get better than this.
Walking and Bicycling
With eight miles of picturesque beach, four miles connected between Mission and Pacific Beaches, a walk in the morning or at low tide yields fresh air, tranquility and a nice selection of sand dollars. The flat oceanside boardwalk along with bay bike paths are perfect places to ride a beach cruiser. Our rental bikes came with a front basket convenient for storing our water and phones.
Two amazing piers with “knock your socks off” views are located in the area. Crystal Pier in nearby Pacific Beach has been a part of the San Diego waterfront since 1927 and most noted for its pier fishing and iconic cottages allowing guests to sleep directly over the ocean.
Ocean Beach Pier, the largest pier on the West Coast, extends a half-mile over the Pacific. Only four miles from Crystal Pier, a walk out to the end of the pier provides amazing views and offers some of the area’s most profound sunsets.
Moonlight Cruises on the Bay
Operating seasonally, the Bahia Belle is a turn-of-the-century Mississippi sternwheeler docked at the Catamaran Beach Resort on Mission Bay directly across from the vacation villa. After 9 pm, the Belle transforms into an entertainment hub of Mission Bay with music and dancing late into the night.
Mission Beach San Diego Belmont Park
Located on the surf and sand of Mission Beach, iconic Belmont Park is home to the famous wooden Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, originally built in 1925. Beautifully restored, the coaster with its 73-foot drop is one of only two original beachfront roller coasters still operating on the West Coast today.
Belmont Park also features those fun nostalgic rides like Bumper Cars, Tilt-a-Whirl and Liberty Carousel, an antique reproduction that takes riders back to the golden age of iconic merry-go-rounds. Vintage arcades and boardwalk games take us back to amusement parks we visited as kids.
If that isn’t enough to stimulate memories, the aroma of cotton candy and hot dogs certainly will.
Sea World San Diego
Set on 190 beautifully-landscaped acres along the sparkling shores of Mission Bay Park, this fun-filled marine park features freshwater and saltwater pools teeming with sea life. Sea World features marine shows, aquariums and up-close encounters with dolphins, sharks and rays.
Thrilling roller coaster rides like MANTA features dual launch zones with an exhilarating 54-foot drop into a subterranean trench. Emperor is the tallest, fastest, longest and only floorless dive coaster in California, plunging 90 degrees.
Not a coaster fan? No problem, as there are many other milder adventures to be found.
On Friday and Saturday nights, Sea World lights up the sky with a spectacular display of sparkle and excitement, visible from miles away.
At the end of our stay in this San Diego Mission Beach vacation rental, we were convinced that a beach getaway like this deserves a repeat performance. The eclectic blend of casual and upscale beach and bayside experiences in this charming Southern California coastal town was a lovely getaway for us.
This is the way life is meant to be enjoyed.
Book your stay in this Mission Beach vacation rental.
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