Encinitas and the North County Coast ★ 4.4
Encinitas and the North County Coast 25 miles up the train line from downtown San Diego, with Pannikin Coffee, Lofty Coffee brunch and Carlsbad Strawberry U-pick fields.
More food day trips in San Diego
Coronado Island ★ 4.4
Coronado Island a ten-minute ferry across San Diego Bay, with Clayton's 1939 diner, Tartine on First Street and special-occasion brunches in the restored Crown Room at the Hotel del Coronado.
Borrego Springs and Anza-Borrego Desert ★ 3.9
Borrego Springs in the Anza-Borrego Desert two hours east of San Diego, a desert oasis with Carlee's Place, Pablito's Mexican and Galleta Meadows sculpture gardens.
Tijuana (Baja California, Mexico) ★ 4.6
Tijuana, Mexico, a 30-minute trolley-and-walk day trip from downtown San Diego for trompo tacos, Telefonica Gastro Park food trucks and the original Caesar salad.
Valle de Guadalupe (Baja Wine Country) ★ 4.7
Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California, the wine valley two and a half hours south of San Diego with 70 percent of Mexico's wine and Finca Altozano lunches.
Temecula Valley Wine Country ★ 4.3
Temecula Valley wine country north of San Diego, a one-hour drive into nearly 50 boutique wineries with tasting rooms on Rancho California Road and beyond.