TRAVELING TO MISSION BEACH AND PACIFIC BEACH CALIFORNIA ON A BUDGET

How long have you thought about taking an exciting vacation to San Diego, California, but didn’t have the funds? Then you are going to want to read this! Come along as we converse about how traveling to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach California on a budget, might just be for you! You just hit the holy grail of info for where to go, things to do, places to stay and where to grub!

SAN DIEGO: TRAVELING TO MISSION BEACH AND PACIFIC BEACH CALIFORNIA ON A BUDGET

When in San Diego and traveling to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach California on a budget, you will notice something. San Diego is broken up into smaller neighborhoods within it. Mission and Pacific Beaches are conjoining neighborhoods in San Diego.

They are located between Ocean Beach (check out our Ocean Beach blog): https://romanticdaytrippers.com/?p=174 and La Jolla (check this exciting La Jolla post out): https://romanticdaytrippers.com/?p=271 in California’s southern most region. Discussing them together just seems logical, as they appear to melt together as you walk on the boardwalk that connects them!

OVERVIEW: TRAVELING TO MISSION BEACH AND PACIFIC BEACH CALIFORNIA ON A BUDGET

Firstly, let’s talk about the area these two beaches cover. Another topic we will cover in this section is what is encompassed in those regions, as well. While traveling to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach California on a budget, keep these tips and tricks in mind!

Mission Beach includes a bay area, within that bay area is Sea World and Belmont Park (which we will discuss a little more in depth later in this post). So, Mission has a beautiful bay side AND a fun sandy beach side.

Adjacent to Mission Beach is Pacific Beach. The two are strung together by a 2 mile long sandy beach, a boardwalk, condo rentals and restaurants. They both share a laid back, party and college kind of vibe. Although, they do differ when it comes to their day and their night life styles.

THINGS TO DO:MISSION BEACH

YOGA

Let’s begin with things to do in Mission Beach, it has something for just about everyone! You can begin your day with a relaxing session of yoga, right on the beach. Just imagine listening to the sounds of the waves as you are in your poses. Breathe deep, taking in the fresh ocean air! Such a tranquil, yet cost effective way to start your day on vacation. You can find free classes and times at this link: https://www.meetup.com/Yoga-On-Mission-Beach/!

BIKE RENTALS

If yoga isn’t quite your thing but you’d like to still get out and be active, there is something for you too! Mission Beach shares a two mile long boardwalk with Pacific Beach. There are several things to do on the boardwalk.

Sitting or walking on the boardwalk to people watch is one of this areas best ways to take in the culture. For a more active approach, bring your own roller skates or rent an electric or peddle bike: http://www.rays-rentals.com/, for as little as $10 an hour. Roll up and down the boardwalk in style!

BEACH PARTY

Are you more of the beach party kind of person? Mission Beach has you covered! Although there aren’t any fire rings on the beach, you are able to bring your own grill. You can set up an easy up canopy super cheap (like $30-40): https://www.walmart.com/browse/sports-outdoors/e-z-up-canopies/4125_546956_4128_55558_5110203_8353603, set up a small table and get to grilling! The party is on with a perfect view of the ocean and maybe even get in a game of volleyball. The parking lot is only a short distance away, so bringing extra gear won’t be too much of a hassle!

BELMONT PARK

After you get your fill of the beach and warm sun, head back to the parking lot and drop your things off at the car. There is a small beachfront, amusement park as the locals well know it! Belmont Park has so much to offer in itself, after all, it has been around since 1925! All the park and ticket info can be found here: https://www.belmontpark.com/, prices do change so check the website before you go.

There is the Giant Dipper the tall white, wooden roller coaster for those thrill seekers among us! If you love to climb, then you should head over to Sky High Fun: https://www.belmontpark.com/attraction/sky-ropes/. They have a rock climbing wall that looks challenging. If you are of the competitive sort, you will love the climb challenge. You can race someone to the top of a coconut tree. This coconut tree does have hand and foot holds, however can still be difficult!

If that isn’t enough, they also offer ziplining in Belmont Park! Hang loose with an up to 15 miles per hour, zipline ride. Fly above everyone down below on this fast paced scenic tour of Belmont Park!

MISSION BAY

Once you are finished in Belmont Park, calm your adrenaline a bit, with a nice visit to the Mission Bay and Park. While traveling to Mission Beach and Pacific beach on a budget, you won’t want to miss out on what all the bay has to offer you!

The first thing you will notice is the view. There is a small jetty that has a beautiful park. At the park you have views of the bay as well as the ocean. You will see big, gorgeous boats of all kinds launching and docking from here. Such an amazing way to begin your evening. Catching sunset from here is an absolute must. You can grill and relax all day if you want, but the park does close at 10:00 pm.

MISSION BAY CRUISES

Mission Bay also has cruises that go out from here. There are a lot of options depending on the type of cruise you’d like to take, but these are just 1-3 hour cruises around the bay for your enjoyment. These cruises range in price from $30-100, but highly recommended to search Groupon before you go. The captain drives the boat while you sip beer or wine and munch on appetizers. All while enjoying sunset over the Pacific ocean, how romantic!

SEAWORLD

Lastly, brings us to SeaWorld. This was intentionally saved for the end of this section, as it can be quite controversial. For the sake of those interested, leaving it out didn’t seem right either. If you are one of those that does not care much for these types of places, you are encouraged to skip over this part and read on to the rest of the post.

SeaWorld has sea life, rollercoasters and shows to take in. The rollercoasters can be seen from miles away in surrounding cities! They set off fireworks on a pretty regular basis for all to see. The fireworks light up the night sky with bright neon flashes of sparkle!

This is the part some do not care for. The vast sea life that can be found here and the shows they are in are cause for concern for some. Some see it as cruel to use them for monetary gain and keep them in captive, out and away from their natural habitat, the wild. Some have claimed to have worked there and actually seen mistreatment of the sea life, especially the Orcas. Others will argue that they are providing a haven for the sea life to be safe and cared for.

Whatever your take on the subject, either supporting or avoiding, know there is always traffic in the area, so plan ahead accordingly.

PACIFIC BEACH

Pacific Beach is divided into the North end and South end. The South end of the beach is the one closest to Mission Beach. The North end borders La Jolla, which tends to be more family oriented. The South end of the beach borders Tourmaline Beach, known by surfers. It is a surf hot spot and only covers a small stretch of land. Just beyond that is Mission Beach.

BOARDWALK AND BEACH

Once you have made it to Pacific Beach, there is a wide variety of options, as far as entertainment goes. Firstly, and the most inexpensive things to do, walk on the boardwalk or have a beach party with friends! As mentioned earlier in this post, both are available to do in Mission Beach as well, but the vibe is a little different.

When traveling to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach California on a budget, there are some differences in the day to night crowds. You will find Pacific Beach has more of a night life than Mission Beach does. Meaning this little beachfront area comes alive at night!

With it’s rooftop bars and restaurants, it isn’t hard to see why it is always busy. From just before sunset until after dark and into the night, Pacific Beach is crawling with locals, distant neighbors and tourists from all over the world!

BAD AXE THROWING

If the nightlife isn’t your scene, no worries! There are some fun things to do away from the beach as well, just inland a little way. Ever tried your hand at throwing axes? Well Bad Axe Throwing: https://badaxethrowing.com/locations/axe-throwing-san-diego/, will show you how and let you loose! You may have to stretch the budget just a little for this activity, at around $27 per adult, but you can sometimes find a Groupon for it for as low as $15 per adult.

BAKED BEAR

After you work up a sweat throwing axes, drive over to The Baked Bear: https://www.thebakedbear.com/. At Baked Bear you can get a customized ice cream treat of your choice! At this unique ice cream shop you can make an ice cream sandwich, waffle cone or bowl. With numerous different cookies, brownies, toppings and ice cream flavors to choose from. This amazing little ice cream trip won’t break the bank either with most treats under $5! Sweet deal!

LODGING: WHILE TRAVELING TO MISSION BEACH AND PACIFIC BEACH CALIFORNIA ON A BUDGET

This brings us to Lodging when traveling to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach California on a budget. Lodging here can be fairly inexpensive if you research correctly within your budget. Here are some fun and interestingly unique ways to stay in this area.

AIRBNB

First we have the most inexpensive option, surprisingly being Airbnb. You are able to get a rental for as low as $80 per night depending on your lodging needs. Don’t forget to look into the Couchsurfing App:http://www.couchsurfing.com/about/mobile/ and our posts under Travel Resources on a Budget in the menu section of the home page on our blog, for even cheaper ways to stay!

MISSION BAY RV RESORT AND CAMPGROUND

Our second option would be to stay at the Mission Bay RV resort and Campground. If your budget can afford a little more, this is the way to go! It just makes driving your RV while traveling to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach California on a budget so much easier! The price range is a little higher than Airbnb though, coming in at around $105-140 per night for full hookups. You will have great views, the camping experience on the bay and be within minutes of a ton of things to do.

CRYSTAL PIER HOTEL AND COTTAGES

This last and final option is very different and will probably be a little out of budget. It was too unique not to mention though. The Crystal Pier Hotel and Cottages: http://www.crystalpier.com/, actually allow you to stay right on the Pier in a cottage! This short 872 foot pier boasts a beautiful hotel and cottage rentals right over the ocean.

The Crystal Pier Hotel and Cottages pride itself on being the only of it’s kind on the west coast of America! Who wouldn’t want to be lulled to sleep as if on a boat, but without the constant rocking! Unless you are able to score a great Groupon deal, the average price for a room at this luxurious hotel and cottages, is a steep $225-600 a night! By far the most expensive option, but something you will talk about for years to come!

DINING: WHILE TRAVELING TO MISSION BEACH AND PACIFIC BEACH CALIFORNIA ON A BUDGET

Finally, we have our dining while traveling to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach California on a budget portion. There are some amazingly peculiar taste options.

THAI VILLAGE AND LAHAINA BEACH HOUSE

Some fairly inexpensive but really tasty local places to try are Thai Village: https://www.menuwithprice.com/menu/thai-village/california/san-diego/207957/ and Lahaina Beach House: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60750-d14930694-Reviews-Lahaina_Beach_House-San_Diego_California.html. Both are decently priced, but quite different in cuisine. Thai Village offers traditional tasty Thai food at around $10 and under for a full entree.

Lahaina Beach House offers your lighter beach fare for the daytime options. Sandwiches, burritos, tacos and salads, along with beer and drink options. Average cost tends to be anywhere from $10-20 per adult, not including alcoholic beverages.

WATERBAR

Waterbar: https://www.waterbarsd.com/ has an extensive menu at a high price. Lunch offers oysters on the half shell, scallop ceviche and seared ahi tuna sliders just to name a few choices. Lunchtime will average you $10-50. Dinner has some more options for you than lunch, but be careful, the price jumps up as well! There are shareable options, soup, salad and sandwiches. The average dinner price ranges from $15-65 for a plate of nice fresh seafood!

SUSHI OTA

Lastly, and most expensive and also a seafood option is Sushi Ota: https://www.sushiota.com/, it serves Japanese food as well as sushi. Being so close to the beach really does make a difference in taste!! Sushi Ota is a local favorite but is a bit pricey. With prices ranging from $20-75 and alcohol ranging from $10-175. Also, be aware that they do not open until 5:00 pm.

CONCLUSION: WHILE TRAVELNG TO MISSION BEACH AND PACIFIC BEACH CALIFORNIA ON A BUDGET

In conclusion, when traveling to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach California on a budget, it can be done! If your budget just isn’t where you’d like it to be, try being creative. For example, why not rent an Airbnb, rent a bike for the day and then head over to Thai Village for some amazing Thai dinner. Take your dinner to the beach and eat it picnic style while watching the waves crash on the shore, creating a nice, romantic evening.

Budget a bit more stretchy? Stay at Mission RV Resort and Campground with your RV or tent, go work up an appetite with some Bad Axe Throwing and then get dinner at Waterbar. Then cool off with a customized desert at The Baked Bear.

So you’ve been saving for this trip and you want the best your budget can allow? Maybe splurge a little and stay in a room at the Crystal Pier Hotel or Cottage, right over the ocean. During the day hang out at Belmont Park or SeaWorld and then for dinner get the best sushi in town at Sushi Ota.

However you spend your time while traveling to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach California on a budget, be sure to have fun! Happy trails! Love, light and positive vibes, friends!