These destinations are equally attractive as side trips during a San Diego vacation, or as weekend getaways for San Diego residents. All are within a two-hour drive of San Diego
- Palm Springs: Desert playground filled with golf courses, resorts and shopping.
- Joshua Tree National Park: Natural wonders, rock climbing
- Julian: A former mining town, now famous for 1880s buildings, apples and antiques.
- Mount Palomar Observatory: Home of the 200-inch Hale Telescope, once the world's largest.
- Catalina Island: Catch a boat from Orange County and head for quaint Catalina Island where fish fly and people drive golf carts.