Del Mar Beyond the Racetrack: A Local's Guide
TL;DR: Del Mar is more than its racetrack, though the racetrack earns its reputation. Founded in 1936 with Bing Crosby among its backers and open since 1937 under the line "Where the Turf Meets the Surf," the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club still runs every summer. But the real day here is built around the bluffs, the beach stairs, Del Mar Village, and Torrey Pines just south. Parking is the one real logistics problem, especially on race days and summer weekends, so plan around it. Cali Life Co. handcrafts polarized wood sunglasses about 20 miles south in San Diego, and this stretch of coast, with its low afternoon sun over open water, is exactly the kind of light they are built for.
Everyone who visits Del Mar hears about the racetrack first. Fair enough, it has earned the attention since 1937. But the town runs on more than one attraction, and most of it sits within easy walking distance of Camino Del Mar.
Del Mar Village and Camino Del Mar
The heart of town runs along Camino Del Mar, lined with Tudor and Spanish-style buildings that give the strip its character. Del Mar Plaza sits above the street with an elevated outdoor seating area that hosts a daily sunset gathering, worth timing your evening around if you want a view without a dinner reservation. The street itself is walkable end to end in under twenty minutes, which makes it easy to park once and cover the whole village on foot.
The bluffs and the stairs down to the beach
Del Mar's beach access is defined by its bluffs, and the walk down is part of the experience. The 15th Street stairs are the most direct route from the village down to the sand, and the bluffs themselves offer some of the better ocean views in San Diego County without a hike required to reach them. Go in the late afternoon if you want the light low and warm over the water rather than flat overhead sun.
Del Mar Dog Beach
North of 29th Street, the beach opens up as an off-leash area, one of the more relaxed dog beaches on this stretch of coast. Even if you are not bringing a dog, it is a good stop for the open stretch of sand and the fact that it thins out earlier in the day than the beaches closer to the village.
Where to eat and drink with a view
Del Mar Plaza's elevated seating area draws a crowd right at sunset, and restaurants along Camino Del Mar and the plaza itself are built to take advantage of it. Viewpoint Brewing Co., the town's local brewery, has an outdoor patio overlooking the lagoon, a good stop if you want a beer with a view rather than a formal dinner. The village overall leans toward this kind of low-key, ocean-facing dining rather than a nightlife scene, which fits the general pace of the town.
Torrey Pines, just south
A few minutes south of Del Mar sits Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, home to one of the rarest pine species in the country and a network of trails that end at cliff-top views over the Pacific. It is technically a separate destination, but close enough that pairing it with a Del Mar afternoon makes for a full day without much extra driving.
The fairgrounds, in and out of racing season
The Del Mar Fairgrounds hosts the San Diego County Fair in early summer and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's meet later in the season, but the grounds themselves are worth knowing even outside those windows, since they host events and markets throughout the year. If you are visiting during the summer meet, expect the whole town, not just the track, to run busier than usual.
What to know before you go
| Consideration | What to expect | |---|---| | Parking | Limited on Camino Del Mar; paid lots fill fastest on weekends and during the summer racing meet | | Best time to visit the bluffs | Late afternoon, for warm low light over the water | | Racing season | Summer meet plus a shorter fall season; the town gets noticeably busier during both | | Walking the village | Fully walkable in 15 to 20 minutes end to end | | Pairing with Torrey Pines | A few minutes south, easy to combine into one day |
Parking is the detail that catches most first-time visitors off guard. Camino Del Mar street parking fills early, especially on weekends, so plan to grab a paid lot near the village if you are arriving mid-morning or later. Arriving before 10 AM solves most of the problem.
Pack for the light, not just the day
The stretch of coast from Del Mar down through Torrey Pines gets a specific kind of afternoon glare, low sun bouncing hard off open water as you walk the bluffs or sit facing the ocean. Polarized lenses cut that glare directly instead of just darkening it, which is the difference between a comfortable sunset walk and squinting through it. Cali Life Co. builds its wood sunglasses with polarized UV400 lenses for exactly this kind of light, and the wood sunglasses collection covers styles suited to a beach afternoon and a village dinner alike. If sustainable materials matter to your choice, the eco-friendly sunglasses collection is built around exactly that.
FAQ
Is Del Mar worth visiting outside of racing season? Yes. The bluffs, beach stairs, village shops, and Torrey Pines nearby all operate year-round, independent of the racetrack's summer and fall meets.
What is the best time of day to visit the Del Mar bluffs? Late afternoon, when the light comes in low and warm over the water rather than flat overhead sun. It is also when the walking paths thin out from midday crowds.
Is parking difficult in Del Mar? It can be, especially on weekends and during the summer racing meet. Arriving before 10 AM or using a paid lot near the village solves most of the problem.
Can I combine a Del Mar visit with Torrey Pines in one day? Easily. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve sits just a few minutes south, and the two pair naturally into one coastal day.
Why did Del Mar adopt the phrase "Where the Turf Meets the Surf"? The Del Mar Turf Club opened in 1937 with Bing Crosby among its founders, and the phrase, tied to a song Crosby recorded, has described the track's oceanside setting ever since.