Del Mar - Where The Beautiful People Are
Posted by Terry Hunefeld | Filed under Travel
Imagine a romantic vacation getaway to a quiet, relaxing and scenic village on the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This getaway has charming hotels and Inns, phenomenal restaurants and miles of gorgeous beaches. It’s just those elements that make up the gem that is called Del Mar, California.
Del Mar is Spanish for “of the sea” because it is located right on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It’s lauded by travel critics as one of the most beautiful and delicious resort beach towns in the world. Here you will find delightful lagoons, five-star restaurants, romantic bed and breakfast inns, scenic jogging trails, myriad vacation options, sandy beaches and a one-of-a-kind horse racing track
Del Mar has been home to celebrities ever since the 1940’s: Bing Crosby and his friend Jimmy Durante worked together to help turn the Del Mar Race Track into the most beautiful and prestigious race tracks in the horse racing world. One could often find Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez at the track. Other celebrities wanted to be closer, so Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickenson purchased residences in Del Mar. Brad Pitt recently purchased a beachfront home in Del Mar for (eighteen million dollars!) - and now Brad Pitt sightings have become the new sport in town.
Del Mar is a tiny community consisting of only two square miles along the Pacific Ocean in Northern San Diego County. Solana Beach is it’s neighbor on the north, while Torrey Pines State Reserve and La Jolla border on the south. The population of Del Mar is somewhere between 4000 and 5000 residents (depending on who does the counting). “Del-Marians” live among beautiful sandstone canyons or on bluff tops overlooking the ocean - and they all enjoy gorgeous sunsets.
Del Mar is home to the endangered Torrey Pine, the rarest species of pine tree in the United States. Only two populations of this endangered species exist - one in Torrey Pines State Reserve the other in Del Mar proper.
The San Diego County Fair is hosted on the Del Mar Fairgrounds every summer, opening on a 184 acre site in the San Dieguito Valley in 1936. It was determined to be the perfect spot because it was just off the main highways and would be easily accessible - while being near the ocean’s cooling factor on hot summer days. Selection of a queen - the Fairest of the Fair - is a highlight of this annual event.
Singer Bing Crosby took the front role to help bring the now-world-famous Del Mar Race Track into reality. In 1937 the Del Mar Race Track opened to newspapers calling it “Bing’s Baby”. Bing later recorded a song that would eventually open and close every day of racing at Del Mar - Where The Turf Meets the Surf.
Terry Hunefeld gave up his position as a corporate CEO in 2007 to spend more time at sea. He now volunteers his time on the board of directors of the Audubon Society and serves as a leader on charter voyages to sea to observe and census seabirds and marine mammals. For more info, click Bed and Breakfasts in San Diego or Encinitas Beach Hotels.
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