Del Mar, California, about 30 minutes north of San Diego, contains a rich and interesting history. In 1882, Theodore M. Loop designed and built the first train for the Southern California Railroad. Loop was so impressed with the area that he called it “the most desirable place on the entire coast.” In that same year, Jacob Taylor purchased 338 acres of land for $1,000 on the northern edge of what would later become Del Mar. Both men were visionaries and both envisioned the city becoming very powerful with much wealth and industry. Another interesting story unfolds around the Del Mar racetrack. In 1933, Ed Fletcher was given the task of finding a suitable location for the San Diego County Fair. An area for the fair was soon decided upon that also included a mile-long oval race track. In 1937 the now infamous Del Mar Racetrack was established and began holding races.
Accommodations in Del Mar are geared toward anyone looking to stay in or visit the city. The original Del Mar Inn now called the Clarion Carriage House Del Mar Inn along with the Hilton Del Mar North and L’auberge Del Mar Resort & Spa are just a few of the many places to choose from.
Balloon flights are also very popular in and around the city. Balloon Flights LLC and Panorama Balloon Tours offer services in this area. The Del Mar Fairgrounds and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club are also notable places to visit. The places to eat in Del Mar offer a wide variety of food types along with the service. Pacifica Del Mar, China Café, Papachino’s, Sushi Dokoro Shirahama, and Barone’s are just a few of the many dining options. The surrounding tourist destinations number in the hundreds. San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World of California, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Old Town San Diego, Historic Balboa Park, University of San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter, Convention Center, Qualcomm Stadium, home of Los San Diego Chargers, Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, San Diego State University, home of the Aztec, and the Holiday Bowl are just a small glimpse of the many options that await any visitor to Del Mar.
Del Mar real estate varies greatly depending on location. For example, a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home on the coast can cost more than $7 million. The same house further inland would cost about $1 million. The main reason for the large price difference is the proximity to the coast. The first example is located right on the beach, while the second example is about three miles offshore. Homes that are even further inland continue to drop in price as the view of the surrounding area slowly diminishes.
Del Mar is a quantitative city that sits on just two square miles and only has a population of around 4,500. If you’re looking for something with a small town atmosphere, yet friendly at the same time, Del Mar is the place.