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USA 7-Day California Ultimate Guide | Los Angeles, Long Beach & San Diego⎮Road Trip

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VERDICT: We gave 4 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!

This guide forms part of our complete USA Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across the United States.

This article is part of our 7-Day Southern California Road Trip: Ultimate Guide. Over seven days, we explored San Diego and Los Angeles, from the USS Midway Museum, Coronado Beach, La Jolla and the Gaslamp Quarter to the Queen Mary in Long Beach. We rode the San Diego Trolley, watched a rooftop movie and even crossed into Mexico for the day. This series brings together our complete itinerary, personal experiences and practical visitor advice. Read the complete seven-day guide here.

Our 7-Day Southern California Road Trip

Seven days of legendary ships, beautiful beaches, city tours and a remarkable Mexico adventure.

Southern California had been calling us for some time. With legendary coastal communities, naval history, beautiful beaches and the possibility of crossing into Mexico for a day, we knew this trip could offer far more than a traditional Los Angeles city break.

Over seven days, we explored Long Beach and San Diego, using both cities as bases for waterfront attractions, historic ships, neighbourhood tours and coastal day trips. We walked around the Queen Mary, which was incredible, toured an enormous US aircraft carrier, crossed the San Diego–Coronado Bridge, watched a classic film beneath the stars and discovered why La Jolla is regarded as one of California’s most beautiful coastal communities.

The highlight, however, was leaving the United States behind for an entire day in Mexico. Our guided tour took us across the border to Tijuana, Playas de Tijuana, Rosarito and a small coastal fishing community before returning to San Diego that evening.

It was an ambitious itinerary, but it delivered the variety we wanted: history, ocean scenery, good food, unusual experiences and several places we immediately wanted to revisit.

Arriving in San Diego

Our base was the Omni San Diego Hotel at the Ballpark, positioned beside Petco Park and close to the Gaslamp Quarter and San Diego Convention Center.

The hotel had recently completed a major renovation, and our room was clean, contemporary and spacious. We spent most of our time exploring, so we never managed to enjoy the rooftop pool or Tortuga poolside restaurant. However, the hotel’s central location made it extremely convenient for our itinerary.

Petco Park was next door, restaurants were only minutes away and San Diego’s waterfront remained within walking distance. When we needed coffee or something quick before leaving for the day, the hotel’s lobby café was particularly useful.

We would stay at the Omni again, but next time, we would deliberately reserve an afternoon for the pool.

Touring the USS Midway and San Diego Embarcadero

San Diego’s naval connection is impossible to miss, especially along its waterfront. The centrepiece of our visit was the USS Midway Museum and San Diego Embarcadero.

The USS Midway served as a US Navy aircraft carrier from 1945 until 1992. Today, visitors can explore its flight deck, aircraft collection, crew areas, engine spaces and command facilities.

Standing on the flight deck surrounded by historic aircraft gave us a sense of the carrier’s enormous size. The museum was not simply a collection of displays, it was an opportunity to walk through the working spaces where thousands of sailors once lived and served.

Afterwards, we continued along the Embarcadero, passing waterfront parks, public art, historic ships and views across San Diego Bay. The area connected several of the city’s major attractions and was one of the easiest places to explore on foot.

Seeing San Diego by Trolley

Taking a San Diego Trolley Tour gave us an excellent overview of the city without having to navigate traffic or repeatedly search for parking.

The commentary introduced us to San Diego’s history while the route connected major visitor areas, including the Gaslamp Quarter, waterfront, Old Town and Coronado. We could enjoy the scenery through the large windows while deciding which places deserved a longer visit.

For first-time visitors, the trolley was one of the most practical experiences of the trip. It helped us understand how the different neighbourhoods fitted together and gave both of us a chance to concentrate on the views.

Coronado Hotel and Beach

Crossing the San Diego–Coronado Bridge was one of the trolley tour’s best moments. From its elevated position, we enjoyed panoramic views over Downtown San Diego, the bay and the surrounding naval facilities.

Once in Coronado, the atmosphere changed almost immediately. Palm trees, bike paths, attractive houses and broad streets gave it the character of a relaxed coastal community.

Our main destination was the Hotel del Coronado and Coronado Beach. Opened in 1888, the enormous red-roofed Victorian resort became the setting for the 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.

Coronado Beach was another pleasant surprise. Its broad shoreline contains mica that sparkles in the sunlight, while the historic hotel creates one of California’s most recognizable beachfront views.

We enjoyed Coronado so much that we returned by car the following day. That does not happen often during one of our tightly packed trips, but we knew our first visit had been too short.

An Amazing Afternoon in La Jolla

La Jolla delivered some of the most beautiful coastal scenery of the entire journey.

Although it is part of San Diego, La Jolla felt like a separate seaside destination. Dramatic sandstone cliffs, small coves, coastal paths and marine wildlife created a landscape that looked almost designed for photography.

We visited La Jolla Cove, where California sea lions rested around the rocky shoreline as kayakers and snorkellers explored the protected water. Nearby, the Children’s Pool is known for its harbour seals, while La Jolla Shores provides a much broader beach for swimming, surfing and family activities.

We also discovered the boutiques, galleries and restaurants around Prospect Street and Girard Avenue. It was upscale, certainly, but it never felt overly formal.

Our biggest mistake was not allowing enough time. La Jolla could easily occupy a full day when combined with the sea caves, Birch Aquarium and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.

Dinner at Union Kitchen & Tap

After a busy trolley day, we stopped at Union Kitchen & Tap in the Gaslamp Quarter.

The industrial-style gastropub was energetic, social and only a couple of blocks from Petco Park. It had numerous televisions showing sports, a large patio and a rotating selection of craft beer and locally produced drinks.

I ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich with truffle fries, while Mr. MRT chose a generously sized burger and fries. A cocktail for me and Chardonnay for him rounded out the meal.

Union was not trying to deliver quiet fine dining. It was a lively downtown restaurant built around substantial food, drinks, friends and televised sports. After a full day of sightseeing, that suited us perfectly.

Watching a Movie Beneath the Stars

One of our most unusual evenings was spent at Rooftop Cinema Club San Diego.

During our visit, the cinema operated from the Manchester Grand Hyatt on the Embarcadero. We settled into outdoor seating, collected our wireless headphones and enjoyed hot chocolate while the city lights appeared around us.

The film that evening was Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which felt perfectly suited to an open-air rooftop setting. Blankets and fireplaces helped once the temperature dropped, while the headphones allowed us to control our individual volume without interference from the city below.

It was more than simply watching a film. The sunset, skyline and views across San Diego Bay transformed it into a complete evening experience.

Rooftop Cinema Club has since relocated to the Porto Vista Hotel in Little Italy, but its combination of films, city views and open-air seating remains one of San Diego’s most distinctive evening activities.

Mexico for a Day; Our Road-Trip Highlight

The most adventurous part of our California itinerary was our Mexico for a Day tour from San Diego.

We joined a guided bus tour and crossed the international border into Tijuana. Each passenger completed the immigration process on foot before meeting the bus again on the Mexican side.

In Tijuana, we explored Avenida Revolución, saw the city’s enormous arch and experienced the shops, street vendors and markets of its visitor district. The city felt completely different from San Diego despite being only a short distance across the border.

We also visited Playas de Tijuana, where the border barrier extends directly into the Pacific Ocean. Families gathered along the beach and boardwalk, vendors sold street corn, churros and cold treats, and colourful murals covered parts of the waterfront.

From Tijuana, we continued south to Rosarito. We enjoyed a light lunch at a beachside restaurant, walked across the sand and meandered through the resort community. On our return journey, we stopped at a quiet fishing village for grilled fish at a rooftop restaurant.

By evening, we were back at the international border. We walked through US immigration with our passports, met the bus again and returned to San Diego.

Two countries in one day, it was easily one of the most memorable experiences of the entire trip.

Taking Our California Adventure To Long Beach

Long Beach was yet again relaxed being in Southern California rather than being in the middle of Los Angeles. It had a genuine coastal atmosphere, a walkable waterfront and one of the most famous ocean liners in the world sitting directly across the water.

We stayed at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach, a colourful waterfront hotel positioned only steps from the Queen Mary. Its location allowed us to enjoy views across the harbour while remaining close to the restaurants, shops and attractions around Rainbow Harbor.

It was also an excellent base for exploring the wider Los Angeles area without having to stay in the busiest part of the city.

Discovering the Queen Mary

Sometimes the best travel discoveries happen almost by accident. We knew the Queen Mary was in Long Beach, but we hadn’t realized just how close she would be to our hotel.

Our visit to the Queen Mary introduced us to an extraordinary combination of maritime history, Art Deco design, wartime service and Hollywood stories. Launched in 1934 and entering passenger service in 1936, the former Cunard ocean liner once carried celebrities, politicians, British royalty and hundreds of thousands of military personnel.

The Queen Mary has been permanently moored in Long Beach since 1967. Today, visitors can explore historical exhibits, take guided tours, dine aboard or even spend the night in one of the ship’s original cabins.

The ship’s enormous profile dominated the waterfront. Seeing it from our hotel and from across Rainbow Harbor was impressive, but standing beside it revealed its true scale.

Walking Around Long Beach Harbor

We also explored Long Beach Harbor, Rainbow Harbor and Shoreline Village, one of the most enjoyable pedestrian areas along the city’s waterfront.

Shoreline Village combines colourful buildings, independent shops, restaurants and patios overlooking the marina. We could walk along the harbour, watch the boats and look back across the water toward the Queen Mary.

Parkers’ Lighthouse provided one of the best views of the ship, while nearby restaurants offered everything from casual seafood to more polished waterfront dining. The Aquarium of the Pacific, Shoreline Aquatic Park and the Lions Lighthouse were also within easy walking distance.

Long Beach deserved more time than we gave it. It may sit within Los Angeles County, but it had a personality and pace entirely its own.

Would We Take This Road Trip Again?

Absolutely.

Seven days allowed us to experience several sides of Southern California, but it also showed us how much remained unexplored. Long Beach deserved another full day, La Jolla needed considerably more time and Coronado immediately tempted us back for a second visit.

The journey worked because it was not built around a single type of attraction. We moved from ocean-liner history and naval aviation to beaches, neighbourhoods, restaurants and an international day trip.

We returned home with hundreds of photographs, several unfinished itineraries and a much longer list for our next visit. That is usually the clearest sign that a road trip has been worthwhile.

Five Places to Visit in Coronado

  • Hotel del Coronado: Explore its Victorian architecture, history, shops and oceanfront restaurants.
  • Coronado Beach: Walk the broad, mica-rich shoreline beside the historic hotel.
  • Coronado Ferry Landing: Enjoy shops, restaurants and panoramic views of Downtown San Diego.
  • Orange Avenue: Browse independent boutiques, cafés, restaurants and the historic Village Theatre.
  • Glorietta Bay Park: Relax beside a protected bay beach with a playground and marina views.

Five Nearby Places to Visit

  • Petco Park: Tour the Padres’ downtown ballpark or attend a Major League Baseball game.
  • Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House: Discover the neighbourhood’s history inside its oldest surviving building.
  • San Diego Convention Center: Major event venue and home of the annual San Diego Comic-Con.
  • The Embarcadero: Walk the waterfront past public art, historic ships and harbour attractions.
  • Seaport Village: Browse waterfront shops and restaurants overlooking San Diego Bay.

Our Southern California Road-Trip Highlights

Every part of the journey delivered something different:

Planning Your Trip?

Before you go, don’t forget to book the essentials:

With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.

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