San Diego’s Premier Fall Stay-Cation Destination
School seems to be starting earlier and earlier each year. Perhaps it’s just that when I was a kid, it felt like summer went on for an eternity. Long days riding bikes and crafting friendship bracelets, going to the beach and roasting marshmallows in the dusky twilight hours.
As a mom, I’ve been trying to find ways to recreate some of that summer magic for my kids, and one of the most wonderful ways I’ve found is to craft experiences that expand time. Each fall, our family heads to the Catamaran Resort in San Diego to take advantage of California’s real summer: fall. Just when the beaches empty, unforgettable memories begin.
With a prime location on Mission Bay, the resort offers more than 300 beautifully appointed rooms with breathtaking views. Kiddos dine free in October at Oceana Coastal Kitchen, and you can pick up a free SUP or kayak rental throughout the month to ensure both inside and outside time are jam-packed with excitement!
Spend the morning at the world-famous San Diego Zoo and the afternoon relaxing at The Catamaran Spa, or spend your day checking bucket-list items off as you save on attractions at Balboa Park or museums and meals with the whole family. Whatever your endeavor, Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa is the perfect “home base” to take full advantage of everything this beautiful coastal city has to offer.
Swaying palm trees, lush vegetation, tiki torches, koi ponds and waterfalls define this Polynesian-themed property. An array of area attractions are but a stone’s throw away, including theme parks (SeaWorld, Legoland, Sesame Place), the aforementioned zoo, USS Midway, Old Town and the Gaslamp District. But for our part, our family has found that the Catamaran offers so many fun-filled fall activities and events – from outdoor movie nights, festive Oktoberfest and Halloween cruises and more – that it’s extra special to stay on property for a true “stay-cation.”
Accommodation of Distinction
Each of the resort’s 310 beautifully appointed suites, studios and hotel rooms reflect the upscale coastal lifestyle that is synonymous with Southern California. The coastal décor and color palette brings the panorama outside indoors – each with its own balcony or patio with breathtaking views of Mission Bay, the Pacific Beach neighborhood and coastline or the resort’s gorgeous tropical gardens.
The open-air eatery at the water’s edge, Oceana Coastal Kitchen dishes up equal parts inventive, seafood-centric California cuisine and sweeping waterfront views. Guests can opt to dine indoors or select a table on the terrace, but either way you’ll be hard pressed to think of a more perfect pairing: delicious culinary creations against such a beautiful backdrop.
The menu highlights the purity and flavor of California local produce and a commitment to sustainable ingredients in both its culinary offerings and the regional wines and brews to enhance your meal. The menu focuses on ocean- inspired fare (which is great for my son and I as the “seafoodies” in our family), but also offers plenty of options for my meat-and-potatoes husband, Tim and pasta-loving daughter.
My choices for can’t miss starters? Fragrant steamed black mussels (white wine, fennel, linguisa sausage, fresno butter and cilantro) and my personal fave – a super delicious Hamachi crudo with white miso and micro cilantro.
Other popular picks include the crispy pork ribs enhanced with passion fruit barbecue sauce, toasted macadamia nuts, pickled chili and cilantro and the kids’ “go-to” fennel and sausage flatbread.
For the main course, Tim’s 16 oz. dry aged New York prime was grilled to perfection and accompanied by potato, truffle butter, broccolini and mustard bordelaise sauce while the caramelized scallops were melt-in-your-mouth wonderful.
Kids Free
San Diego Month
The Catamaran Resorts rolls out the welcome mat for children aged 12 and under during Kids Free San Diego Month in October. All month long, October 1-31, kids stay, eat, and play for free. Hotel guests who dine at Oceana Coastal Kitchen can enjoy a complimentary kid’s meal for each paid adult entrée. Additionally, Action Sport Rentals is offering kids a free stand-up paddleboard or kayak rental with the purchase of one adult one-hour or longer rental. With two onsite locations (one right at the Catamaran pier), it couldn’t be easier to explore the scenic environs by bike, boat (power or sail) and board.
Families planning a fall getaway can enjoy big-time savings on guestrooms during Kids Free Month. Book directly with the Catamaran resort using exclusive promotion code KIDS24 to receive up to 25% off room rates from October 1-31, 2024.
Making a splash on Mondays (5:30-7 p.m.) at Oceana Coastal Kitchen is the new Maki & Sake Special, featuring a select signature sushi roll and glass of premium all-natural Soto Junmai Sake for $30. To complement its outstanding sushi creations, Oceana also introduces a tasty new sake menu this fall.
Blissful autumn escapes await at The Catamaran Spa – San Diego’s only beachfront spa debuting a brand-new menu of spa treatments, developed to be more authentic to the resorts’ unique and relaxing coastal environments. Guests can relax, renew, and revitalize with new massages like the Restorative CBD Massage; new skincare therapies like the Gentlemen’s Facial; new body wraps like the Coconut Kukui Wrap; and new body exfoliating treatments like the Hawaiian Jasmine Scrub.
Taking advantage of San Diego’s mild autumn weather, the Catamaran Resort hosts complimentary outdoor, family-friendly Movies on the Bay for guests every Friday night at sunset (September 6-October 25), with a stunning backdrop of Mission Bay.
