Pacific Beach, San Diego vacation rentals

This vibrant beach community — known to locals as just P.B. — is known for its convivial atmosphere. Youthful crowds flock here to revel and sunbathe on two miles of sandy beach before heading inland to partake of the neighborhood’s thriving nightlife scene. During the day, the beach swarms with surfers and volleyball players, and at night bonfires keep the never-ending summer vibes going. Joggers, roller bladers, and skateboarders sail down the curvy paved boardwalk bordering the beach. The neighborhood's commerce hub, centered on Garnet Avenue and Mission Boulevard, pulses with restaurants, bars, and vintage clothing shops. But this is San Diego, where even the most thriving beach scenes offer pockets of laid-back calm. North Pacific Beach has a reputation as a chill zone for families, and Tourmaline Surf Park, located on the tip of the north side, is well loved by beginning surfers for gentle waves.

San Diego is known as a year-round vacationland for a reason — warm, sunny days are the norm here. Summer is definitely high season at Pacific Beach — when high schoolers, visitors, and locals converge — but you’re likely to encounter crowds any time of year at this popular beach. In October the neighborhood celebrates Beachfest, a popular festival that includes live music, a volleyball tournament, and a beer garden.

Crystal Pier

Built in 1927 and originally called Pickering’s Pleasure Pier, this 872-foot pier used to support an amusement park and ballroom. Today, those attractions are gone and the name has changed, but Crystal Pier is still a pleasure. Anglers spend peaceful hours casting off from the railings, while beachgoers stroll along its expanse to watch surfers or just gaze out at the waves.

Kate Sessions Park

Get an entirely different perspective at this park, named for the botanist and landscape architect, on nearby Mount Soledad that offers sweeping vistas of Mission Bay and the ocean beyond. With 79 acres of rolling hills, you're guaranteed to snag a patch of grass with a view. There’s also a playground for kids, and grills for cooking out.

Mission Beach

You’d be excused for not quite knowing where one beach ends and the other begins. Mission and Pacific Beach meet at Pacific Beach Drive, and Mission Beach is also all about fun. Here you’ll find Mission Bay Aquatic Park, a 4,235-acre manmade aquatic park that offers swimming beaches, boating, and just about every possible water sport. Nearby Belmont Park is a classic seaside amusement park whose centerpiece is a 75-foot-high wooden roller coaster.