Mission Beach and Mission Bay have become regular getaway spots for us. Over the years, we’ve stayed in everything from small vacation rentals with rooftop decks to four-bedroom houses and hotels, usually returning for the same reasons: the beach, the easy lifestyle and the fact that once you arrive, you can walk almost everywhere.
My favourite place to stay is on the Mission Bay side. It’s quieter than the oceanfront, but you’re still only around 50 to 80 metres from the beach on the other side. You can walk along the bay in the morning, cross over for the ocean during the day and be back by the water for sunset.
It’s an easy place to settle into very quickly.
Where We Stay
We’ve tried quite a few different types of accommodation here, and I think Mission Beach is particularly good for vacation rentals. We’ve stayed in studios with rooftop decks as well as larger four-bedroom homes when travelling with family and friends.
For a hotel, my favourite is still the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa on Mission Bay. The location is excellent and the heated pool is particularly nice during the shoulder months, when Southern California is still beautiful but the temperatures aren’t quite as warm as summer.
Most recently, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina. It’s a little further removed from the beachfront and the heart of Mission Beach, so it doesn’t have quite the same step-out-the-door-and-walk-everywhere feel. It does, however, have a fun pool area for kids, which was a big hit with our daughter, as well as a marina setting and easy access to everything around Mission Bay. It was a good family-friendly option, although I still have a soft spot for staying closer to the bay and beach.
There’s something very relaxed about staying close to the water. You can walk out in the morning with a coffee, spend the day at the beach and wander somewhere nearby for a drink as the sun goes down.
An Easy Place to Stay
One of the things I love most about Mission Beach is how little planning it requires once you’re there.
There’s a Ralphs grocery store nearby, and services like Instacart and DoorDash are well connected to the area, which makes staying in a vacation rental particularly easy. We’ve had plenty of evenings where we’ve simply made a barbecue, put together a cheese board and sat outside on the balcony.
Those are actually some of my favourite memories here.
We first started visiting when our daughter was a toddler, and I still remember spending hours on the beach while she played in the sand. Since then, we’ve returned with family and friends and often bring visiting relatives here when they come to stay.
It feels less like going away and more like temporarily slipping into a different version of home.
The Mission Beach Vibe
If you know Sydney, I’d describe Mission Beach as having a little of the Bondi vibe about it. It’s casual, young, outdoorsy and always feels like something is happening.
La Jolla, by comparison, feels more like Double Bay or Mosman. It’s polished, beautiful and quite different in character. We’ve spent enough time there that I’ll give La Jolla its own article rather than trying to squeeze it into this one.
Mission Beach is more about bikes, boards, beach walks, coffee, rooftop drinks and people watching. There are college students, families, locals exercising and community groups holding events on the beach and in the parks.
It reminds me a little of weekend life in Sydney, where so much revolves around being outside.
The one thing I struggle with is the ocean temperature. Southern California water always feels a little cold to me! We’ve talked many times about how much we could enjoy living here. The lifestyle is wonderful, although the cooler Pacific water and California taxes usually make their way into the conversation too.
Things to Do Around Mission Beach
There’s plenty to do if you’re travelling with children. SeaWorld San Diego is close by, while Belmont Park is another fun place to visit with kids. Located right on Mission Beach, this beachfront amusement park has rides, games and attractions, including its historic Giant Dipper roller coaster. There are also plenty of places to grab something to eat, making it an easy place to spend a few hours. The Plunge San Diego, an indoor swimming pool complex, is also located here.
The San Diego Zoo is another favourite and an easy addition to a family trip. You could also head to La Jolla to see the seals and sea lions, or make a day trip further north to LEGOLAND California.
Another activity we’ve enjoyed is renting a boat from Seaforth Boat Rentals and spending time out on Mission Bay. It’s a lovely way to experience the area from the water, particularly when travelling with family or friends. The bay is beautiful to explore by boat and offers a different perspective from the beach walks and waterfront restaurants we usually enjoy.
Mission Bay is also a great place to watch the SeaWorld fireworks when they’re scheduled. There’s something special about watching the fireworks light up the sky over the water, and it’s a lovely way to finish an evening without having to venture too far from where you’re staying.
But you certainly don’t need to fill every day with activities. Part of the appeal of Mission Beach is simply being there.
We usually clock up plenty of steps without trying. I love walking along both the ocean and bay, stopping for coffee or just watching what’s happening along the way.
One thing to be aware of is that the shared paths can get busy with cyclists, runners and people on scooters. We’ve had a couple of close calls over the years, particularly when walking with a small child, so it pays to keep an eye on your surroundings and follow the pedestrian markings on the paths.
It’s an incredibly active area. Everyone seems to be walking, running, cycling, surfing or heading somewhere with a yoga mat.
Where We Like to Eat
There are three places that stand out from our trips.
Cannonball, near Belmont Park, is one of my favourites for sushi and sundowners. It has a large rooftop terrace overlooking the ocean and plenty of seating, making it a great place to stop towards the end of the day.
The Catamaran Resort also does a lovely weekend brunch om their Oceana Coastal Kitchen, particularly if you’re already staying around Mission Bay.
For a slightly more special family dinner, we really enjoyed Tidal at Paradise Point Resort & Spa. It sits right on Mission Bay with a beautiful outdoor deck, and we had a memorable dinner there while watching the sun go down over the water.
Why We Keep Coming Back
Mission Beach isn’t somewhere we visit because there’s a long list of sights we need to see. We come back because it’s easy.
It’s morning walks along the bay, afternoons on the sand, barbecues on the balcony, cheese boards with friends and wandering out for a sunset drink without needing to get in the car.
Some of my happiest memories here are very ordinary ones: watching our daughter play on the beach as a toddler, having family over for dinner at a vacation rental, walking until we’ve well and truly hit our step count and waking up knowing the only real decision for the day is whether to start on the bay or the beach.
For us, Mission Beach has become one of those familiar places we can return to again and again, and settle straight back into California beach life.
Mrs Globetrotter Tips
- Visit year-round. We come to Mission Beach and Mission Bay throughout the year and enjoy it in every season. Southern California weather is one of the reasons it works so well for a quick getaway, although it’s not always as warm as the blue skies might suggest.
- Bring something warm for the evenings. We typically need to rug up at night, even after a beautiful sunny day. I always pack a sweater or light jacket, particularly if we’re planning to sit outside for dinner or drinks by the water.
- Stay on the bay side. This is my favourite location. It tends to feel a little quieter, while the oceanfront is still only a very short walk away, so you get the best of both.
- Consider a vacation rental for longer stays. We’ve stayed in everything from studios to four-bedroom homes, and having a kitchen, balcony or rooftop deck really suits the relaxed Mission Beach lifestyle.
- You don’t need to over-plan. Leave some time simply to enjoy the area. Walk the bay, head to the beach, grab a coffee, stop for a sundowner and see where the day takes you.
- Watch the shared paths. Mission Beach is incredibly active and the paths can get busy with cyclists, runners and scooters. Keep an eye out, particularly when walking with younger children.
- Expect cool Pacific water. Even when it’s warm and sunny outside, I find the ocean pretty chilly. If you prefer warmer water, a hotel with a heated pool can be a very welcome bonus.
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