Best Local Hotel: L’Auberge Del Mar
L’Auberge Del Mar is North County’s classy clubhouse, where locals go to dine on regional produce and soak up the view. We love Spa L'Auberge and confidently lodge our out-of town guests in the resort’s beautiful rooms. (858/259-1515, www.laubergedelmar.com)
Best Destination Hotel: Montage Laguna Beach
Though close enough for easy access, Montage Laguna Beach feels a world away. This luxury resort is set on a breathtaking oceanfront bluff, with Laguna’s vibrant arts community nearby. (949/715-6000, www.montagelagunabeach.com)
Best Destination Spa: Rancho La Puerta
Some places just get better with time and “The Ranch” is one of them. With beginnings in the 1940s, this modern fitness resort was just voted “World’s Best Destination Spa” in the 2010 Travel + Leisure readers’ poll. (858/764-5500, www.rancholapuerta.com)
Favorite U.S. Destination: Hawaii
Readers love the slower pace, the amazing scenery, and being immersed in a totally different culture. Nonstop flights from San Diego, great waves, and tropical trade winds add to this destination’s popularity. (www.gohawaii.com)
Favorite Foreign Destination: Italy
Ranch & Coast readers made it very clear: They like to vacation Under the Tuscan Sun — or almost anywhere in Italy, for that matter. Rome’s picturesque piazzas and historic landmarks are unparalleled, and Florence has gorgeous scenery and abundant art. (www.italiantourism.com)
Destination On Your Bucket List: Australia & New Zealand
Take the plunge and head down under on your next vacation. Both countries offer myriad adventure opportunities, other-worldly scenery, and great wine — especially the Shiraz in Australia and the Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand. (www.australia.com, www.newzealand.com)
Best Local Tourist Attraction: San Diego Zoo
Just when it couldn't get any better, the zoo added elephant pedicures and giraffe feeding ops. Travelers come from all over to visit this treasure, which has the largest colony of Queensland koalas outside of Australia, and it's right in our backyard. (619/231-1515, www.sandiegozoo.org)
Best Nightlife Spot: The Gaslamp Quarter
Home to the young, the restless, and conventioneers, the Gaslamp Quarter is the go-to spot for dancing, drinking, and late-night dining. Live music options range from traditional Irish music to jazz, blues, and everything in between. (619/233-5227, www.gaslamp.org)
Best Shopping Locale: Fashion Valley & The Forum
“If you can’t find it in Fashion Valley, it doesn’t exist,” one reader told us. With 200 stores and restaurants — including Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Coach, Juicy Couture, and Gucci — this mall is a place at which you could easily shop until you drop. (619/297-3381, www.simon.com)
Readers like the colorful flowers blooming in ceramic pots, the faux Old World architecture, and the manageable size of The Forum at Carlsbad. North County residents consider this upscale mall their neighborhood treasure. (760/479-0166, www.theforumcarlsbad.com)
More Best Of 2011:
