You've decided you're finally going to visit San Diego, where the temperature hangs right around 70 degrees most days. Yes, the weather's perfect and there's no end to the fun that can be had there. You're ready to book your flight, and you're even more ready to pack your bags (though the trip is still a couple of months away). But you need a place to stay.



You briefly ponder whether any of your college buddies live in or around San Diego, but even if they did, you're slightly past sleeping on couches or floors. You want comfort, a little privacy, maybe even a washer and dryer so you can wear the same perfectly relaxed outfit every day of your vacation without repelling anyone.

The choice is simple. Rent a vacation home.

In San Diego County, the vacation rentals range from country estates in the hills of Escondido to La Jolla beach cottages that are just steps from the sand.

While the amenities range from house to house, vacation rentals typically provide for your basic needs: parking, bedroom(s), bathroom(s), kitchen, washer and dryer, and most importantly, privacy. Since these properties are often rented directly from their owners, they often have even more in the way of creature comforts: high-speed Internet, satellite or digital television, stereo, barbecue grills, hot tubs, or swimming pools.

This means you have options. There are a variety of places to choose from, many of which reflect the unique character of their owners. And once you are settled in at your home away from home, you will soon realize that you have gained flexibility. If you want to pack the rental car full of beach gear, load up your bicycles and dog (if you brought him), and head out for a full day, you can do it and not return until you are exhausted, in need of a shower, craving food, or all of the above. After a full day of sightseeing, outdoor activities or bar hopping, you might want to kick back and watch late-night television until you nod off in front of the tube just like you always do at home. The next morning, you can get ready for another stress-free day by strolling the 90 steps to the beach with your freshly brewed cup of coffee in hand.

Knowing you have so many options and so much flexibility with your accommodations, it's time to take a look at all that San Diego has to offer.

The most obvious and popular must-see attractions in San Diego are the San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Legoland, and Balboa Park, a cultural park with museums and performance spaces. Downtown San Diego has plenty of diverse restaurants, shops, festivals, galleries and nightlife to provide a full urban experience.

With divine weather pretty much year-round, outdoor recreation is always an option. San Diego County features more than 70 miles of coastline where you can enjoy swimming, surfing, fishing, beachcombing or just relaxing. More than 90 golf courses adorn the county, some of the best known of which are Torrey Pines and the Del Mar Country Club.

Live like a local in one of the city's neighborhoods, such as the Gaslamp District or Little Italy. Depending on the time of year, you can catch professional sporting events with the San Diego Padres or the San Diego Chargers. The annual US Open Sandcastle Competition in July is also a fun event to incorporate into your vacation.

The coastal communities of San Diego County are even more laid back and many of the rentals, if not on the beach, have a view of the ocean. Some of the most popular spots to rent a vacation home are Oceanside, home of Camp Pendleton Marine base; Del Mar, with its renowned racetrack; and La Jolla and Encinitas, both great surfing destinations.

Don't forget that there's another country just a few miles away from downtown San Diego. While there is plenty of fun to be had in San Diego itself, you may want to get a little taste of Mexico just over the border in Tijuana or Rosarito. It's perfect for a daytrip and you can be back in your temporary retreat to watch the sun set over Mission Bay.