Winter Getaway to La Jolla, CA // Our Family’s Winter Break Road Trip
Posted on January 22, 2025
After the holiday season wrapped up, we decided to head out for a few nights to get away as a family. The days leading up to Christmas and all the way through New Year’s tend to be jam-packed with lots on the calendar. So many places to be, cleaning to tackle, food to prepare and gifts to wrap. We thought we’d take a quick trip to California to give us a chance to catch our breath and relax a bit! Read on for the details on our Winter Getaway to La Jolla, CA // Our Family’s Winter Break Road Trip.
To read more about our family vacations & adventures, my girl’s trips and more, be sure to head to my full Travel Gallery.
Winter Getaway to La Jolla, CA // Our Family’s Winter Break Road Trip
I had the opportunity to partner with the Hyatt Regency La Jolla @ Aventine for this stay and we truly could not have been happier with our visit there. It was a great spot for families offering elevated, yet casual amenities. There was a big Lacrosse Tournament in La Jolla that weekend, so there were lots of families enjoying the pool and s’mores kits by the firepits at night!
Everything was perfect from the location – close enough to go out and do things nearby, but plenty to do on property to fill the day and night! – to the amenities, the service & staff & the overall experience.
OUR STAY @ THE HYATT REGENCY LA JOLLA @ AVENTINE
Location & Accessibility
The property is situated on La Jolla Village Drive and is a short walk to the Shops at La Jolla Village. If you hop in the car, you are minutes from Westfield UTC [an outdoor mall with shops, restaurants, a movie theater, and a seasonal ice skating rink], La Jolla Shores Beach, La Jolla Cove, Children’s Pool Beach [go here to see the seals & sea lions!], Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Torrey Pines Golf Course, and all that San Diego has to offer – the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park & more.
First Impressions
The palm tree-lined entrance and earthy, modern vibe of the lobby was a warm welcome into the property.
The front desk receptionists were extremely friendly and helpful, fielding questions from guests left and right. There were plenty of cozy seating areas throughout the lobby for sipping coffee, reading or working. The hotel also has a market located right inside the entrance with a variety of snacks & drinks available for purchase.
Room Experience
Our room set-up could not have been more perfect for us, traveling as a family of 5. T and I shared a Studio Suite and the boys stayed in a connecting room with 2 Queen beds. Our 650 square feet Suite featured a king-size bed with crisp white linens, a spacious seating area, double windows with a city view, a coffee bar, desk, a full closet and vanity for getting ready. The spa-like bathroom featured a mosaic tile shower with a rainfall showerhead.
The living space proved to be the perfect set-up for snacks, playing cards or just relaxing!
Our room overlooked downtown and this was the view from the window.
Dining
The on-site restaurant, DRIFT was a great spot for Happy Hour or Dinner. We tried several starter items off of the mouth-watering menu, including Ahi Tuna Tostadas, Cheese & Potato Empanadas, Short Rib Corn Arepas & a Mezza Plate. We also did the Braised Short Ribs & Squid Ink Linguine. And the boys raved about the “cheese pull” on the Kids’ pizza! Bubbles, wine & local craft beer also accompanied our meal!
We also popped in for happy hour one day and then wandered to check out the patio. There was such a beautiful warm glow to sit and enjoy snacks or sips.
For breakfast, we dined at Shor and enjoyed a traditional breakfast with a smorgasbord of omelettes, pancakes, french toast, fresh fruit & a Breakfast Burrito – with a side of coffee and Mimosas for Mom & Dad 🙂 On Sundays, Shor offers a Breakfast Buffet as well. The open-air Lobby restaurant is the perfect way to start the day – boasting a bright and sunny atmosphere with large picture windows and stunning modern, coastal decor.
Amenities
The hotel offers a range of amenities to cater to every need. The pool was a great spot for the kids to swim while parents relaxed in the Cabana. I personally enjoyed the hot tub and thought it had the prettiest backdrop!
Golden Hour by the pool on our first day was a highlight!
And if you were done unwinding by the pool, there was plenty of action to be had nearby. Ping pong, life-size chess, bean bag toss, Jenga and Connect 4 were right there!
They also have 2 tennis / pickleball courts available too. The numerous firepits were lit by late afternoon and roared into the evening hours. The s’mores kits were a big hit and a highlight for the boys!
The property had a fitness center, on-site restaurant [DRIFT, mentioned earlier and Shor for breakfast] and market for on-the-go snacks. If you wanted to get some outdoor exercise in, they even offered a map with running and walking routes around the hotel. T and I walked every morning, because why wouldn’t you with views like this!
OFF-PROPERTY FUN
We did venture out most days to check out some new spots. We visited La Jolla for the first time in March of 2024, but there were still a ton of things we wanted to explore!
Balboa Park
La Jolla Shores Beach
La Jolla Shores [Shore Rider & Barbarella]
Torrey Pines Golf Course
La Jolla Cove [we stopped to see the seals & sea lions during our Labor Day Weekend trip to Del Mar last year – the views are incredible here!]
BALBOA PARK
We spent a morning here without much of an agenda! Balboa Park overlooks downtown San Diego and is 1200 acres in size. In 1868, San Diego made history by setting aside the land to become an iconic urban park, becoming the second city [after New York’s Central Park] to do so. It is now a National Historic Landmark and recognized by California as one of its 14 cultural districts.
We checked out the playground, took pictures by the Cultural Center, let the boys & T play catch, then walked over to the Botanical Building and Casa de Balboa [which included several museums including San Diego Model Railroad Museum and the Museum of San Diego History.] We felt like we were instantly transported to another country. The buildings and structures were stunning with an old world vibe to them.
We ended our quick visit to Balboa Park by stopping by one of the fountains, The Bea Evenson Fountain. It was picturesque and I even captured a rare, but sweet moment.
You could easily spend an entire day exploring all of the land, gardens, buildings and museums at Balboa Park, so I’d definitely love to go back someday. There are quite a few things you can see and do without a ticket, so knowing you can do a free jaunt is nice if you don’t have a ton of time!
LA JOLLA SHORES BEACH
We went here to watch the sunset on Satuday night and gosh, was it magnificent. There is truly something magical about watching the sun go down over the water. It actually took my breath away. The boys played catch again and we all enjoyed the sights and sounds of a bustling evening at the beach!
The waves crashing into shore will forever be a favorite sound to me!
LA JOLLA SHORES – SHORE RIDER & BARBARELLA
We hopped in car for a quick 10 minute drive to La Jolla Shores to grab drinks at Shore Rider & dinner at Barbarella one night.
The kids loved the lights and decor inside the restaurant.
TORREY PINES
We actually stopped here after checking out of the hotel because we were so close. T was in golf heaven as Torrey Pines is on his bucket list of courses to play. He didn’t quite make a full checkmark, but he did hit a bucket of balls at the driving range and then we had lunch on the patio at The Grill. It was the perfect little Sunday outing and only 10 minutes from the hotel!
FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE HYATT REGENCY LA JOLLA @ AVENTINE
*FAV THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT THE PROPERTY:
grab S’mores kits for the kids – there are several firepits throughout the property
ping pong, chess, jenga, connect 4 and bag toss will keep the kids entertained for hours
free beach chair & umbrella rental
take a walk and enjoy the views around the property
super kid-friendly
exceptional service & friendliest staff
so many attractions located 10 minute away or less and San Diego spots are only 20-30 minutes away!
Overall, I would rate this hotel & experience a 10/10. I truly cannot say enough great things about the property and our time here. We would absolutely return for another visit! The boys can’t get enough of the beach and La Jolla has quickly become one of our favorite coastal towns in California. I highly recommend – especially for families!
To read more about our family vacations & adventures, my girl’s trips and more, be sure to head to my full Travel Gallery.
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