I have a confession. I met someone. I think I’m in love. He’s warm and inviting. He’s exotic and captivating. He’s oh so handsome. He knows just how to excite me and relax me all at the same time. Sure, there have been many girls before me. But, he’s got it all. I just can’t resist. His name is Paradise Point and I’m counting down the days until we can be reunited.

Paradise Point Resort & Spa is a private 44-acre island paradise located in the heart of San Diego. Tucked away on Mission Bay, this stunning property features one mile of pristine sandy beach, vibrant gardens and meandering lagoons. Don’t let the big city location fool you; this place is heaven on earth.

As my family and I rolled through the lush, tropical foliage lining the entrance, we were instantly transported to an exotic island destination. I looked over at my husband and said, “Whoa, we just drove to Bali!”

When we were planning this trip, our intention was to see and experience San Diego. However, with everything we needed just steps away from our room, we found ourselves rarely leaving the island. Since we were travelling with a nursing baby and a napping toddler, the convenient luxuries of the resort were too good to leave behind.

For those who do wish to venture out and experience San Diego, the secluded resort is actually readily accessible to, well, just about everything. The airport, downtown San Diego, Old Town, the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld Adventure Park, and Balboa Park are just minutes away.
And, yes, I may have been a little dramatic with the whole “I’m in love” bit, but it’s true. Who needs an expensive flight to Hawaii when you can experience paradise right here in California?
Here are a few of our favorites from Paradise Point Resort & Spa.

The Room: Bayside Bungalow

The resort features 462 Balinese-influenced bungalows and 73 hotel suites. Even though all of the accommodations are fantastic, we opted for a Bayside Bungalow, which was the closest we’ve ever been to fulfilling our dream of living on the beach. Just steps away from the sand, the 650-square-foot bungalows include a spacious living room with a queen sleeper sofa, a family dining table, separate sleeping quarters with a king bed, a wet bar, a double-sided bathroom and a large patio complete with lounge chairs.

The Restaurant: Barefoot Bar & Grill

Paradise Point is home to five incredible dining venues, but we kept returning to the laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere at Barefoot Bar & Grill. The waterfront restaurant features panoramic views of Mission Bay, live entertainment, tropical cocktails and farm-fresh organic foods. Between the four of us, we tried almost everything on the menu and loved each bite. I was especially fond of the good ‘ol Barefoot Burger; it came with a pretzel bun that was absolutely scrumptious! 

The Felon: Harold

During one of our visits to Barefoot Bar & Grill, we met the restaurant’s infamous feathered felon, Harold the bird. Sneaky Harold was frolicking along, socializing with all of the guests, when all of the sudden he jumped onto our table and stole my entire burger right out of my hands. In the blink of an eye, this bad bird lifted off victorious with a giant burger hanging from his beak. The restaurant staff flew into action and had a new plate with a fresh burger for me in minutes. It’s one of our favorite memories from the trip. We’re still laughing about Harold. That’s what you get when you want a true beachfront dining experience.

The Best Take-Out: Caveman Pizza Company

When we were room-bound with a sleeping toddler or a crying baby, we ordered delivery from Caveman Pizza Company. A great selection of pizzas, pastas, salads and spirits at affordable prices made Caveman our go-to take-out spot. Our favorite was the La Nona, a tasty Caprese-style pizza, with a side of garlic Parmesan knots.
 

The Go-To Day Activity: Stand-Up Paddleboards

With white sandy beaches, five swimming pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, surf academy, full-service marina, award-winning spa, mini-golf, bike and surrey quadracycle rentals (just to name a few), it’s hard to select just one favorite. If forced to choose, I’d pick the stand-up paddleboard rentals from Paradise Point Marina. The calm, warm waters of the bay made the sport easy and enjoyable for the whole family. 

The Night Life: Beach Bonfire Pits

Paradise Point has over 12 pits scattered along the beach and our family had a blast roasting marshmallows for s’mores. The best part about the bonfire pits was we had one directly in front of our bungalow, so we were able to put the kids down and sneak out to enjoy some much-needed alone time by the fire.

The Shopping: Island Market

The Island Market at Paradise Point is a one-stop-fun-shop for guests. I became a frequent visitor, stopping in for my daily dose of Dippin’ Dots, s’mores supplies and duck food for the kids. I also found my new favorite Roxy beach hat, Reef flips-flops and the world’s best sweatshirt—a Paradise Point hoodie that also doubles as a beer holder…genius!

The Good Neighbor: SeaWorld Adventure Park

SeaWorld Adventure Park is literally right next door to Paradise Point. For families wanting to enjoy the famed attraction, it doesn’t get more convenient than this. The resort even sells park tickets right at Island Market and offers a seasonal 15-minute water taxi to the park for quick and easy access.
Paradise Point Resort & Spa exceeded our expectations in every way. We’ve decided to make the San Diego island a yearly tradition and would recommend the resort to both couples seeking romance and families seeking adventure.
It’s been months since our last rendezvous. Not a day goes by that I wish we were still together. I’m holding onto our special memories until the moment we can meet again.

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For more information, visit paradisepoint.com.

ENJOY A PIECE OF SAN DIEGO HERE AT HOME...

 

Drink: Suja Juice. Suja Juice makes delicious cold-pressured organic juices and smoothies in San Diego. Available locally at Whole Foods.

 

Eat: Rubio’s. Rubio’s is famous for their Original Fish Taco® and they opened their first walk-up taqueria stand in Mission Bay. Rubio’s is still based out of San Diego, but found locally at 12 greater Sacramento locations.

 

Read: The Skinny Confidential: A Babe's Sexy, Sassy Health and Lifestyle Guide, theskinnyconfidential.com. The Skinny Confidential’s fun and easy-to-read lifestyle guide is written by San Diego resident and blogger, Lauryn Evarts. Available at amazon.com

Wear: Reef. The Reef Company, which creates high-quality sandals and surf apparel, was created by two Argentine surfers who began the company in the San Diego beach community of La Jolla. Available locally at Sport Chalet.

Play: Jason Mraz and Tristan Prettyman. Listen to the laid-back sunny tunes of San Diegans, Jason Mraz and Tristan Prettyman. Available at itunes.com.