Things to Do in Del Mar, California
Del Mar packs a genuinely notable list of activities into a city just 1.8 square miles -- a world-famous racetrack, a beloved off-leash dog beach, a well-regarded surf break, and a walkable village. It also sits directly adjacent to one of San Diego County's best-known nature reserves, which this page is careful to note is not actually within Del Mar's own city limits. This page covers what's genuinely in Del Mar and flags what's merely nearby.
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, opened July 3, 1937 by a group including Bing Crosby, Pat O'Brien, Jimmy Durante, Charles S. Howard, and Oliver Hardy, remains one of the most storied venues in American horse racing -- 'Where the Turf Meets the Surf,' the catchphrase credited to Midge Polesie, was turned into a song written by Johnny Burke and James V. Monaco and performed by Crosby in 1938; the recording is still played at the track today. Seabiscuit famously debuted here that same year, 1938. The 2026 summer meet runs July 17 through Labor Day (September 7), racing Thursdays through Sundays with 37 stakes races. Beyond racing season, the Del Mar Fairgrounds also hosts the San Diego County Fair each summer (2026: June 10-July 5) and a range of other events throughout the year -- this page does not name every recurring event at the fairgrounds, since the venue's calendar changes; check delmarfairgrounds.com directly for current listings.
Del Mar's Beaches: Dog Beach, City Beach, and 15th Street
Del Mar's beaches run the length of the city, with a few distinct, named stretches. North Beach, at the river-mouth end near the San Dieguito Lagoon, hosts one of the very few off-leash dog beaches in San Diego County, per the City of Del Mar's own Beaches & Parks page -- a genuinely popular, well-known local draw. South Beach and the 15th Street area offer a notable surf break -- described by Surfline as a rare reef break amid an otherwise beach-break-dominated stretch of coast, producing a working left and a shorter right. Seagrove and Powerhouse Parks, on the bluff above the 15th Street break, provide a well-kept grassy spot for picnicking and watching the surf. Public beach access exists at every street end, per the city's own materials, plus at the river mouth and at Powerhouse Park specifically.
Del Mar Village: Shopping and Walking
The village core along Camino Del Mar and around Del Mar Plaza offers boutique shopping, restaurants (covered in more depth on this site's dining page), and Stratford Square at the corner of 15th Street and Camino Del Mar, a small historic-gallery-adjacent shopping pocket. The Del Mar Farmers Market runs year-round on Saturdays, 1-4 p.m., at the Civic Center Plaza on Camino Del Mar. This is a genuinely walkable few blocks -- most of what's described in this section sits within easy walking distance of the beach itself.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve: Nearby, Not In Del Mar
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, one of Southern California's best-known coastal nature preserves and home to the rare Torrey pine tree, sits immediately adjacent to Del Mar -- but it is administratively located within the City of San Diego (the La Jolla area), not within the incorporated City of Del Mar, per California State Parks' own site and general reference sources. The reserve borders Del Mar to its south, with the Torrey Pines Golf Course sitting between the reserve and La Jolla further south still. This page names the reserve because it's a genuinely relevant, close-by attraction for anyone living in Del Mar -- but it does not claim the reserve is located in Del Mar itself, and a buyer should not assume a Del Mar property description referencing 'Torrey Pines' means the reserve sits within city limits.
The San Dieguito River Park Trail System
At Del Mar's southern edge, the San Dieguito River Park's Coast to Crest Trail begins at its western end on Jimmy Durante Boulevard, connecting to the River Path Del Mar -- a walking and biking route along the lagoon, distinct from beach access and offering a different, wetlands-adjacent perspective on the area. This connects to the broader San Dieguito River Park trail system extending further inland, though this page does not detail the full trail network beyond its Del Mar-area starting point.
Planning a Visit
Given Del Mar's small footprint, most of what's listed here is realistically doable within a single day or weekend, on foot or with minimal driving -- with one major caveat: if your visit coincides with the summer race meet or the San Diego County Fair (covered in depth on this site's year-round-living page), budget significant extra time for traffic and parking near the fairgrounds. Confirm current hours, event calendars, and any access restrictions directly with the City of Del Mar, the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and California State Parks (for Torrey Pines) before planning a visit.
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Get a Free Agent Referral →Independent research. No ads. No sponsored listings. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club history, founders, and the 'Where the Turf Meets the Surf' catchphrase (credited to Midge Polesie) and song (written by Johnny Burke and James V. Monaco, performed by Bing Crosby in 1938) are drawn from the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's own history page (dmtc.com), the San Diego History Center's own journal, and America's Best Racing's retrospective coverage; 2026 meet dates are drawn from americasbestracing.net and richlineca.com. San Diego County Fair 2026 dates are drawn from the Fair's own site (sdfair.com). Del Mar's Dog Beach, public beach access points, and Beaches & Parks information are drawn from the City of Del Mar's own site. The 15th Street surf break is drawn from Surfline's own Del Mar surf guide. Del Mar Plaza, Stratford Square, and the Del Mar Farmers Market are drawn from delmarplaza.com and the market's own published schedule; see this site's dining page for restaurant-specific sourcing. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve's location within the City of San Diego (not the City of Del Mar), bordering Del Mar to the north, is drawn from California State Parks' own site (parks.ca.gov) and general encyclopedic reference sources. The San Dieguito River Park's Coast to Crest Trail starting point is drawn from sdrp.org. Not independently confirmed and not stated as fact: a comprehensive current calendar of non-racing, non-fair events at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which changes regularly. Confirm current hours, schedules, and access rules directly with the City of Del Mar, the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and California State Parks before planning a visit. Nothing on this page is travel or safety advice.