The Hilltop Retreat

The Warm Up

Wedding Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Dinner & Cheers

Our Wedding

Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites

Hampton Inn San Marcos

Hyatt Vacation Club at The Welk

Lakehouse Resort

Group of 6+ AirBnb Options - Vista CA

Stay

We know a lot of you are flying a long way for this, and Thanksgiving is that same week. Why not make a trip of it? Late November is the best time of year to be here, and there's more within a few hours of Vista than you'd expect. Here are the top picks!

Half a Day

15&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;·&nbsp;Easy&nbsp;walkingOne&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;longest&nbsp;wooden&nbsp;piers&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;coast.&nbsp;The&nbsp;far&nbsp;end&nbsp;has&nbsp;been&nbsp;closed&nbsp;since&nbsp;a&nbsp;fire&nbsp;a&nbsp;couple&nbsp;of&nbsp;years&nbsp;ago,&nbsp;but&nbsp;you&nbsp;can&nbsp;walk&nbsp;most&nbsp;of&nbsp;it.&nbsp;The&nbsp;harbor&nbsp;a&nbsp;mile&nbsp;north&nbsp;has&nbsp;fish&nbsp;markets&nbsp;and&nbsp;boats.

Oceanside Pier

20&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;·&nbsp;Some&nbsp;walkingA&nbsp;mile-long&nbsp;walk&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;gardens&nbsp;after&nbsp;dark,&nbsp;lit&nbsp;up&nbsp;with&nbsp;light&nbsp;installations&nbsp;and&nbsp;music.&nbsp;It&nbsp;opens&nbsp;mid-November&nbsp;and&nbsp;sells&nbsp;out&nbsp;on&nbsp;weekends,&nbsp;so&nbsp;grab&nbsp;tickets&nbsp;as&nbsp;soon&nbsp;as&nbsp;you&nbsp;know&nbsp;your&nbsp;dates.

Lightscape at the San Diego Botanic Garden

40&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;·&nbsp;Easy&nbsp;walkingForty-plus&nbsp;wineries&nbsp;along&nbsp;one&nbsp;road,&nbsp;most&nbsp;with&nbsp;patios&nbsp;and&nbsp;restaurants,&nbsp;so&nbsp;you&nbsp;can&nbsp;settle&nbsp;into&nbsp;one&nbsp;place&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;afternoon.&nbsp;Hot&nbsp;air&nbsp;balloons&nbsp;go&nbsp;up&nbsp;at&nbsp;sunrise&nbsp;if&nbsp;the&nbsp;weather&nbsp;holds.

Temecula Wine Country

40&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;·&nbsp;Easy&nbsp;walkingSea&nbsp;lions&nbsp;and&nbsp;seals&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;rocks&nbsp;year&nbsp;round,&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;flat&nbsp;bluff-top&nbsp;walk&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;village&nbsp;shops&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;blocks&nbsp;up.&nbsp;Kayak&nbsp;trips&nbsp;out&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;sea&nbsp;caves&nbsp;run&nbsp;most&nbsp;mornings.

La Jolla Cove

A Full Day

45&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;·&nbsp;Lots&nbsp;of&nbsp;walkingSixteen&nbsp;museums,&nbsp;gardens,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Spanish&nbsp;colonial&nbsp;buildings&nbsp;in&nbsp;one&nbsp;park,&nbsp;plus&nbsp;the&nbsp;zoo.&nbsp;(Highly&nbsp;recommend)

Balboa Park

25&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;·&nbsp;Lots&nbsp;of&nbsp;walkingOpen-range&nbsp;habitat&nbsp;spread&nbsp;across&nbsp;eighteen&nbsp;hundred&nbsp;acres.&nbsp;The&nbsp;tram&nbsp;covers&nbsp;a&nbsp;good&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;it,&nbsp;but&nbsp;you&#39;ll&nbsp;still&nbsp;be&nbsp;walking.&nbsp;Plan&nbsp;on&nbsp;most&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;day.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

1&nbsp;hour&nbsp;15&nbsp;·&nbsp;Easy&nbsp;walking&nbsp;A&nbsp;gold&nbsp;rush&nbsp;town&nbsp;at&nbsp;4,200&nbsp;feet,&nbsp;famous&nbsp;for&nbsp;apple&nbsp;pie.&nbsp;It&nbsp;runs&nbsp;about&nbsp;fifteen&nbsp;degrees&nbsp;colder&nbsp;than&nbsp;the&nbsp;coast,&nbsp;so&nbsp;bring&nbsp;a&nbsp;coat.&nbsp;The&nbsp;old&nbsp;mine&nbsp;tour&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;good&nbsp;hour&nbsp;underground.

Julian, CA

If You're Staying the Week

2&nbsp;to&nbsp;3&nbsp;hours&nbsp;·&nbsp;Some&nbsp;walkingPalm&nbsp;Springs&nbsp;is&nbsp;mid-century&nbsp;houses,&nbsp;good&nbsp;food,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Aerial&nbsp;Tramway,&nbsp;which&nbsp;lifts&nbsp;you&nbsp;8,500&nbsp;feet&nbsp;in&nbsp;ten&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;into&nbsp;pine&nbsp;forest&nbsp;with&nbsp;snow&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;ground.&nbsp;Joshua&nbsp;Tree&nbsp;National&nbsp;Park&nbsp;is&nbsp;another&nbsp;hour&nbsp;east&nbsp;and&nbsp;makes&nbsp;a&nbsp;perfect&nbsp;next&nbsp;morning.&nbsp;About&nbsp;$30&nbsp;a&nbsp;car,&nbsp;and&nbsp;you&nbsp;can&nbsp;see&nbsp;a&nbsp;lot&nbsp;from&nbsp;pullouts&nbsp;along&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;road&nbsp;without&nbsp;much&nbsp;walking,&nbsp;with&nbsp;easy&nbsp;short&nbsp;trails&nbsp;at&nbsp;Hidden&nbsp;Valley&nbsp;and&nbsp;Barker&nbsp;Dam.&nbsp;Almost&nbsp;no&nbsp;cell&nbsp;service&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;park,&nbsp;cold&nbsp;fast&nbsp;after&nbsp;dark,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;stars&nbsp;are&nbsp;worth&nbsp;staying&nbsp;for.

Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park

2&nbsp;to&nbsp;3&nbsp;hours&nbsp;depending&nbsp;entirely&nbsp;on&nbsp;traffic&nbsp;The&nbsp;Getty,&nbsp;Griffith&nbsp;Observatory,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Broad&nbsp;are&nbsp;all&nbsp;free&nbsp;or&nbsp;nearly&nbsp;so,&nbsp;though&nbsp;the&nbsp;Getty&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Broad&nbsp;want&nbsp;a&nbsp;reservation.

Los Angeles

2.5&nbsp;to&nbsp;3&nbsp;hours&nbsp;south&nbsp;·&nbsp;Easy&nbsp;walking&nbsp;Mexico&#39;s&nbsp;wine&nbsp;country,&nbsp;with&nbsp;some&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;best&nbsp;food&nbsp;anywhere.&nbsp;Coming&nbsp;back&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;border&nbsp;can&nbsp;take&nbsp;one&nbsp;to&nbsp;three&nbsp;hours,&nbsp;so&nbsp;make&nbsp;it&nbsp;an&nbsp;overnight&nbsp;rather&nbsp;than&nbsp;a&nbsp;day&nbsp;trip.