Del Mar, a city of 4,400 residents, lies in North County Coastal San Diego. This city, whose name means “of the sea”, is a charming and well balanced beach community that was developed in 1885 and intended to be a shoreline resort for affluent and famous visitors. In southern Del Mar is the Los Penasquitos Lagoon, which is the native location of the endangered Torrey Pine, or pinus torreyana.

The Torrey Pine trees in the Lagoon also grow throughout Del Mar, which is among the few places in the world that this type of rare and endangered tree can grow and thrive. Located right next to Torrey Pines State Reserve is Torrey Pines State Beach, which is one of the best known beaches in San Diego. Complemented by 300-foot sandstone cliffs that overlook the shores, Torrey Pines State Beach is a picturesque and popular destination.

Del Mar’s premier event each year is the Del Mar San Diego County Fair or just the San Diego County Fair. This event goes on for weeks and includes a wide assortment of food booths, fun rides and games, and numerous other attractions. There is everything from a merry-go-round to a beer tent to a live elephant ride at this event, which draws thousands of visitors to the area each year.

After the San Diego County Fair is held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the grounds are transformed into the site of the Del Mar Racetrack. The Del Mar Races are held yearly at the end of summer in July, August, and September and are favorite events of many San Diegans. The track is a 1 mile dirt track and a 7 furlong turf course with the stable capacity of more than one thousand American thoroughbred horses.