I have to admit I am guilty of opting out of weekend activities that have me leaving the Leucadia bubble via car on a regular basis. I do plenty driving during the week, and when I live in an area that enables walking or biking most places, that’s not a bad situation to be in…even if it means giving up some of the fun stuff to do in San Diego and points north and east on occasion.
That said, once in a while an event comes up outside the bubble that entices me to get out of Encinitas, and that happened recently: My hometown Detroit Tigers were in town for their opening series of the season against the San Diego Padres. This was must-see baseball and with a 5:40 p.m. start on a Saturday night, it made sense to set up base camp closer to downtown.
I had heard good things about the Bahia Resort Hotel, so I scheduled a weekend stay at this classic hotel on Mission Bay. The Bahia is tucked into a lush 14-acre peninsula in Mission Bay, so this longtime local favorite offers a getaway that feels far removed from everyday life without ever leaving the city.
The Bahia isn’t just another waterfront hotel — it’s part of San Diego’s Mission Bay history. Opened in 1953 as the first hotel on Mission Bay, it helped transform what was once marshland into one of the region’s most popular recreational destinations.
Mission Bay is the largest man-made aquatic park in the United States, with miles of shoreline, calm waters and endless recreation. The property blends mid-century roots with modern updates. You can choose from guest rooms just steps from the sand or spacious suites thoughtfully designed with separate living areas for added comfort and flexibility.
Garden or bay views are available with some suites that include private kitchens, making it easy to eat in or schedule longer visits. It’s a perfect place for families as I noticed many enjoying the beach, sizable pool and restaurants.
Our suite was spacious, with a separate bedroom, kitchen and living room and sliding doors that went out on to a patio with cabanas, beach and the marina. It was a comfortable place to hang out when we weren’t busy exploring the spacious grounds.
Speaking of restaurants, there are several solid options, including Dockside 1953, which was my pick for dinner on Friday night and breakfast Saturday morning. Bianchi Pizza and Pasta is the other offering, and while I did not get to sample their food, they made a fabulous dirty martini.
Dinner at Dockside 1953 was outside on the heated patio and started off with splendid cocktails as the sun set over the bay. Dinner began with fabulous ceviche and shrimp cocktail, then we split the Bahia Wedge and went with the Grilled Ribeye Steak with smoked truffle mac and cheese, roasted broccolini, rosemary butter and peppercorn sauce.
Since we are on the topic, our breakfast the following morning at Dockside 1953 was spot on as well. The Dockside Omelette with bacon, ham, caramelized onions, mushrooms and cheddar cheese served with breakfast potatoes was as good as I’ve had. And it was at breakfast that I really noticed the families enjoying this special getaway with kids laughing and devouring their breakfasts.
Before I move on to the Padres game portion of the staycation I should mention the plethora of fun amenities and activities that the Bahia Resort offers. There are tennis and pickleball courts, a sizable pool and fitness center, marina, seasonal bay cruises and boat rentals, and playgrounds and game rooms for families. There’s even a unique local touch: the historic sternwheeler boat, the William D. Evans, offers a slow ride around Mission Bay that adds a bit of vintage character to your stay.
Petco Park was a short Lyft or Uber ride away, or you could drive over to the Old Town Coaster station and take a short Coaster ride downtown. From there it’s a 1-mile walk or hop on the Green Line Trolly that drops off very close to Petco.
With an almost guarantee of good weather in San Diego, our group opted to arrive early and take advantage of the many outdoor spaces to enjoy a pregame beverage. And while there seems to be annual preseason hype around the new food offerings at Petco, I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to ballpark eating.
My first rule is I need to see the stuff being cooked or heated on a grill, flattop or similar. A high percentage of what comes in from trendy restaurants around town is pre-cooked and kept warm until they sell out and that’s not my preferred way to eat. Luckily there are hotdog and sausage stands at Petco where you can see them heating up, so I always partake in a hot dog or brat and it hits the spot.
That said, for those in the know, the best dogs at a Padres game happen to be on the sidewalk outside after the game, where several vendors are lined up with identical flattops frying up Sonoran-style, bacon-wrapped hotdogs that they top with grilled onions and peppers. Trust me on this one and save some appetite to experience a few after the game.
And, alas, the Tigers lost the game but that hardly mattered as it’s always a fun, social night at Petco. The best thing was that our staycation hotel was a short ride-share away and we were back in time for a nightcap on the beach back at the Bahia.
And having done a few of these staycations, I’ve seen many San Diego resorts cater to either luxury travelers or party crowds, where the Bahia is more family-friendly without feeling chaotic. Rooms are comfortable and updated but not over-designed. Dining options are solid and approachable, and the location is easy to get to from most parts of San Diego County.
And if you really want to make an adventure out of it, plenty of private charter fishing boats are available to add that extra thrill to your trip.
The Bahia has a Stay More, Save More promotion where the longer guests stay, the more they save. Stay three nights at the Bahia and receive 12% off. Stay five nights and receive 15% off. Or stay seven nights and receive 20% off. Book now through May 31 on the Bahia’s website and use special Promo Code SPRING26. They also have package deals here https://www.bahiahotel.com/offers.
