Bahia Resort Hotel, San Diego

Summer Fun At
Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego
Story and photos by Greg Aragon

ahia Resort Hotel has been a slice of paradise on San Diego's Mission Bay for more than 50 years. With lush gardens and swaying palm trees, Mississippi paddlewheel boats and sprawling beach-front charm, the resort makes a great escape from life's doldrums. Last week a friend and I snuck away to Bahia for a memorable day and night of fun and relaxation.

Bahia Resort and beachfront, Mission Bay, San Diego
Bahia Resort is a paradise on San Diego's Mission Bay

Our getaway began when we exited the 5 Freeway near Sea World and found ourselves rounding beautiful Mission Bay, with its luxury hotels, tiny harbors, and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. When we got to Bahia, we parked beside a small tropical forest surrounding a large pond with two seals, and then checked into the lobby.

We then drove down a long driveway, past the pool and tennis courts to our modern suite overlooking the bay. The room was highlighted by a spacious living area, with sofa, love seat, large TV, office desk and a kitchenette with sink, refrigerator and granite counter tops and a coffee maker. There was also a spacious bathroom, and a separate bedroom with two double beds and another flat screen TV, and free high-speed Internet.

The suite’s most attractive feature was the balcony overlooking Mission Bay, where we sat watching kayakers and paddle boarders drift past and fishermen cast their lines in the deep blue water.

view of kayakers and paddle boaters at Mission Bay from Bahia Resort hotel room
Bahia rooms offer great views of kayakers and paddle boarders

Outside the room we enjoyed the rest of the 314-room Bahia Hotel property, which sits on a secluded 14-acre peninsula, with one mile of white sandy beach and a year-round Mediterranean climate. One of our favorite spots was at the seal pond, watching Billy and Gracie, the resident seals who moved to Bahia from Sea World when they became blind and could not be released into the wild safely. The black and tan pair are fed twice a day, providing a fun environment for guests of all ages.

the seal pond at Bahia Resort Hotel, San Diego
The hotel's seal pond has two seals who moved to Bahia from Sea World

Another cool attraction is the Bahia Belle, the resort’s “turn of the century” Mississippi-style sternwheeler. Offering cruises across Mission Bay between Bahia and sister property, The Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, the boat features fun and romantic sailings, with live music, cocktail parties and themed cruises. Guests staying at either The Bahia or The Catamaran may enjoy complimentary rides around Mission Bay. The Bahia Belle cruises Wed- Sat evenings in June, and seven days a week in July and August.

Near the Belle, hotel guests can rent kayaks, pedal boats and paddle boards. We opted for the latter and practiced our balance on long surf boards, oaring our way through the calm bay and getting a great arm workout in the process.

Mississippi-style sternwheeler Bahia Belle
The Bahia Belle takes hotel guests across Mission Bay

Back on dry land we strolled through the property’s winding paths, lined with thick tropical gardens, well manicured lawns and trickling streams. Along the way, we breathed in the ocean air and encountered friendly ducks, wondering across the shuffleboard courtyard.

a pair of mallard ducks at Bahia Resort Hotel
Bahia is full of friendly guests

For dinner, we experienced Café Bahia, the resort’s signature Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. Nestled in tropical gardens, Café Bahia serves Southern California cuisine, with a flair for fresh grilled seafood and prime steaks.

Our meal began on the patio with Corona beers and two tasty appetizers: a jumbo shrimp cocktail, and fried cherry pepper calamari with tangy meyer lemon aioli . For the main course I had a tender blackened, Cajun-styled salmon, topped with an exciting mango salsa, and served with mushroom risotto and blue lake beans almondine. My friend devoured the Sriracha-glazed meat loaf, with pork, veal, and Angus beef, served with red bliss smashed potatoes and roasted corn off the cob.

Cajun-styled salmon with mango salsa served with mushroom risotto and blue lake beans almondine at Cafe Bahia
Café Bahia has a flair for grilled seafood and prime steaks

After dinner we had a nightcap at the Tangier Lounge, located next to the Café Bahia. Here in a Moroccan-influenced room with palm fronds, belt-driven fans and live piano bar, we sipped martinis and looked back on a wonderful day.

In the morning, I worked out at the fitness center and relaxed in the Jacuzzi, while my friend swam in the heated junior Olympic pool, which is surrounded by palm trees and has a classic Hollywood feel. We then walked about 10 minutes to nearby Belmont Park, which is located on Mission Beach and features shopping, restaurants and amusement park rides. While here we rode the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, one of two original oceanfront roller coasters still operating on the west coast.

junior Olympic pool at Bahia Resort Hotel
The resort's junior Olympic pool has a classic Hollywood feel

Besides all the regular fun at Bahia, the resort also offer numerous activities such as a video arcade and family movie nights for kids and their parents, bicycles, a Saturday all-you-can-eat "shrimp feast," and various themed dining nights and cruises. The hotel is also planning special beach barbecues for summer.

Bahia Resort Hotel sign, San Diego
Bahia makes a great escape from life's daily doldrums

Bahia Resort Hotel is located at 998 West Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92109. For more information and current specials, call (858) 488-0551 or visit: www.bahiahotel.com.

Name:	Required
E-mail:	Required
City:	Required
Feedback:

Let Greg know what you think about his traveling adventure.

* * * * *

Feedback for Harry Potter at Universal Studios

Going to Universal Studios Hollywood to see the Harry Potter "land" is on my bucket list!!

-- Nancy, Hawaii

* * * *

Feedback for A Spring Escape to Maui And Hotel Wailea

I leave here April 21 for Maui and can hardly wait. It'll be my 15th trip, more or less and I love it, and your pictures.

-- Ellie – Port Ludlow, WA

* * * *

Hi Greg,

It's not a forest of banyan trees in Lahaina by the harbor. It's one huge tree, about 140 years old. It's an important landmark of Lahaina, and one of our favorite views.We always stay at the Pioneer Inn, overlooking the harbor and the banyan tree. Every evening thousands of mynah birds fly into the tree, chattering and fluttering until they settle down for the night. Otherwise, great article.

-- Virginia – Northridge, CA

* * * *

Feedback for Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa

Very nice story, Greg.

-- Maris Somerville – Los Angeles, CA

Ed Boitano's travel blog/review
Three Musical Pilgrimages: Mozart, Grieg and Hendrix

Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791) could read and compose music, plus play the violin and piano, when he was five years old. Born into a musical family in Salzburg, Austria (then the Holy Roman Empire), he had a unique ability for imitating music, which first became evident when he recited a musical piece by simply observing his father conducting a lesson to his older sister. This led to a childhood on the road, where the young prodigy performed before many of the royal courts of Europe.

Tom Weber's travel blog/review
Treasures of Ireland: The Irish Goodbye (Dispatch #20)

Irish sunset

The Palladian Traveler brings to a close his 20-part series on the Emerald Isle from an upscale restaurant in downtown Dublin where he files his final dispatch and then quietly slips away.

John Clayton's travel blog/review
Two "MUST SEE" Truly Spectacular Places in Europe. Here's Why.

The Han Grotto and Culzean Castle. As the name of my Traveling Boy feature is "Travel With a Difference," it's important to me to always bring you offbeat and unusual tourist places around the world you may not know about. These two fit that category to a T, and they're absolutely worth a visit. One's in Scotland and one's in Belgium. Culzean (pronounced CULLANE) Castle is located near Maybole, Carrick, on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland.

Ringo Boitano's travel blog/review
Highway 49 Revisited: Exploring California's Gold Country

aurora borealis lights up the night sky near Fairbanks

In the 1840s, the population of California was only 14,000, but by 1850 more than 100,000 settlers and adventurers had arrived from all over the world – and they came for one reason: gold. James Marshall had discovered the first gold nugget at Sutter’s Mill in El Dorado County, creating the largest gold rush in history.

Eric Anderson's travel blog/review
Lake Charles’ Family-Size Low-Key Mardi Gras

The Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras in Lake Charles, the second largest in Louisiana, does not need parents there to avert their children’s eyes. This is family entertainment and children are very much part of it. The main office of the Lake Charles CVB has costumes from last year’s Mardi Gras but it also has figures to fascinate little ones from country boys fishing for their dinner to alligators who have already fed and are rubbing their stomachs.

Fyllis Hockman's travel blog/review
Puerto Vallarta: Magic and Mayhem on the Malecon

So I heard that you could spend from dawn to dusk on the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and never get bored and I thought, "Okay, I'm up for that challenge." Well, maybe not the dawn part – I'm not a morning person – so I had no problem leaving those early hours to the joggers and those seeking an early start to catch their red snapper for dinner.

Deb Roskamp's travel photo blog
Tahiti and Her Islands

Just their names (pronounce each vowel!) conjure up romantic images: Tahiti Nui, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Ra'iatea, Taha'a. Her people are gentle; the air, tiare-perfumed. Warm lagoons, majestic peaks, tropical fruits from the land and bounty from the sea all tantalize the senses. Paradise! As near as can be found on planet earth. And, in my experience, the finest way to explore her is on a ship designed for that single purpose.

Raoul Pascual's travel blog
Leviticus 20:13
Sent by Tom of Pasadena, CA

It all makes sense now. Gay marriage and marijuana was legalized in the last election. Leviticus 20:13 states
"If a man lays with another man, he should be stoned..." We've been interpreting it wrong all these years!

Rolling Through the Outback on the Indian Pacific's Christmas Train

Santa with native Australian on an Indian Pacific Christmas train stop

It was mid December and a heat wave had embraced the country. Record setting temperatures were searing the land from high 90s in Sydney and Adelaide to blast furnace heat in the great Outback. Fires were raging throughout the country. But we were cool, riding the air-conditioned Indian Pacific railway across the southern expanse of Australia to the west coast city of Perth, a four-day transcontinental tour...

Gary Singh's travel blog/review
Monte Verità: In the Footsteps of Anarchy

Chiara's Rainbow, Monte Verita, Switzerland

Just as I reach the end of a squiggling, multicolored path, an acorn plummets from an oak tree above me. It lands at my feet, just as the path culminates at a mandala of Venetian glass, eight feet in diameter. On the worn-out front lawn of Monte Verità, the Mountain of Truth, this path, Chiara's Rainbow, evolves through the colors of the spectrum – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and finally violet – before arriving at the mosaic mandala where psychic energies supposedly prevail. The falling acorn brings me to the present moment.