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Steps from the Beach.

Photo gallery for Steps from the Beach.

Updated Furnishing 2022, Now More Comfortable and More Seating
Both Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Cook or Eat inside or outside. Grill and entire area just for your use
Your walk back. Just across from the street pass the big palm (white 2 story)
To the beach at 18th street. Looking North

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Games
    A rare find - enjoy a variety of games available on-site.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Del Mar Beach
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View map
Del Mar, CA
  • Place, Del Mar Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Del Mar Fairgrounds
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Del Mar Racetrack
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)
    ‪31 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Master

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Master Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Share Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Steps from the Beach.

Just steps from the beach. Downstairs unit in a stacked duplex. The kitchen and living room open up to the front patio where you can grill, have breakfast, watch your kids, before heading to the races or the beach.

Local owners. Don't be surprised if we walk down to share a sunset toast. Now an expected tradition with the many families that annually come back and why the dates available are limited.

Kitchen – Completely supplied for you to cook indoors or bring everything outside to grill in your own outdoor Patio dining space

Parking – 2 spots, a big deal when you are in the heart of Del Mar

Washer and Dryer – Shared by upstairs and downstairs unit
Outdoor shower – No need to bring the beach in. Wash off outside put beach gear in the wash and head out to the races or your favorite restaurant.

Master Bedroom – King Size Bed and its own bathroom.
Bedroom - Queen size bed
Bedroom – Two Twin Beds.

Beach gear includes – Beach chairs, umbrellas, and lots of towels, surfboards, wet suits, boogie boards, and bikes (available depending on the owner’s themselves using them)

Add dates for prices

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed
Kid party and events done by 9pm
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Pets

Pets allowed
Dogs Yes, Others Ask. Fee is for cleaning after
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
After 9pm, music and activities need to go inside. Keep the sand outside, use the outside showers when every possible. Beach gear use at your own risk

Important information

You need to know

Property # 619032vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Note from host: Kid party and events done by 9pm
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Del Mar

Located in Del Mar, this holiday home is near theme parks. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Del Mar Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach, while Del Mar Fairgrounds and LEGOLAND® California are popular area attractions. Pelly's Mini Golf at Del Mar Golf Center and Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage & Meditation Gardens are also worth visiting. Looking to get your feet wet? Snorkelling and surfing/body boarding adventures can be found near the property.
View more Holiday homes in Del MarOpens in a new window
Map
Del Mar, CA

What's nearby

  • Del Mar Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Del Mar Plaza - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Seagrove Park - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Del Mar Fairgrounds - 13 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Del Mar Racetrack - 3 min drive - 1.5 km

Getting around

  • Solana Beach Station - 12 min drive
  • Sorrento Valley Station - 16 min drive
  • Carlsbad, CA (CLD-McClellan-Palomar) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Monarch Ocean Pub - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Better Buzz Coffee - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Jake's Del Mar - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Il Fornaio - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Coral - ‬12 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Steps from the Beach. pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Steps from the Beach. ?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Steps from the Beach. ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Steps from the Beach. ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Steps from the Beach. located?

Situated in Del Mar, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Del Mar Beach and Del Mar Fairgrounds. Medici Galleria and Seagrove Park are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 63 out of 66 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 66 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 66 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 66 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 66 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Candace B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved the location and the host’s were wonderful!!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

donald w.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved this place! It's clean, roomy, and restful -- and close to the beach, shops, restaurants and an excellent bookstore. The hosts were very responsive to our questions. Highly recommended!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Zach K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

great host/great property

great location and accomodating host
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tim H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place, good location

Enjoyed our stay in Del Mar. 1 minute or less walk to beach. Easy walk to restaurants and downtown.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carrie T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Getaway

Amazing location, attentive owner, clean and well stocked. Made for a great weekend getaway.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mark B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is an awesome place in a great location. It was everything we were looking for! This is our second time staying here and we can't say enough positive about it. The host is very welcoming and helpful. Ask for advice on places to go or things in the area and he has all the answers. It is so wonderful being able to walk out the door and down to the beach in Del Mar!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

rick D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Del Mar Beach house

We stayed the week of Thanksgiving. It was perfect for our family. Close to the beach and close to 15th street. I would recommend this property to any family.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cathy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location!

Perfect location in Del Mar...walking to everything. House is remodeled, but definately an older home. Bed were comfortable and kitchen well supplied.
Stayed 28 nights in Feb 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Sandy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location and comfortable house

We loved this place. It was just as described. It’s extremely close to the beach and some excellent restaurants. The host was easy to contact and answered all our questions. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kaitlyn J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Family Stay a Short Walk to the Beach

Location location location. This home is an excellent family stay location. Steps away from the beach and a short walk to downtown Del Mar and a nearby park. Steven was a huge help to try and get us in a little earlier for check in with two small children. The house was filled with kids books and toy blocks and beach toys which was a lovely perk. We loved our stay and will definitely be back on day!
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christopher W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect stay near the beach!

This little home is super close to the ocean and had everything we needed. It was spotless upon arrival (I’ve never seen such a clean refrigerator!) and everything was comfortable and well appointed. We’ll definitely be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 9 July 2023
Thank you for the kind words. You and your family are welcome back anytime, you left the place immaculate which is always appreciated. Steven and Jennifer McDowell
Verified

10/10 Excellent

susan y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a lovely place !!

Really clean ! has all amenities especially everything you need for beach which is so nice The owner was very communicative and available anytime! Definitely returning here for more fun!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

George H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
had no pets I block from beach
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Brian G.

Perfect Del Mar Stay

Steven was an awesome host, the place was comfortable, clean, well laid out. The location is absolutely perfect. Parking is easy, there are beach toys/towels/etc, and an awesome patio area that is completely enclosed to keep the kids contained. The only negative part of our stay is that it wasn't long enough. This place is perfect for families, we have a 10 month old and three year old and the set up couldn't have been better.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 12 July 2023
Brian, Thanks for the kind words. It was great having you guys staying at our place and that the books we read to our kids were still loved by new families like yours.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Erin V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Even closer to the beach than we expected

The walk to the beach is shorter than the length of our driveway at home! We were expecting it to be further but it really is a tiny walk. Very welcoming host. So nice to have a stocked kitchen after having stayed in a hotel. Nice to have so much beach gear. The patio area was really pleasant and relaxing. We def enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Josh Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Incredible place...shhh don't share

I hesitate to give a stellar review as we want to keep this place undercover so it's available for us again. It is a gem and Steven is fantastic...location and how the place is set-up is such a great fit for us. It has everything you need. We could keep going on and on...but we again we don't want to many ppl finding out about it ;-p
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heavenly Getaway

After spending six months sheltering, to find a place to escape to that was safe, beautiful, and so close to the ocean was an answer to our prayers. The owners are available for questions which made getting answers to our questions quite easy. The linens and beds were Four Season comfortable; the kitchen completely equipped, the WiFi perfect. We will definitely be returning guests if we can get a spot in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 12 July 2023
It was our pleasure to make your stay vacation memorable. You and your husband were great guest. Looking forward to seeing you again and to hear more what bait your husband used to catch some fish.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nicole L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location

The downstairs unit was light and bright and just as advertised. We loved the location only a block away from the beach. The only issue we had was that we could hear the upstairs tenants kids running around above our heads. Also train is extremely loud. But all in all it was a great crash pad and we enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 12 July 2023
Hi Nicole, Good to hear you liked the place. Sorry about the trains, they are rarely an issue, but with schools just out they might have needed to sound their warning horns more than normal. Guests that were upstairs are gone and won't be invited back. I do try and have families with similar age kids in the up and downstairs, many times the same family or friends.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Vera H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spring vacation

This property was perfect for our needs. Steps from the beach (even though it was too cold to enjoy it), close to restaurants and shopping. Helpful that there were no stairs. The owner was prompt to answer any questions. Very much appreciated how well stocked the kitchen and bathrooms were. Lovely outdoor area(which we couldn’t really enjoy with the weather). Appreciated that there was parking for 2 cars. We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bill B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Del Mar!

Excellent location. Perfect space for relaxing. Steps from Seagrove Park and town. Jake’s is across the street. Great place for walking or following the trail along the bluffs Love this place
Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Matthew T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely great house and great host

The house was great and Steven was such a great host. We will definitely visit again.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Phil

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome location with everything that we could want

You can't beat this location, or the overall amount of space. It's so close to the beach that we left our flip flops at home and took only the towels, boogie boards and chairs (all provided) with us. If we didn't feel like grilling on the bbq provided in the enclosed patio, we would walk up a block up to Poseidon or Jakes, or take a longer walk to Americana or the Plaza. The space is clean and comfortable (maybe think about replacing the King bed next year?) with current appliances (large and small) and plenty of fresh towels and bedding. We are planning our next trip to this great spot in Del Mar beach, and would love to see the garden after it has seen a little love.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beach stay

Great experience, helpful owner, close to beach, lots of beach equipment
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tami S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Beach Escape!

We have to come to Del Mar every summer for 14 years and this was one of my favorite stays! The location is perfection! We only drive to the grocery store. The beds were comfortable, the kitchen had everything we needed to make a few breakfasts and dinners and the patio was amazing for our pup, enjoying dinners, breakfasts and games! Steve & Jen are a lovely couple and we’re so incredibly helpful, we didn’t need them much, as their place was very well equipt! Thank you!!! We will be back!!!
Stayed 11 nights in May 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Pam J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay from start to finish!

Whole family enjoyed our stay at the beach!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2022

About the host

Hosted by Steven McDowell

Host profile image
Del Mar resident since 2001. Primary Residence's on Forest Way in Del Mar. Semi retired giving me time to still help on the Del Mar Little League Board and where needed elsewhere. Bought our beach place to have somewhere to share with family and friends and a place for our kids to stay in the future when they have their own family.

Steven McDowell

Why they chose this property

Purchased from a family that had owned the place since 1963. Loved the location, have friends with families that live close. Wanted a place to share. This works

What makes this property unique

At the place are towels, beach toys for running out to the surf and more stuff for young children to keep them occupied while you relax or cook. Many items we switch out with our own gear, if you need something just let us know.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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