Monday was the final full day in San Diego and we felt it only right to go out as we came in, heading to Mission Beach for a day of sun, sand and surf.

With temperatures hitting the highest in Southern California since 1963, the beach was obviously the place to be, but Mission has plenty of quirks to recommend it, not least a still-working wooden rollercoaster that rattles thrill-seekers around the ocean front.

After topping up our tans it was time to head to Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, to see them predictably lose to the Chicago Cubs.

Early (and we mean early) next morning and it was bags packed and off on our travels again, this time setting off for Tucson.

A bustling city in the heart of Arizona, Tucson retains all of the Old West charm (which we will get to later), but for us the next two days are all about kicking back and getting away from it all.

Thanks to the Tucson Tourism Board, we are heading to the Westward Look resort, buried deep in the Sonoran desert.

And with two days of spa treatments, horse riding, nature hikes, bathing and fine dining to look forward to at one of the state's premier getaway venues, we should be more than refreshed when we head to the Old Tucson Film Studios on Thursday.