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Beaches for miles, AMAZING food, & adventures around every corner!
America's finest city. And boy, it sure lives up to the hype! I tried to make the most out of my 8 months of living here, and I think I did a pretty good job! I soaked up every single bit of sun & surf, ate some of the best food of my life, and really fell in love with this sunkissed SoCal city.
san diego, california
where I went
There is SO MUCH to do in San Diego, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Let me break it down for you with these "Do Not Miss" spots in the city! Obviously there are tons of activities not on this list (the zoo! Gaslamp!). These are just MY favorite places (and activities) that I have enjoyed in and around the city.
This beautiful stretch of beach has been "home" for a while. The boardwalk, the shops, the restaurants, it's such a fun place! Grab a rental scooter and explore.
This is a MUST SEE when you're in San Diego! As a national monument you have to pay to get in (free if you have a national park pass!), but it's so worth it. Point Loma is home to one of the oldest lighthouses on the west coast, and the tidepools are so fun to explore. It closes early (5pm) so make sure to visit during the day!
A beautiful (and pretty popular!) state park just north of the city! Torrey Pines is famous for a pine tree of the same name. With tons of hiking trails, you can get a great look at the trees, the beach, and some awesome cliffs.
This place is a San Diego staple!! The intricate architecture, expansive landscaping, beautiful cactus gardens. Balboa park is another one of these "Must See!" spots. Grab some lunch and have a picnic, shop at the local artisan markets, or wander the grounds and discover something new.
Perfectly named, this is my #1 spot to go for sunset!! With miles of untouched cliffs, you can set up a picnic blanket and watch the sun go down over the crystal blue ocean.
This hidden gem in La Jolla is such a beautiful spot to watch the sunset (or sunrise!). Free entry, and a tiny parking lot makes this a great little spot.
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Pacific Beach
Point Loma/
Cabrillo
Torrey Pines
Balboa Park
Sunset Cliffs
Mt. Soledad
what I did
San Diego is the perfect travel destination because you have access to so many activities! Whether you're a chill traveler, or the master adventurer, I guarantee San Diego will knock it out of the park! Here's a list of what to do once you get here!
Everywhere you look in San Diego you will see surfers walking to the beach, drying off from a session, or driving with three boards strapped to the top of their car. Surfing is a lifestyle here! If you're up for the challenge (and the cold Pacific Ocean) sign up for a surfing lesson! If you already have the basics you can rent a surfboard, too. My favorite is Bird Rock Surf Shop.
This is a FAMOUS spot for San Diego hiking! There are two ways to get here - a short and long hiking trail. The long trail is around 8 miles and takes about 3-4 hours. We opted for the shorter one (because we were in the middle of summer!) and it was only 2-3 hours with a 5.5 mile loop. The "potato chip" rock is a super cool hanging rock which attracts a lot of tourists (and selfies). Try to go during odd times and definitely wear sunscreen! There is practically no shade throughout the hike.
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For all you wildlife lovers out there, San Diego has some amazing whale watching! The best time to go is December through April, when the whales are migrating south. We took a trip with Legacy Whale Watch and it was outstanding! I will say, though, that when we went the waves were ROUGH and we got pretty seasick. But besides the barf bags, we got to see dolphins, seals, and tons of whales! Definitely worth it.
If you're looking for a chill way to end your day, grab a picnic basket, fill it up with some sandwiches (and drinks!), and go watch the sunset! You won't be disappointed. My favorite spots are Sunset Cliffs, Tourmaline Surf Park, and La Jolla Cove.
There is SO much to see outside the San Diego area! If you have a free day, drive up the coast a little and explore the neighboring beach towns. You'll be met with serious views, amazing eats, and an awesome roadtrip. My favorite spots are Encinitas, Del Mar, San Onofre, and Carlsbad.
Surf Lessons
Hike Potato Chip Rock
Whale Watching
Picnic at Sunset
Explore Other Towns!
where I ate
I think the biggest surprise for me living in San Diego was just HOW DANG GOOD the food is. Like, it's unbelievable. I have SO many good food recs (plus tons of places I never got to try). It's a little overwhelming. But here's my list for some of the "best of's" in the area.
I go to the one on Turquoise Street, and boy does it deliver. The service is pretty meh sometimes, but the tacos make up for it. Trust me.
Blink and you'll miss this restaurant in downtown SD. Don't let it's size fool you- they cook up some of the BEST fresh pasta I've ever had. Plus the owners make you feel right at home.
My fav!! If you know me, then you have 100% heard of my love for this place. The owners are to die for. The tea is exceptional! And they source tea directly from small farms all around the world. If you are in the city, you MUST go here!
This cute little restaurant packs a whole lot of punch. The drinks (alcoholic or not) are splendid, and their seasonal specials are delicious. Plus the vibe is just so California.
My love for this place doesn't stop at surf rentals. Just next door is an adorable cafe serving sandwiches, smoothies, and an acai bowl to die for.
These guys are seriously awesome. You get SO MUCH food with your order, and it's some of the best Hawaiian food (or any kind of food) I've ever had. Also they have Dole whip. You can't go wrong.
Croissants, macarons, breakfast sandwiches, rose lattes. Need I say more?! This instagram-worthy spot in the Gaslamp district is straight out of Paris. The croissants are so delectable. You won't be disappointed.
Okay okay okay, I had to make this one a tie! How could I choose?! Crackshack is like a Chick-fil-A spicy chicken sandwich on steroids. It's SO GOOD. It's keep coming back for more, good. Whereas Dave's is goes the chicken tender route, dolling out Nashville hot chicken at dangerous spice levels. Both are so tasty, it hurts.
Tucked upstairs amongst the crowded Mission Beach boardwalk, Cannonball boasts some of the best restaurant views in the city! Watch the surfers and beach-goers while you dine on delectable sushi fusion- and enjoy a spicy watermelon margarita while you're at it.
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Best Fish Taco:
Best Italian:
monzu fresh pasta
oscar's mexican seafood
Best coffee/tea:
paru teabar
Best brunch:
fig tree cafe
Best acai bowl:
bird rock surf shop
Best hawaiian:
homestyle hawaiian
Best breakfast:
le parfait paris
Best fried chicken:
Crackshack & dave's hot chicken
Best view:
cannonball sushi
my favorite spots
tourmaline beach
sunset cliffs
paru teabar
This is my go-to spot to take friends when they come into town. I grab my wicker picnic basket, fill it with some Trader Joes snacks, and drive down to the cliffs. I like to grab a spot early (about an hour before sunset) to fully enjoy the amazing scenery!
Surfers will know this spot! Tucked away a little north of Pacific Beach is this gem. There is a free parking lot, with ample parking in the winter months. If I'm not surfing, boogie boarding, or swimming, I love grabbing a book and reading by the waves.
This local tea shop has become our favorite weekend treat. Run by two of the sweetest people you'll ever meet, Paru is home to delicious, high quality tea sourced from family owned gardens. Okinawa Sugar Tea Latte & Blue Chamomile are MUST try's!
