We moved to San Diego in July of 2018 and have been loving California living ever since. The weather is fantastic year-round, it’s super laidback, you can bring your dog just about anywhere and the Mexican food is top-notch. Here is my San Diego travel guide.
When to go
My favorite time of year here is September and October because it’s still beach weather, but all the tourists have gone home. Watch out for June gloom, the one month when the sun doesn’t seem to want to come out. Winters are mild, but definitely not beach weather. Any month you come, be sure to bring a jacket or sweater. Nights are never warm enough without an extra layer. It doesn’t rain often in San Diego, but when it does it brings a lot of pollution into the shoreline. Don’t get in the water if it has rained in the past three days is the general rule of thumb, check out Surfrider’s site for the latest beach report. If you have the time, why not volunteer at one of their beach cleanups!
The Beaches
Coronado Beach
Coronado Beach is known for the famous Hotel del Coronado. During the holidays you can even ice skate on the beach at the hotel. The northern end of Coronado Beach is a dog beach. Coronado is an island and you can get to it by car over the bridge from downtown or by ferry from downtown. The ferry runs every 30 minutes, costs $5 one way and you can walk on or bring your bike.
Ocean Beach (OB)
I like to explain it to people as the hippie, surfer beach. The northern end of the beach is a dog beach, so bring your furry friend with you. Head to the bar at Wonderland for shots at sunset. If shots aren’t your thing, grab an ice cream cone from Lighthouse. Go to TapShack for great kombucha and cold brew coffee. OB Noodle House is also a favorite of mine for pho and Little Lion Cafe is a cute little spot with Belgian-inspired food.
Mission Beach
Mission Beach is definitely the more family-friendly beach. There are beaches located on both the oceanside and bayside. There is a great walking/bike path that goes from the bayside to the oceanside all the way up into Pacific Beach. Be sure to rent bikes for a day of exploring the beaches, go tandem for extra fun. There are plenty of places to stop to have a drink or eat along the way! Don’t forget to stop at Belmont Park for a rollercoaster ride and fresh lemonade.
Pacific Beach (PB)
Known as the party beach, but you can’t legally drink on the beaches here in San Diego. There are a bunch of bars right off the beach, a couple favorites are Lahaina Beach House and PB Shore Club. My favorite place to eat in PB is Powerhaus Pizza, they make delicious, healthy pizzas conducive to all dietary restrictions. Get your pizza to-go and eat it on the beach while watching the sunset.
Neighborhoods
Little Italy
Little Italy has authentic Italian food, great bars and an amazing farmers market. Start date night at Ironside Fish & Oyster, order champagne & oysters at the bar. Then head to Bencotto for pasta from scratch made into unique and mouth-watering dishes. Recover in the morning at Morning Glory, a popular brunch spot, go early or on a weekday to avoid long lines. Don’t miss out on the soufflé pancakes, they are heaven on a plate. Nolita Hall is a really cool place to go grab a drink or if you’re in the mood for wine, head to Carruth Cellars Wine Garden.
North Park
North Park is hipster central, come here for great bars, eateries and the farmers market. Start your morning with a coffee from Dark Horse Coffee Roasters or a matcha from Holy Matcha. Don’t miss Belching Beaver Brewery to grab a pint of their Peanut Butter Milk Stout, a local favorite. Across the street is Juneshine, where you can grab a flight of hard kombucha and play board games with friends.
Gaslamp Quarter
Gaslamp Quarter is located downtown and is a popular nightlife spot for locals and tourists. Cafe 21 is a favorite of mine and is known for the ambiance and live music, but I go for the mimosa flights. Tocaya Organica has fast and fresh Mexican food and refreshing margaritas. I put pomegranates in my guacamole now just because of them. Make reservations at The Shout! House for a fun night with dueling pianos.
Point Loma
Point Loma is underrated for sure, located in between the airport and Ocean Beach. Check out Liberty Station, an old naval training center converted into a mixed-use space with a great selection of food, art and activities. On a rainy day in San Diego, head to The LOT for dinner and a movie. Food and drinks are ordered and served to you right in your reclining movie seats. If you need gifts to bring home to family and friends, take a peak around Pigment. Don’t miss the Liberty Public Market for food, craft and beer stands. My favorites are the pad see ew from Mama Made and the custom ice cream sandwiches from MooTime Creamery. If you want something a little fancier, make a reservation at Solare for the best Italian food in the area.
Restaurants
Honestly, I could go on forever about all the amazing restaurants in San Diego. But, this isn’t a San Diego restaurant guide, it’s a San Diego travel guide. There are so many great restaurants, but I will name just a few of my lesser-known, personal favorites.
Mitch’s Seafood
Mitch’s Seafood in Point Loma has the best and freshest fish tacos in San Diego. Their seafood is locally and sustainably caught, they also have a great craft beer and wine selection. Put in your order, take a number and enjoy your food with a view of the harbor and downtown.
Mike’s Taco Club
Located in OB, Mike’s carne asada burrito converted me from a pescatarian to a meat-eater again. Get the California burrito to add some French fries in the mix.
Northside Shack
Northside makes beautiful, fresh açaí and pitaya bowls in Point Loma. I love to order mine 50/50 (50% açaí, 50% pitaya) with all the fruit, granola and almond butter on top. And they don’t charge extra for all the fruit!
Surf Side Deli
Surf Side in Point Loma has honestly the best sandwiches ever made, so happy we only live a block away. Our favorite sandwich is the ‘Just the Tip,’ their famous tri-tip is smoked in a Traeger grill right in the parking lot.
What to do
Torrey Pines
This is one of my favorite places to take an early morning walk on the beach, it is so quiet and peaceful. At the end of the beach you can walk up the stairs and do some hiking on the trails for some great views. Summer and weekends can get very busy here, so I suggest going during the week. Park for free on the side of the road by the beach instead of paying $25 to enter the reserve for parking. You can also golf with amazing views at Torrey Pines Golf Course, famous for the Farmers Insurance Open PGA Golf tournament. Or get your adrenaline rush paragliding at Torrey Pines Gilderport.
La Jolla
Start your day at Brockton Villa for brunch with a view. Next, head down to La Jolla Cove to see the seals and sea lions. After, take a stroll around town window shopping and stop at Parakeet Cafe for a matcha latte. End your day by going snorkeling or kayaking at La Jolla Shores.
Balboa Park
There is so much to do in Balboa Park, you can easily spend a day or two there exploring. The park has many beautiful gardens, an artists market, museums, a botanical garden, a golf course and much, much more. But, the highlight is the San Diego Zoo. The zoo is massive and you can see all sorts of animals, from pandas to polar bears.
Go for a hike
Some popular hikes for tourists are Mount Woodson (potato chip rock) and Cowles Mountain. Iron Mountain is a great hike alternative to Cowles Mountain, it will be less crowded and slightly more difficult. For a really cool, short hike to a secluded beach check out Ho Chi Minh Trail. It’s only a 1/4 mile, but it can be difficult, the last part you have to scale down a large boulder with a rope.
Watch the sunset
San Diego sunsets are the bomb, my favorite place to go for sunsets is Sunset Cliffs. We like to bring a blanket, some wine and take-out. Some other great spots are Torrey Pines or any of the beaches for that matter. Make your sunset even more epic by bringing a picnic!
Breweries
San Diego has over 200 breweries offering up some really good brews. Our favorite breweries are Modern Times Lomaland, Pure at the Park, Juneshine Hard Kombucha and Eppig Brewing Waterfront Biergarten. We also really like Stone Brewing in Liberty Station for the beer, the food and the outdoor seating.
Go to a Padres game
Go to a San Diego Padres game at Petco Park for some baseball, be sure to bar hop in the Gaslamp Quarter before or after the game. If baseball season is over and hockey is more your thing, go to a Gulls game at Pechanga Arena.
Go whale watching
Whales and dolphins frequent the waters off the coast of San Diego. Whales pass by San Diego twice a year; once going south to Mexico and once heading north to Alaska. Go whale watching with Cruise SD, they have a marine biologist on board and are environmentally conscious.
I hope my San Diego travel guide has inspired you to take a trip to sunny San Diego. Don’t forget to book your trip with your favorite travel planner, yours truly. If you liked my San Diego travel guide, check out Driving up the coast of California!
