San Diego Diaries
Hola people, “Life is better in flip-flops“, so they say. This is true for the state of California, especially for San Diego. If you plan on relaxing for a bit, away from the chaos of busy lives with the ocean on one side and mountains on the other, San Diego is the place to go. Read on to find out all things you must do on a 4 days 3 nights itinerary at America’s finest city – San Diego.
La Jolla Shores
Our stay was in La Jolla (pronounced as La Hoyya), which is a suburb about 12 miles away from downtown San Diego. This is a small quiet seaside area, most known for its coastline, which is a site for all kinds of sea animals. Most hotels keep an account of the sunrise timings of the upcoming day. Find out and get set go, to watch the sunrise at the La Jolla shores. If you a nature lover, you will truly enjoy this. Sunrise over the horizon, with seals and sea-lions, coming out of shores for a long sun-bath, sea birds flying all over and lush greenery of tall palm trees along the coast line. It cannot get better.
Lookout for the nature’s amazing camouflage of seals and sea-lions among the rocks, which are just within your reach, about 3 feet away from you, but mind you, you are not allowed to approach them. You get to see seal yoga and their parenting skills.
Once you have quenched your ocean thirst, walk towards the water front and wander at the village for a while. Notice the little hillside houses, posh boutiques and walk-able food shacks in between. This place, I thought, if not for the cost of living, is the best place to live after retirement.
San Diego Zoo
If there is a zoo, I must go. Being the animal lover that I was, I had to visit the world’s biggest zoo. Situated at one corner of the city, the zoo is a 10 minute drive from downtown and is a full day activity. Take good number of Gatorade bottles with you, because there is so much walking, that you might be exhausted in the heat. There are a lot of food stalls inside, so do not worry about what to eat. There are also hop-on hop-off buses inside the zoo, which come along with the ticket. The zoo houses all kinds of animals, from Arctic to African, penguins to pandas, polar bears to elephants. Although the lines are long and the journey is just a couple of minutes, the Sky Safari, an aerial view of the entire zoo, is a must do and you get to spot all major animals from the altitude.
I must say, I was mesmerized watching the polar bears play. No TV screen in between, no camera edits, just live wild animals. It was a moving experience for me. When I watched them play, I had no words.
Balboa Park
The Balboa park, as the name suggests, is a park, with an ensemble of museums all at one place. This is situated right next to the zoo, again a 10 minute drive from downtown. The park is open to public from 7 in the morning to 11 at night. Do plan to visit the park on Wednesdays as most museums have a free entry or offer special discounts. There is also an open air auditorium, where open nights and concerts happen, again free on Wednesdays. Even if you are not a museum person, you can just stroll around the serene park.
There is also a bus, which is free for public and is a hop-on hop-off bus dropping you at common spots around the park. In the center of the park, across the auditorium are the United Nations houses, where all UN countries have one cute little house, each displaying their authentic culture, food and artifacts.
This is typically a full day trip, unless you skip the museum tours. My suggestion, arrive early and take long walks among the beautiful fountains and kingdom like gardens, with little duckling families walking alongside.
Pacific Beach
Pacific beach is mid-way from downtown to La Jolla and is a sunset scene. Just like the sunrise at La Jolla, the sunset at the Pacific beach is a must watch. Although there are no animals here, the sun sinking into the mighty ocean, is a beautiful sight to watch. Grab some tacos or ice-cream, from across the street and enjoy the view. If you are into adventure sports, then definitely try para sailing or surfing, here.
Cabrillo National Monument
Situated in the southern most tip of the Point Loma peninsula, Cabrillo National Monument is marked as the first European expedition into the West coast. The monument is under the control of the US Navy. This is again a half day visit, where you get to see the Point Loma lighthouse, which was once the home of its keepers. Other attractions include view points for tide pools and whale watching, during the migration season (December). The place shares the US-Mexico border, almost charging you international roaming on cellular networks.
Seaport Village
Doesn’t this look like paradise? After the tiring trek at the national monument, this is a great place to relax on the way home. Seaport village is located in downtown, next to Little Italy, both famous for hosting all kinds of cuisines. The place lives up to its name and has a charming village vibe, with little ponds and bridges to walk across, tiny shacks to eat at and local shopping crafts. It is right on the bay and most restaurants are built on the water giving us great views whilst eating good food. Seagulls are all over the place, so beware and protect your food.
How to get around
If you are staying in the center city, close to downtown, the best mode of transport is Uber, since the prices are feasible and you can avoid the parking hassle. Otherwise, if you plan on staying at the suburbs like La Jolla, I suggest you rent a car for your entire trip, as the trips to and fro downtown would cost more than renting your own car. Also, this way, you can avoid the huge wait times, since most cabs come from the center city which is easily 15-18 mins away. Plan accordingly.
Where to eat
Now this is something you will not need to include as part of your planning. There is a rich variety of food almost every street of every major road. Quesedillas, tacos, fajitas, churros – you name it, the Mexican cuisine dominates the locality and is a must try. The street food particularly is worth spending your bucks on. Right on the waterfront, there are little food joints, all pet-friendly, all serving vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. In La Jolla, my recommendation would be Codys, which is a shack across the beach road. At the Seaport village, my favorite was the Pier Cafe, which is located practically on the ocean. Don’t forget to experience cocktails by the bay. Definitely try the churros, which are authentic Spanish desserts and cannolis too from Little Italy.
What to wear
Comfy clothes are preferred. San Diego is mostly hot all throughout the year. Beach clothes are a must, along with lots of sunscreen and anti-tans. Avoid full length trousers and full-sleeve shirts, both of which are not suitable to the city. Oh, and don’t forget your shades and hats. No seriously, hats and caps are needed for surviving long zoo visits and strolls along Balboa park. And backpacks too.
So that was that about the amazing time I had in San Diego. I hope this itinerary works for you too. San Diego is a place to chill, relax and relish. Definitely do all of that and while you are at it, do let me know how it went. Share your experiences in the likes and comments section. Share it with your friends. I hope you all have a safe and fun trip. Happy Relaxing!!