Seriously, how cool is San Diego?
My love for Tokyo is real. It is the serious kind of love. The kind of affair which I cannot imagine ever ending.
The climate, the food porn, the outrageous level of safety, the world’s most precise (read: expensive) cocktails….. and my list goes on and on.
I am happy in Tokyo and also use Japan as my springboard to the East. I created a Tokyo Bucket List the first year we were here and I am slowly and steadily working my way thru it.
It isn’t cheating on Tokyo to fall in love with another city, is it?
I am passionate about exploring and collecting as many adventures as possible. I believe that this is the very reason I have continued on with an international life for so long.
When my NYC bestie, Kara, suggested a sneaky short week in San Diego, I was seriously down for the adventure.
San Diego had not been on my wish list of places to see.
I have been to Los Angeles several times and (dare I say?) considered this my California checked off my list. I now feel a little silly saying that, because aside from the palm trees, I see very few parallels.
Boy, am I lucky for Kara’s invitation. It gave me the chance to see one of the seriously coolest cities I have visited. If you have been, you might agree with my list of reasons why. Perhaps you can add a few?
If you have not been, go! Add it to your list and hit the bricks! It is worth it.
Here are the coolest things about San Diego
Fish tacos
If you know me, you know that my favourite food is, far and away, tacos. I will always choose the down and dirty taco bar, in lieu of nearly anything else.
Here, in San Diego, the fish taco is another level of yum.
If tacos are not your thing, no worries. Actually, all Mexican food is pretty darn perfect. From mole to burritos, you cannot go wrong.
And, if you’re lucky enough to be in town for a Taco Tuesday, you can even wash that perfect fish taco with a deliciously discounted margarita!
Crazy-beautiful sunsets
The first day I was in town, I was fighting jet lag and pushing myself to stay awake until dinner time. I remember sitting at the hotel bar and I looked up at the sky, which appeared to be seriously on fire. I had never, ever seen such an incredible sunset.
And the best thing? It wasn't a one off. Each and every evening, we enjoyed the most dramatic, intense sunsets either one of us have ever seen.
There is also a very fun and social sunset culture. Everyone sets up on the beach, the piers, wherever with friends, family, drinks and snacks to take in those few moments of the day, surrounded by some serious natural beauty.
Seaside sipping
Seriously, I am a real beach girl and there is almost no other place that calms me and satisfies me like a shore line. San Diego celebrates the water’s edge like none other. This city has it right!
From cafes to piers to bring your own and chill, I found the appreciation for a glass on the water something I could really get used to.
In fact, on our last evening, we were caught at sunset time on our way back from La Jolla to the hotel. There were no bars in the near area, but that was no problem.
We grabbed a bottle and some cups at the local market and sat on the sand…. surrounded by hundreds of other kindred souls, enjoying that time when the afternoon slips into evening.
If you have time, catch the ferry (about a 20 minute journey) to Coronado Island, enjoy a bite and a drink at The Del and then join the locals on the beach for sunset. Magic!
The Guac-Amigo
Have you ever met one? Do you know who he is?
Well, a visit to from a trained guac-amigo to your restaurant table is a rather life-changing event.
He talks to you about your guacamole, he asks you exactly how you like it and he mixes it to order - and to perfection. This is, of course while you sit there, snapping pictures and deciding which fruity drink will compliment his masterpiece, of course.
Our favourite Guac-Amigo was at Coasterra on Harbour Island. Sit on the deck, face the bright city lights across the water and feast!
Driving
And by driving, I mean not driving. The huge urban sprawl that is San Diego is not complemented by and equally spectacular public transportation system. After trying the bus on the first day from the Gaslamp Quarter, we promptly gave up.
But, Kara and I were not at all daunted by this. Until we tried to rent bikes from our hotel to ride to La Jolla. Good luck! was basically the sentiment of the several rental companies that we inquired with. Even the hotel concierge seemed a bit dubious of us two East Coast girls, smartly thinking we were going on a little adventure.
We never did get those bikes. Instead, we popped on our running kits and legged it up the coast, through the burbs to La Jolla. It was a fantastic, if unconventional, walk.
I drove in New York, I drive in Tokyo, but in San Diego, calling an Uber or walking are so much easier.
The best weather in the world
I suppose it is a bit cliche to talk about the weather (although both Johan and I remember that we did talk about just that on our very first date!) but the weather in San Diego is seriously amazing.
It has a beautiful climate, year-round, with temperatures neither too hot or too chilly. I believe that consistent, gorgeous weather truly does something to one's personality. There are so many happy, positive people in San Diego that one can only imagine that the weather is a serious factor!
A good dose of natural beauty
I personally love a city with a bit of nature. So any time you can combine the two, game on!
We found the beaches stunning, the hiking trails a relief to being in a car and the parks a wonderful place to chill. In the short time we were there, we didn’t make it to all of the little coves, lakes and nearby mountains, but for me San Diego combines the ease of a city with the calm of the outdoors.
