Greetings from a girl who has finally recovered from a few action-packed days of travel! In the spirit of all things sunshine, I recently hopped on a quick flight to the West Coast and it certainly did not disappoint – and I’m here to encourage you to do the same! Welcome to your own personal San Diego travel guide, with so much to do, so much to see, and SO much sunshine to soak up. It’s a big city, and I know I personally felt overwhelmed sifting through all the recommendations before we left, so hopefully it’s helpful to see the things we were able to do in a long weekend if you happen to be headed out that way anytime soon!
Pacific Beach
This, as some say, is where the magic happens. And by that I mean it’s where the young people are, where the bars are, and where the beach is (but, to be fair, the beach is… everywhere). We got an Airbnb right near the boardwalk, which was so convenient to everything. I have to say that overall PB was definitely not my favorite area, but it was a lot of fun and had more than enough to keep two girls fully entertained!
For the best coffee ever: Better Buzz. Starting this list off with a bang – I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is the best coffee I have ever had! There’s actually a ton of locations all throughout San Diego, but I went to our local one on Garnet Ave every day. From the Best Drink Ever to the Mint Infused Iced Coffee to the (half-sweet) Hazelnut Divinity, nothing on this menu disappoints. Even my friend liked it enough to order her own, and she has never drank coffee before!
For a lively brunch: Crushed. Did someone say mimosa flights? While my avocado toast definitely wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, our drinks here were amazing and there were tons of unique flavors to choose from. Honestly, the best part of this meal was probably seeing the line down the block of people waiting to sit down – it’s definitely a hot spot for a reason.
For a super tasty brunch: Breakfast Republic. Conveniently located right near the boardwalk, this little spot has all the ingredients for a perfect first meal of the day – including a VEGAN breakfast burrito, thank you very much. And if you’re not feeling a sit-down meal, there’s a little egg-themed food truck right outside that is guaranteed to hit the spot.
For outdoor yoga: Bird Rock Yoga at Palisades Park. I’ll be honest, it didn’t end up working with my schedule to actually partake, but I did run by as a class was ending one day and couldn’t believe how many people were enjoying a scenic downward dog! The views in this little park are amazing and I can only imagine how zen you would feel after finishing a flow here.
For a smoothie bowl in a pineapple: Rum Jungle Cafe. Because why not?
Just for fun: The boardwalk. Take a stroll, grab food or a drink, pop into soome surf shops, or hit the beach! You can’t go wrong.
For happy hour: Lahaina Beach House. This place was definitely one of the highlights of my trip – every night, people head to this little bar to watch the sunset and have some drinks right on the beach. It’s a fun celebration all around.
For sushi with a view: Cannonball. It’s a beachside rooftop restaurant (with space heaters, thankfully) with a great menu that won’t disappoint and a guaranteed side of a beautiful sunset.
For a big night out: Mavericks or Moonshine Beach. They’re big, they’re fun, they’re partially outside, they’re crowded… enter at your own risk!
Downtown
Including the little I was able to see! We wanted to explore the Gaslamp District and do more at Balboa Park, but we did the best we could given our packed itinerary and the fact that it was actually almost a 25-minute drive from Pacific Beach. The whole area reminded me of a bigger Charlotte, NC – but on the water – and I loved how clean and new everything felt.
For museums and a beautiful walk: Balboa Park. There’s acres on acres of trails, beautiful scenery and museums. They do charge $20 for entry to each one, so take your pick of your favorites!
For a nice view: Waterfront Park. Take a stroll and take in the view of the city skyline and all the boats – we honestly ended up just sitting here to relax for a while before we headed to dinner.
For a cute Italian dinner: Little Italy, of course. We went for Nonna, but I’m sure you can’t go wrong with any place around here, but we enjoyed a lovely patio meal right below the Little Italy sign and it was heaven! I will say, having lived in the North End for two years, this one didn’t quite measure up, but it was definitely still worth the trip.
Point Loma
I’ll be honest, we only came for the sunset, and it did not disappoint.
For the best sunset ever: Sunset Cliffs. It’s exactly what you think of when you picture a California sunset and more. We’ve got sweeping views, drastic drop-offs, rainbow skies, and a whole lot of people just happy to be there experiencing it. Would highly recommend – but don’t make our mistake and be sure to call an Uber home BEFORE the sun actually goes down!
Coronado
It was a bit of a trip out here that we almost didn’t make, but I am SO glad that we did. This lil’ island is a slice of heaven, complete with colorful houses, an adorable, upscale downtown and tons of food options, all along a white-sand beach.
For a beachside drink: Hotel del Coronado. This is quite possibly one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever seen, obviously situated right along the water. There are little taco trucks and tiki huts on the beach to grab a drink, and it is guaranteed to absolutely hit the spot on a hot day.
For an amazing lunch. The Henry. When I tell you that we dragged this meal out for over two hours, I’m not kidding. And for good reason! We were sitting on a beautiful patio, the vibes were immaculate, and the food was just as good. Especially the chocolate cake.
La Jolla
Now this place is, quite simply, the dream. Complete with beautiful cliffside homes, breathtaking views, great shopping, and even better food, I can’t recommend a visit enough. It’s definitely an older crowd around here, but I felt right at home.
For the perfect beach day: Windansea Beach. This was by far the most beautiful beach we saw – it’s secluded and hidden among beautiful mansions and cliffs. We went on a Sunday, so by the end of the day it was pretty crowded, but I can definitely see it’s so popular!
For great shopping: Prospect Street and The Shops at La Jolla Village. The former is perfect for cute little boutiques along the ocean, and the latter has all the go-to shopping you could ever need with an upscale, outdoor vibe.
For a delicious health breakfast: Parakeet Cafe. It’s cute, right downtown (with multiple other locations), and has a great menu with tons of smoothies, coffee, and breakfast options. It’s a fan favorite of Hannah G. herself, so you know it must be good!
For seal sightings: La Jolla Cove. Tucked right behind all the hustle and bustle of Prospect Street, there’s a cove filled with sunbathing seals for your very own enjoyment! Seeing them was definitely a highlight of the weekend for me.
For house hunting: 7505 Caminito Avola, La Jolla, CA. Honestly, pretty much anywhere you drive around here will have beautiful homes and even better views – especially the farther up you go – but type in this address and let your GPS do the rest. You can thank me later!
For golfing, hiking, or great views/exploring: Torrey Pines Golf Course and National Reserve. My friend is a golfer and I’ve never seen her so excited to see something before as she was to see this course, and now I can understand why! We walked around the course, explored The Lodge, went for a trail walk (and may or may not have had a run in with a rattlesnake), and watched some hang gliders floating off into the horizon. It is truly picture perfect!
For great dinner with a view: Duke’s. This place is well-known and for good reason. There’s rooftop seating, a Hawaiian menu, and great fresh drinks. It certainly checked all my boxes, and the Hula Pie dessert made for a perfect cherry on top of a wonderful day in La Jolla.
And that’s a wrap on four days in San Diego! If you can’t feel my enthusiasm, I truly loved it and I can’t wait to go back. Overall, I cannot recommend a getaway here enough – clearly there is more than enough to keep you busy. Feel free to check out my lil’ video recap here too, and enjoy the sunshine! ☼
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