Four Reasons Why San Diego is Your Next Getaway Trip

Southern California is one of the world’s most sought after vacation destinations and it’s easy to see why. With year round warm weather, gorgeous beaches, and a carefree, laid back lifestyle travelers can expect an escape from their everyday routines and experience an entirely unforgettable trip. Although Southern California itself is a travel destination found at the top of most every vacationer’s list, one city in particular stands out among the rest. San Diego, famously known as “America’s Finest City”, makes for the perfect getaway for any type of vacationer. With so much to do, see and experience anyone can find what they’re looking for in a vacation whether it’s relaxation, adventure or pure fun. Having lived in San Diego for many years, I have been fortunate enough to experience what makes this city unique. Below I review four reasons why San Diego should be your next vacation getaway.

1. Geography and Prime Location

Unlike many other major California cities, San Diego’s geography is much more condensed which makes everything easily accessible. From downtown to the beaches, shopping malls, various parks and attractions, hiking trails and even the mountains, everything can be reached within an hour or less. A drive from the upscale glamour of the Gaslamp Quarter downtown, to the care-free vibe at Ocean Beach takes about ten minutes and a drive from the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla all the way across the city to Coronado Island is only thirty minutes. Less time spent driving, means more time can be spent seeing all that San Diego has to offer. Some may even want to forget the car all together and utilize San Diego’s trolley system which makes it very easy for vacationers to stop off at some of the city’s most alluring locations like Seaport Village, Fashion Valley Mall or Petco Park. When I was a freshman in college, I found the trolley system to be especially useful and, in fact, relied on it when I needed to venture off campus.

The beauty of San Diego truly is that it offers such a wide variety of experiences all within a central, easy to navigate location. For instance, some of San Diego’s unique attractions like the San Diego Zoo, the Safari park, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND and the Birch Aquarium are all within fifteen to thirty-minutes of one another. These attractions have a rich history and are unique to California with the Birch Aquarium being the first standalone Aquarium ever built and the San Diego Zoo housing the most species of animals in all of California, including animals that can’t be seen anywhere on else in California, like the Giant Panda. San Diego’s countless beaches, hiking trails, camping grounds and incredible viewpoints all can be accessed with ease. I can speak from experience having spent a recent morning hiking the Ho Chi Minh Trail, surfing Black’s Beach, to then enjoying the view of San Diego from above at Mount Soledad, to finally ending my day camping in the mountains in Julian a less than an hour away. San Diego is unique in that anyone can enjoy all of these activities in one day, starting at the beach and ending in the mountains.

Upon arriving in San Diego, vacationers won’t have to travel far to begin their adventures as the airport is centrally located and close to Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado Island, Petco

Park, Seaport Village, the San Diego Bay and Old Town just to name a few. Another perk of San Diego’s location in comparison to other Southern California destinations is its weather. Having lived in both Orange County and San Diego, I can attest to the difference in weather with San Diego being consistently more moderate meaning less dry, a tad breezy and overall more comfortable.

2. Many Unique Neighborhoods Not Found Anywhere Else

San Diego offers a wide variety of neighborhoods where different cultures, food and overall atmospheres can be experienced. For instance, Old Town showcases San Diego’s rich history and is where European ancestors first settled in California, and includes a few of the original buildings still standing today. It is also famously known for its delicious Margaritas and Mexican food; which I suggest you try at Old Town Tequila Factory. The food and drinks are authentic and the views overlooking downtown and the bay are incredible! Another neighborhood, Little Italy, is best known for its thriving restaurant scene with delicious, authentic Italian food and classic wine. One of my favorite restaurants, Kettner Exchange, attracts large crowds with its live music and rooftop bar with ocean views. While areas like Seaport Village provide vacationers with ocean-front views, classic shops and impressive restaurants, an event that I and many others have always looked forward to is the holiday boat parade in December. An entirely different scene can be found at Belmont Park in Mission Beach with fun rides and carnival games year-round. My favorite sushi restaurant, Cannonball, is also located here, but from my experience, I do suggest riding the rollercoaster before eating there, not after!

Other neighborhoods in San Diego are better known for a thriving nightlife. The Gaslamp Quarter offers high-rise, rooftop bars and upscale clubs for a fancy night out on the town, while Pacific Beach provides a more casual setting for a night out at the bars. Expect to trade in your heels and dress shoes for flip flops. Hillcrest is less upscale than Gaslamp and not as casual as Pacific Beach, but is unique in that it is a hub for the LGBTQ community further proving that San Diego’s different neighborhoods are not only unique, but inclusive as well. North Park, has a “hipster” vibe and attracts a very diverse crowd to its indie coffee shops, art galleries and trendy restaurants. Two neighborhoods, only twenty minutes apart, that I find to be very

unique and quite different from one another are La Jolla and Ocean Beach. La Jolla is known for its upscale shopping and high-quality restaurants while Ocean Beach caters to a more free-spirit vibe. With a dog-friendly beach, great surf, a year-round farmer’s market, acro-yoga meet-ups, drum sessions, live music and the occasional fire-breathing show, the contrast between these two neighborhoods is incredible. If you are looking to experience a wide variety of food, culture and overall atmosphere all in one trip, there is no other city like San Diego. You will never be bored!

3. An Abundance of Diverse Beaches and Two Very Large Bays

One of San Diego’s biggest claims to fame is the amount of coastline that defines its western edge. In total, there are over twenty different beaches. What visitors and locals love most about the beaches here is that each one is incredibly different from the next which gives beach goers many different options and experiences. For instance, La Jolla Cove is known as a popular spot for snorkeling, kayaking, spotting seals and adventuring through caves. There are many shops and restaurants surrounding the beach and a beautiful grassy park where you’ll typically find children playing in the trees, locals practicing yoga and the occasional, small wedding taking place overlooking the water. This beach is also a hotspot for spearfishing. With a fishing license, free-divers can catch fish of regulation size, while avoiding the protected marine state fish - the orange Garibaldi. Many spearfishing enthusiasts come to San Diego for its clear water and abundant marine life. Other beaches like Windansea provide a much different scene with enormous rock structures and a perfect wave for more experienced surfers. Upon arriving to the beach, one can easily spot the man-made hut sitting high up on a rock formation built by local surfers many years ago. I’ve seen countless maternity and couple photo shoots take place under this now famous hut. This intimate beach significantly differs from that of the more crowded tourist destination of La Jolla Cove. Black’s Beach, is also unique in that it is located below the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Park. This park is home to a rare pine tree that is only found in San Diego and on Santa Rosa Island. Adventure seekers can enjoy a scenic twenty-

minute hike down to the beach via the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the brave can venture north to the famous nude beach. Glider Port rests right over this beach and is the only place in Southern California where anyone hang glide or paraglide off a cliff overlooking the ocean!

Coronado Island is home to the famous Hotel Del along with an incredible white sand beach that is remarkably dissimilar to San Diego’s many other beaches. You won’t find the best surf here, but this beach is perfect for families and those looking to ride bikes along the boardwalk. Also because the sand is so flat, this beach is the best place in San Diego to skim board. The list of unique beaches goes on adding to it the free-spirit vibe of Ocean Beach, the younger crowd found in Mission Beach and so many more.

For calm water, you don’t have to look very far! San Diego is home to both the San Diego and Mission Bay with San Diego Bay being the largest bay in Southern California and Mission Bay being the largest man-made aquatic bay in the country. No other bay in Southern California is large enough to allow particular water sports like waterskiing, wakeboarding, jet-skiing, windsurfing, wake-surfing, kitesurfing and boat racing. Of course other activities like booze cruises, sailing, swimming, kayaking and paddle-boarding are also very common in both bays. A popular attraction in Mission Bay is the three-story boat, the Bahia Belle, which incorporates both a family hour and a cocktail hour bay cruise along with live music. One activity I enjoy in the summer is to take a cruise around Mission Bay while watching SeaWorld’s fireworks show reflecting over the water.

*Abalone Shell Duncan dove for in La Jolla*

*Paragliding at Glider Port, Torrey Pines*

4. San Diego has Something for Everybody

What differentiates San Diego from other Southern California destinations is that there is something here for everybody. For those looking to enrich their minds, there is Balboa Park which is home to various museums, numerous gardens, fun attractions, cultural events and the San Diego Zoo. Among other historical attractions unique to San Diego is the USS Midway. One favorite reoccurring events on the Midway, is the showing of the movie Top Gun, played on the

deck of the ship. Numerous scenes of Top Gun were actually shot in San Diego, providing visitors the opportunity to come see them first hand. Another unique event is the Miramar Airshow, which is the largest military airshow in the entire United States! During “Fleet Week” in October, Miramar showcases numerous planes, performs rescue demos and puts on aerial performances including one from the famous Blue Angels. Over the course of three days, over 700,000 people attend this event!

Another defining feature of San Diego is its notorious beer culture. Beer enthusiasts can enjoy craft beer from over a hundred breweries and many partake in Beer Week and year-round festivals. Other events and activities found only in San Diego include: the Del Mar Races and county fair, Comic Con, ice skating on the beach in Coronado, the Carlsbad Flower Fields and the Padre’s games at Petco Park. When it comes to authentic Mexican food, San Diego is at the top of the list having been so closely influenced by our Mexican neighbors. In fact, San Diego is home to the original Rubio’s restaurant and is where the California Burrito was invented! For those who seek adventure or enjoy scavenger hunts, finding San Diego’s “secret swings” is a perfect expedition. Travelers venture here with hopes of finding at least one swing of the many set up throughout the city; which is not always a simple task as the swings are moved from time to time to different locations. But with a little bit of research or some advice from a local, they can be found! When I say that San Diego has something for everybody, I mean everybody including our canine companions. Many restaurants and even shops are dog-friendly and provide treats and water bowls. From cultural experiences, to military influences, to world- renowned conventions and unique activities, San Diego stands out from other Southern California cities and proves to truly have something for everybody.

Overall, San Diego is a city unlike any other in Southern California. Because of its geography and prime location, unique neighborhoods, diverse beaches, thriving bays, and its versatility in having something for everybody, it is the perfect getaway for all types of vacationers and travelers. With so much to do, see and experience, it’s no wonder San Diego is one of the top travel destinations in California. After experiencing all that San Diego has to offer, you may never want to leave; I know I couldn’t!

Four Reasons Why San Diego is Your Next Getaway Trip

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