We went here on our first date. After getting coffee, Dylan said they knew of a park that was "only a little bit away"...but it was about three miles round trip and Kim got a blister in the shape of a heart.
Balboa is a classic San Diego staple for a reason: it's so beautiful and there are a ton of museums. We spent a lot of time here during the early days of the pandemic so we could be outside, and we brought Kayak here for training sessions.
It's honestly hard to go wrong with any beach in San Diego, but La Jolla Shores was closest to Dylan's alma mater. We used to hang out at Gliderport nearby and watch the sunset.
*Sundays only* One day early into getting to know each other, we went here on a date and saw a dog carrying a wallet in their mouth. Kim still talks about it to this day as one of the greatest things she has ever seen.
If either of us were having a bad day, Banh Thai was the easiest way to turn it around. This is the best Thai restaurant in San Diego, hands down. Plan for very minimal seating, but the best curries and drunken noodles to share.
We can't count the number of times we've eaten here with many members of our wedding party. While there's always a wait, there's a great book store and Japanese grocery store nearby to pass the time.
The best dueling piano bar ever. Especially fun on weekend nights, this event is request driven by the audience. Try to get reservations ahead of time, but they do offer walk-ins.
Another favorite date spot, we've gone here so often that one of the waiters used to always joke that he'd see us tomorrow...and sometimes he was right!
Kim's favorite Mexican food spot. Incredible burritos.
Dylan's favorite Mexican food spot. When they were in college, this was THE spot to get late night eats.
Potato chip hike is a must for photos alone: the very top of the hike looks over the mountains and you get to stand on a rock not dissimilar from the Lion King.