A laid back vibe, where you can grab a stool overlooking the marina and watch the fishermen unload their catch of the day. We love the steamed clams & mussels, the fish & chips, and all of the fresh fish tacos
A food market inside the old Navy barracks with many vendors, so lots of choices to choose from. We love to grab a glass of wine from Carruth Cellars outside while here.
A beautiful outside beer garden of the locally brewed Stone beer. For food, I love the burger with the smashed potatoes on the side. We love a hazy ipa and Stone makes a mean one here. Great place to bring the kids to let them check out the koi pond and run around the outside spaces
A move upscale seafood restaurant in Little Italy. The food is amazing (we especially recommend the bone marrow appetizer), the décor inside is fun, and we love the wine and cocktails here. Colleen took Colin here after a sting ray incident while surfing.
For a sweet treat, this ice cream shop is a popular place. I love the classics like the vanilla, but this place is known for their funky flavors, so if you're like Colin, try something fun and new!
Our favorite dive bar. The people watching is unmatched, the popcorn is always free flowing from the machine, and the floor is permanently sticky. Surprisingly, the sliders and california burritos are pretty dang good. Sumo loves getting fresh bacon strips from the bartenders.
If you're craving a good Italian sandwich, or just want to watch the local Italian families come to get their allotment of meats and cheeses for the week, this is the spot. We love the caprese sandwich (add prosciutto), or the classic Italian. Local tip: Grab one of these babies for your long plane ride home. You won't regret it.
This is a local favorite for some Pho and Asian food. The fried rice is famous, but if you want a bowl of broth to warm up the pho is decent here too. Their famous for their wings along with their in-house made peanut butter whiskey.
Probably our favorite coffee spot in San Diego. There are a few locations, but they know how to make a good coffee!
This spot is still one that the tourists aren't onto yet (shhh!), but they pull in the fresh seafood and make some delicious dishes. A more laid back place for La Jolla, but trust us, it's worth it. The fish sandwiches are a MUST order, but we also love the sashimi plates, fresh oysters, and grilled octopus.
Our favorite sit down Italian restaurant in San Diego. They switch up the menu every so often, but we recently enjoyed a meal here and loved the pork belly appetizer and their freshly made pizza. If you're going to Balboa Park, Cucina Urbana is right outside the park. Our favorite seats in the house are the bar stools.
A more upscale sushi restaurant that you'll need to make a reservation for (definitely grab an indoor spot - the outdoor seating isn't as special). This restaurant is the one we go to for celebrations or a special treat. Their Asian cocktails are fun and the sushi is melt in your mouth. This one is also outside of Little Italy and just outside Balboa Park.
(multiple locations) We love their fish tacos here and always bring our out of town friends here to try them. We keep finding new ones we like, so our current orders are surf & turf tacos, fried fish taco, and shrimp & chorizo tacos.
Our local lazy dinner spot. This Mexican joint is a hole in the wall, but DANG their California burritos and carnitas street tacos hit right. Grab a beer or a Mexican Coke in a glass bottle to wash it down with. Colin has been dying to try the birriera from the truck outside here too, so maybe you can beat him to the punch on this.
Our local Italian coffee spot where we head on the weekend for a great cappuccino (and pup cup for Sumo!)
(multiple locations) A local staple for some great tacos!
(multiple locations) Another favorite coffee spot for all of your coffee needs
A San Diego staple. If you've got kids, this is a must do activity, and as a bonus, they sell alcohol throughout the park to make it a bit more fun for the adults. The kids will love the animals and the gondola ride. AND THE PANDAS ARE BACK!
If you're a museum go-er, this is your spot. You can walk around the park, grab some picnic food and lay out, or check out the many museums hidden throughout the park. We also love to catch a show at The Globe in the park.
Colleen has done this once with her dad and they had a blast. The tour guides will take you out at La Jolla Shores where you will check out the coves in La Jolla. You should get to see some seals and local fish in the water along the way. Bonus if you jump in the water from the kayak.
For the golfers of the group, you'll recognize this place as the spot for the US Farmers Open. The views here are beautiful as you're right on the cliffs overlooking the water. Make a reservation ahead of time as this is a popular course!
A tourist favorite - seals sun bathe at the cove and tourists come to take a picture with them. Please be respectful of them and don't get too close to the wildlife. You've been warned: they are a bit smelly….
Mother of the Brides favorite thing to do in San Diego! Take the ferry over from downtown San Diego (there are two points of departure, so check the schedule) to Coronado. It'll drop you off on the eastern side - either take a walk down Orange and stop in the shops, or rent a bike on this side of the island (we always use Hollands Bikes right behind the ferry stop) and take a pedal over to Hotel Del and drool over the houses on the island. Once at Hotel Del, enjoy a beverage from one of their many bars or walk the beach.
If you find yourself in Little Italy and are craving a waterfront walk, head down to the inlet to walk along the water to soak up the sun. Bonus: Can you spot the Navy building Colleen helped build?
Open on Saturday mornings from 8am-2pm, this was Colleen's old stomping grounds every weekend to grab some fruits, veggies, and maybe a treat or two. You will find farmer stands, food stands, coffee stands, and a few vendors selling jewelry & clothes.
A few hikes to choose from here but if you take the beach one, you'll get some views of the ocean from up top, and then a return walk along the beach.
Great place with a ton of trails for hiking in San Diego. This one is more inland, so if you want more dessert vibes, this one is for you. They also have a lot of trails of various lengths, so if you've got kids and need options, keep this one on the list.
For those who want a mix of movement and some history, this one is for you. You can hike two short trails by the monument and take a walk around checking out the local lighthouse.
Another museum stop - this ship is located in the harbor and you can walk around the carrier and check out the Naval aircraft on the top deck.