Erin and David walked through Balboa Park on their first date! It is a beautiful location offering museums, gardens, good food, and the San Diego Zoo! Favorites of the couple: Walking through the Prado and Old Globe areas, the Botanical Building, and the San Diego Museum of Art.
Erin and David ate here on their first date, and regularly visit this hip eatery still! Recommendations of the couple: the Banh Mi Meatball slider, "Dirty Fries," broccolini, and of course, the spaghetti.
The community where the Liestman's will live, Park Blvd just south of Adams Ave offers some of the best eating in central San Diego. Among the favorites: Twiggs Coffee House for biscuits and a French roast, Banh Thai for incredible Pad Thai, pineapple fried rice, and yellow curry, Meraki Cafe for arguably the best acai in SD and a Golden Milk Latte, Small Bar for a burger and fried pickle chips, Red House pizza for a vegan "Iowa" pie, Muzita Abyssinian Bistro (ranked as a "hidden gem" of SD), and Pop Pie for personal chicken pot pies and coconut cream pies. With the Trolley Barn Park just North and fantastic views from Mission Valley to Mission Bay, this is a quaint neighborhood with a lot of personality.
If you like coffee, San Diego is the place to be. There are several roasters and coffee shops in San Diego that are getting national recognition for their beans and beverages, among them: Coffee & Tea Collective (started by a PLNU alumn!), Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, and Lofty Coffee. One of Erin and David's favorites is Hawthorn Coffee. Though they do not roast in San Diego, they brew beans from Cat & Cloud in Santa Cruz CA and offer several drinks iconic to the 3rd wave coffee scene: San Diego 1&1, Japanese Iced Coffee, and a diverse pour-over menu. With its combination of Santa Cruz coffee (nostalgic for Erin) and fruity coffee (fun for David), this shop is a regular for the couple!
Walk the pier, get a burger at Hodad's, grab Acai bowls at the Lazy Hummingbird, and enjoy the perfect crossroads of hipster and hippie, surf and skate, in this SD neighborhood. The beaches here are pretty friendly, and it's the perfect spot to go for a swim in August heat!
Just South of Ocean Beach is Sunset Cliffs State Park. This picturesque walk joins OB and PLNU and was a stomping grounds for many years for Erin and David. The name gives it away: if you stay two nights in San Diego, try to catch a sunset!
Erin and David's favorite date spot. A Sunday morning breakfast/brunch recommendation: Alcala Waffle w/berries, & Green Eggs.
Just down the street from Mid-City Church off Wightman and 43rd, the City Heights Farmer's Market runs on Saturday mornings and offers a great lens into the diversity of City Heights cuisine. El Salvador Pupuseria Y Restaurante consistently has their pupusa stand ready, families set up local taco stands with carne & pollo asada, carnitas, and adobada options, East African and Ethiopian cuisines are usually present, and the market hosts several farm stands selling locally grown fruits, veggies, and freshly squeezed juice. David lived right down the street from this market throughout the couple's relationship, and so walking among the vendors was a favorite!