Things To Do
San Diego Zoo
We love the zoo! The red pandas and the tigers are our favorites.
Sunset Cliffs
We live down the street from Sunset Cliffs - it's a special place to us. A sunset here is a magical experience. Our suggestion is to bring a little picnic.
Torrey Pines Golf Course
Whether you want to golf or just stop for lunch/drinks, Torrey Pines is a beautiful course to check out.
Coronado Island
Coronado Island is so beautiful! Our first time visiting San Diego, we rented bikes and rode around the island. Look for the water taxi along the bayfront downtown. One of our favorite date nights is watching the sunset from Hotel Del Coronado and cocktails at their Serea bar/restaurant. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants in their downtown area.
La Jolla
If you plan to spend some time in La Jolla, make sure to say hi to the seals at Children's Pool. From there, you can walk up to the shops and restaurants of La Jolla. We love Lobster West to grab a quick Lobster Roll. We also like Duke's for a sit down lunch with views. Make sure to take a walk through La Valencia Hotel (big pink hotel)!
Gaslamp Quarter
Gaslamp is a bustling downtown area. There are a lot of great bars and restaurants! Check out The Shout House for a duel piano bar. We also hear amazing things about Cafe Sevilla for food.
Little Italy
We love Little Italy. Our favorite restaurants are Barbusa, Allegro, and The Heights
Padres Game
If there are still Padres baseball games in September, this is a super fun activity! Petco Park is stunning.
Black's Beach Hike
Black's Beach is a well known surf spot. It's also a clothing optional beach! The hike down and up is pretty treacherous, yet fun. You can also watch the hang-gliders take off from the Torrey Pines Glider Port. **our preference is to walk down the paved path and hike up the canyon. Less sketchy that way. Also be sure to check the tides - at peak high tide there's virtually no beach.
Taco Stand
The Taco Stand in La Jolla is SO delicious. We love the creamy chipotle sauce and the creamy cilantro sauce on our tacos. The line gets really long because it's a popular spot. Our local hack is to mobile order 15 minutes ahead and pick up tacos to eat there and skip the line.
Cesarina
Cesarina is one of the best restaurants in San Diego and also down the street from our house. Make a reservation well in advance if you plan to visit.
Better Buzz Coffee
Better Buzz is a coffee shop chain specific to San Diego. We grab our coffee here 2-3 times a week. There are locations all over! We both order an iced vanilla latte
Bird Rock Coffee Roasters
Another great coffee shop is Bird Rock Roasters. There are also locations scattered around SD. We also order an iced vanilla latte here
Liberty Station
Liberty Station is a plaza that used to be Navy barracks. It has since been converted into a great spot to grab food and do some shopping. There is also an arts section with art galleries and displays by local artists. They also have mini golf that is so cute for families! Chelsea's favorite shop is Pigment.
Escondido/Temecula SoCal Wine Country
Escondido and Temecula are home to SoCal's wine country. Escondido is closer, but Temecula has better wineries. You'll find a good time either way!
Surfing Recommnedations
For surf break recommendations, reach out to Dakota directly. Depending on the day, his favorite places to surf are Sunset Cliffs (Garbage), Ocean Beach (Jetty), South Mission Beach (also Jetty but other side), and Black's Beach.
South Coast Surf Shop Ocean Beach
Another recommendation for surfers - Dakota's favorite surf shop around town is South Coast, with an honorable mention to Bird's Surf Shed.