Things to do

Downtown Encinitas

Come and check out where Keara grew up! Downtown Encinitas has great restaurants and coffeeshops, and is steps from the beach as well. Keara loves the chicken taquitos from Raul's Shack and Ethan loves the tacos from The Taco Stand (crazy) – though there are many options beyond Mexican food. We're both big fans of an iced matcha latte from Better Buzz. There's Cali Cream or Gelato 101 if you're looking for a sweet treat. You can also find a vintage/flea market next to La Paloma theater from 10am-4pm during the weekends. If you’re looking for some local gear to commemorate your time out here, look no further than the Encinitas Surf Shop. A little outside the downtown area you'll find Jorge's Mexicatessen (the one on Sante Fe Drive), which is Keara's hands-down, favorite Mexican restaurant in San Diego. Her go-to order is combo plate #3 with chicken enchiladas. The chicken soup here is also delicious, and is a great way to warm up if the weather is a little chilly.

Carlsbad Village

There are a lot of great restaurants and places to grab a drink in Carlsbad Village, plus you can walk to the beach. Don't miss Stella Jean's ice cream if you're here – they *churn* out ice cream enthusiast Keara's favorite ice cream in the entire US! Board & Brew makes some of the best sandwiches in San Diego (make sure you get the sauce to put on top).

Torrey pines State natural reserve

A classic San Diego hike! We recommend following the road to the top of the cliffs then taking the beach trail down to the water (there are many offshoots to great overlooks) and walking back towards the parking lot on the beach – at low tide only! If you're driving, there is a pay-to-park lot for Torrey Pines State Beach at the bottom of the cliffs, but there is also a lot of free parking along the beach north of the parking lot. Please be wary of leaving any valuables in the car. Nearby, you can find Torrey Pines Gliderport where you can often watch hang gliders over the beach.

Annie's canyon Trail

San Diego's very own slot canyon! This is another popular local hike. The slot canyon trail itself isn't super long, though does require climbing some fun ladders and leads to a viewpoint of the lagoon and ocean. You can also walk the trail along the San Elijo Lagoon (which goes west to parallel the train tracks and east below the 5 freeway) to do some bird watching. Parking on North Rios Avenue is free in the residential neighborhood.

Leucadia

In the northern part of Encinitas you'll find Leucadia, where we recommend spending a morning at Pannikin Coffee, a local favorite in an old train station with top notch vibes. Atelier Manna (for brunch) and the Hamburger Hut (for casual dinner and drinks) are newer, popular spots in the area. La Especial Norte (for lunch/dinner) and Juanitas Taco Shop (open all day, but the breakfast burritos are especially delish) are staple spots that offer no-fuss, delicious Mexican food as well.

Cardiff-by-the-Sea

In the southern part of Encinitas you'll find Cardiff, a quaint neighborhood. Accessible by walking down the coastal rail trail near downtown Encinitas, you absolutely cannot miss VG's Donuts, which has our all-time favorite glazed donut. Nearby, Sambazon makes the best açai bowls in town and Seaside Market is known for their tri-tip (similar to brisket) sandwiches, known to locals as "Cardiff Crack." Swami's state beach is a great place to watch surfers on the waves or the sunset over the ocean! There are also tide pools at low tide just north of the stairs (check a tide schedule online before going) where you can find creatures such as hermit crabs and sea anemones.

La jolla

You can watch sea lions play and soak up the sun at La Jolla Cove! Search for ‘Point La Jolla Sea Lion Rookery’ or ‘Children’s Pool La Jolla’ on Google Maps to find where they like to hang out. From Ellen Browning Scripps Park, you can walk south along the cliffs next to the ocean. This is also a great area to watch the sunset – if you’re feeling swanky you can do so from one of the rooftop restaurants on Prospect street. Some other food recommendations near the cove include Smallgoods Cheese Shop (sandwiches), Don Carlos Taco Shop, Marisi, and Puesto. In the nearby area, Westfield UTC is an beautiful and extensive outdoor mall with fantastic places to eat such as Din Tai Fung (either make a reservation ahead of time or plan for a long wait during which you can walk around), Haidilao Hot Pot, and Qin West Noodle.

Del mar

An's Hatmakers has been voted the best ice cream shop in the country by USA today for two years running; they offer unique gelato flavors and huge waffle cones. You can find another Board & Brew sandwich shop in Del Mar. From Sea Grove Park, you can walk south along the train tracks and beach (but keep an eye out for the Coaster train when crossing the tracks).

Solana beach

You can find local coffeeshops, boutiques, and art galleries on Cedros Avenue!

Oceanside

Just north of Carlsbad you'll find the neighborhood of Oceanside. You can walk along the beach and down the wooden pier. If you're in town a little early, check out the Oceanside Sunset Market on Thursday from 5-9pm. For film buffs, the Top Gun house is located here! There are plenty of coffee shops to explore in the area as well.

Balboa Park

The architecture here is so stunning! You can catch a show at The Old Globe, check out the pre-historic looking plants in the Botanical Building, meet artists and see their craft in the Spanish Village Art Center, or head to one of the many museums! A slice of cake form Extraordinary Desserts is our recommendation for a nearby sweet treat.

San diego Zoo

Make sure you wear good walking shoes as the zoo is quite expansive.

San diego Botanic garden

Sunset cliffs Cave

Closer to downtown San Diego you'll find Point Loma. Check for low tide so you can walk along the beach and into the caves!