San Diego
THE AMERICAS · BEACH · CALIFORNIA
The most reliably pleasant weather in the continental United States, 110km of coastline, and a border with Mexico twenty minutes from downtown that shapes the food entirely. San Diego is less frantic than Los Angeles and more outdoors — surf in the morning, a 500-hectare urban park in the afternoon, fish tacos and a craft beer scene that rivals anywhere.
The plan
Balboa Park
Spanish-Revival pavilions, seventeen museums and the zoo, in a park bigger than Central Park. A full day at least.
La Jolla Cove and the sea lions
Sea lions and seals on the rocks, a snorkelling reserve in the cove, and cliffs to walk north from.
Fish tacos in Barrio Logan or Old Town
This is where the fish taco crossed the border. Start at a taqueria, not a restaurant.
Torrey Pines
Sandstone cliffs and rare pines with trails down to the beach, and a hang-glider port on the top.
A brewery afternoon in North Park
San Diego invented the West Coast IPA. Modern Times, Belching Beaver and Fall are all walkable from 30th Street.
Book before you fly
San Diego Zoo & Safari Park
A two-park ticket is much cheaper than two singles; dated entry online.
USS Midway & Balboa Park
The Balboa Explorer pass covers seventeen museums and pays back in a day.
Comic-Con
July, and badges are a lottery the previous autumn.
Getting there
Fly San Diego (SAN)
Ten minutes from downtown — the approach flies between the buildings. The 992 bus runs to the Gaslamp for a few dollars.
Fly Tijuana (TIJ) via CBX
The Cross Border Xpress bridge walks you straight from a San Diego terminal into Tijuana airport. Far cheaper for Mexico and Latin America.
Getting around
The Trolley covers downtown, Old Town and the border. For the beaches and North County you'll want a car.
When to go
Best time to go
March to May and September to November — warm, dry, and without the coastal cloud that greys out June.
Cheapest months
January and February, when it's still 18°C and rooms are at their cheapest of the year.
Priciest & busiest
July and August, and Comic-Con week in July, when downtown books out entirely.
If you've got one day
Morning
Balboa Park
Late morning
La Jolla Cove and the sea lions
Lunch
Las Cuatro Milpas
Afternoon
Fish tacos in Barrio Logan or Old Town
Evening
Dinner at Addison, then Torrey Pines
If you've got a week
Day 1
Arrive, settle in around Hotel del Coronado, and take it slowly — Las Cuatro Milpas for dinner.
Day 2
Balboa Park.
Day 3
La Jolla Cove and the sea lions. Dinner at Oscar's Mexican Seafood.
Day 4
Day trip — Los Angeles →.
Day 5
Fish tacos in Barrio Logan or Old Town. Addison at some point.
Day 6
Torrey Pines.
Day 7
A brewery afternoon in North Park. Finish with Ironside Fish & Oyster.
Staying longer?
Nearby & day trips
Two hours north, or three hours by Pacific Surfliner along the water.
Julian
An hour east into the mountains for apple pie and a gold-rush main street.
Tijuana
Twenty minutes south for one of the most interesting food cities in Mexico. Bring your passport.
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