2021-2025
Geographic anchor for memorable landmarks, hikes, runs, and restaurants I’d recommend visiting in the San Diego area.
san diego, ca
Came for the cherry blossoms in the Japanese friendship garden. So much stuff here including the zoo, museums, gardens, and lots of spanish mission architecture. If you aren't planning on any specific attraction, you can just walk around and see a bunch of historical landmarks. On the weekends there are tons of people and many buskers. Saw someone backflip over 5 people.
carlsbad, ca
The only intersting thing in the entire city of Carlsbad. Typically happens March-May. Worth the hype + entry fee if there aren't too many people. Paying the entry fee is worth it if you really want a picture inside the standing inside the fields. The fields and the ocean can be seen for free from several observation decks at the top of the hill.
del mar, ca
Came to gamble on horses. Tickets on opening day in July are expensive, but if you don't know anything about horses you can go on a regular race day for $6. That will hardly matter depending on your bets. The Del Mar Fair is also hosted here. Zedd performed 2025.
sorrento valley, ca
The best poke spot I've ever been to. They have ~6 rotating flavors that change daily. I either get the plate or nachos. You can pick three different flavors on the plate with rice/salad. The nachos is a single flavor with avocado, furikake, eel sauce. I usually get spicy salmon and whatever else looks good. Taking the poke to-go and adding your own rice isn't any cheaper than getting the place. Their Ora King salmon is also extremely good if you take it home to cook. You can also pre-order an enormous amount of sashimi/poke if you are planning a party.
coronado, ca
Can be $1000+ for a single weekend night. Went for a birthday party. Everyone besides our party were old people who snitched and told us to turn down the music. The hotel is as close as you can get to on the beach. In the winter, they setup an ice rink in the middle of the beach and palm trees.
san diego, ca
Paved loop good for running/cycling. A loop around the lake is exactly 5 miles. It has hills that would make a normal run challenging. This lake holds all the water of Northern San Diego. I would go on an overcast day and bring a hat since the scenery is pretty basic.
san diego, ca
Flat waterfront route with long straightaways around the bay and an easy coffee stop midway. The northern part of the route beyond the coffee has very little tree cover and can get very hot. *Fiesta Island across the bay is not worth going to. Though it may look very close to the water, when you get there it ends up being this desolate pile of dirt with hardly a blade of grass.
point loma, ca
Typical nice coastal views from most of the park. However, there is a steep steel staircase that goes straight down the top of the cliff to sea level. The rocky shore is super slippery. Definitely would not bring an old person down there.
la jolla, ca
This is a short coastal loop with bluff climbs, dirt trail sections, and open ocean views. Better ocean views can be seen if you take the Guy Fleming Trail or the Parry Grove Trail (adding a couple km each). The descent down the bluff is steep, where you'll see a large, flat rock. The pebbled shoreline back can only be done during low tide. The beach nearby the trailhead is flat and sandy. Old people come to watch the falcons. When I came, a bunch of old people equipped with binoculars and telephoto lenses were watching two baby falcons take their first flight.
la jolla, ca
If you are sightseeing, the only things worth seeing are Geisel, Sun God, and the Bear Statue. Parts of campus feel very modern while other parts feel left behind in the 2000s. You'll notice this if you've been on campus enough times. Advice for any student would be to use an electric skateboard if you can get over the learning curve. Genuinely turns an hour walk across campus into 5 minutes. Bikes and scooters just get stolen