If I were to hazard a guess, you may be a bit confused at the moment. "I clicked on a video about San Diego," you're saying. "I wanna see beaches, tacos and palm trees. What's with all this snow?" Your confusion is warranted. What you're seeing on your screen is most certainly NOT San Diego. This is Denver, Colorado - my hometown. On March 13th, 2019, Denver was hit by an ominously-named "bomb cyclone". Effectively the equivalent of an inland winter hurricane, gusts of wind north of 90 miles per hour were recorded, along with multiple feet of snow falling inside just a few violent hours. Don't get me wrong - I love Denver, and Colorado in general. I think we all feel an obligation to never speak or think ill of our homeland, wherever it may be. But there are definitely times where I look around and wish I was somewhere else. Somewhere sunny, fun and laid back; teeming with culture, delicious food and interesting things to do. I'm dreaming of escaping this currently-frozen void of a city for somewhere better. Somewhere like San Diego.
Welcome, my friends, to your new home away from home. True freedom from your average everyday life. Many things can be said about San Diego, but chief among them is that life here moves at an ideal pace. I've spent time all over California - wandered the forests of Mendocino, strolled amongst the cozy Victorians of San Francisco, and lived it up in the City of Angels. But while there's gems hidden all over the state, each place seems to have its own issues. Be it affordability, accessibility, overpopulation - it's always something. And that is where San Diego truly shines. As a travel destination, it is all things - exciting, relaxing, engaging, easy to traverse, and relatively affordable (at least compared to other cities in the Sunshine State). Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, a night owl, a beach bum - it's all here, nestled amongst marinas, perfect weather and stunning California coastline.
A fantastic place to start your visit here is the historic Old Town neighborhood. It’s of particular interest to anyone interested in learning about San Diego's colorful past. The neighborhood split into two main areas. The first area is dubbed the Old Town Historic State Park, but calling this intriguing living museum a simple park is a complete undersell. Wandering amongst perfectly-preserved colonial buildings, you can observe a variety of fascinating displays of how life was lived when San Diego was founded in the 1800s. There's ample opportunity to teach and inspire the younger generation if you happen to be traveling with kids. There's also a variety of markets, providing ample opportunity for shopping. Working your way down connects you to the more modern side of Old Town, which features an excellent selection of restaurants, shopping and activities for all shapes and sizes. It’s definitely one of the more touristy areas in San Diego, but that does nothing to make the experiences on offer here any less enjoyable. It's a must-see site for anyone curious about the city's history, and a no-brainer if you have little ones in tow.
Moving south from Old Town takes us to another landmark of this sunny seaside city - the expansive Balboa Park. Featuring vast swaths of rolling California forest, it's the perfect place to get lost in the middle of the city. Meander among endless trails studded with all manner of flora, or take a peek at the revered Rose Garden. But nature walks aren't the only thing on tap here. Balboa Park is also home to many of San Diego's world-renowned museums, including the legendary San Diego Zoo, the Museum of Man, and dozens of others. It's also the prime location for festivals and gatherings of all types. It's easy to explore for hours and hours here, enjoying the contrast between secluded forest hikes and pristine collections of art and historical curio.
While many activities in the city are great fun, it wouldn't be Southern California without beaches. San Diego features too many excellent spots to count or include in this short film, but the ones closest to downtown can get crowded fast. So take a piece of advice from a local - get yourself north to the comparatively sleepy La Jolla. It's a few extra miles up the coast from the easier spots, but the extra cab ride is more than worth it. Gorgeous coves like this are in abundance here, as are San Diego's most famous residents - adorably floppy sea lions and amusingly loud seals. La Jolla is the perfect place for getting up close and personal with these hilarious creatures. Beyond these fabulous examples of the local fauna, nothing is more relaxing than posting up in a quiet cove to soak in the rays and meditate to the soothing sounds of beach life on the Pacific coast. It’s an experience that is truly to be revered.
Now that you've logged your beach time, wandered Old Town, and learned many new things, you must be starving. And good Lord, are you in a great city to be hungry. As a serious foodie myself, I can attest - the rumours are true. San Diego is a gourmand's paradise. And while any food on Earth can easily be had here, there are a few particular areas San Diego excels at. This city is home to arguably the best coastal Mexican cuisine in the world outside of Mexico, and the seafood in general here is second-to-none. Two words you'll get very used to, friends - street tacos. Say it with me now. Street tacos. Whatever your preferred contents, these foldable beauties are available in every corner of this city, and they are almost universally stunning. Either shrimp or fish are the best options by far. But even if fish tacos aren't your jam, San Diegans are deeply proud of their culinary culture, and pretty much any plate of food you order here will be made with equal parts skill and love. You really can't go wrong.
San Diego is also legendary for its nightlife. But when sun goes down and you're looking for an evening out on the city, here's another piece of advice - skip the more expensive tourist areas around the marinas and downtown. There's lots of cool stuff to do on the waterfront, but prices are higher and pretty much everywhere is packed. Instead, head north to the sleepy surfer village of Pacific Beach. A longtime favorite of locals, PB provides excellent and extensive dining and nightlife options. Start your evening at the Fish Shop, an incredible local eatery serving the freshest seafood around. It's guaranteed to be packed with locals enjoying the catch of the day, and while the prices are a bit steep, it's worth every penny. After that, head down Garnet Avenue to visit any of PB's excellent bars, clubs or music venues. It's the perfect place to cap a long day of sightseeing, museum visits or beachfront excursions.
As I explored the streets and beaches of this gorgeous city, it made me think. As humans, we are generally expected to take pride in wherever we happen to be from. I've always been a bit perplexed by this notion - what exactly does birthright have to do with our preferences for climate, or geography, or culture? Should someone born in Alaska be scorned for fleeing their homeland due to their hatred of frozen mountain peaks and meter-deep snow banks? I don’t think so, personally. Regardless, I do think most of us feel a sort of duty to love the place we were born. But that does not mean that we never look with fleeting envy to our neighbor’s backyard, even if just for a moment. And when I look at San Diego, I see grass that is definitely greener than anything on my side. The people are warm and friendly, the food is incredible, the beaches are endlessly relaxing. There's history, culture, and and a boundless vibe of authentic Cali chill. There's a slice of life to be enjoyed by absolutely everyone here. I think that no matter where you're from, you should at least be thankful for the land that bore you. But next time you find yourself looking around and wishing for somewhere just a bit warmer, more fun, more beautiful, more relaxing, more exciting - San Diego should be squarely at the top of your list. Last time I checked, there's nothing wrong with wanting a perfect escape from the ordinary.
