The Ultimate Guide to San Diego

     Located about 90 minutes south of Los Angeles is one of the most beautiful, vibrant and exciting cities California has to offer. San Diego is one of the top tourist destinations in the country, and here's just a few of the reasons you should check it out. 

     Located about 90 minutes south of Los Angeles is one of the most beautiful, vibrant and exciting cities California has to offer. San Diego is one of the top tourist destinations in the country, and here's just a few of the reasons you should check it out.


     No respectable California city would be complete without a number of pristine beaches, and San Diego has it's share. Depending on your tastes, you can catch some waves off the coast of La Jolla shores, where people and sea lions tend to share the water. The sand beach offers miles of lovely coast great for relaxing, catching up on your favorite book or enjoying the water. If you are looking for something more colorful, Ocean Beach is your destination. Ocean Beach or OB as the locals call it has a laid back feel where hippies meet hipsters and everyone seems to get along. Another great spot is Pacific Beach which has fantastic waves and a vibrant night life along Grand Avenue, where everyone has a great time.

     After a day at the beach, you may want to relax and visit one of San Diego's many animal parks. The World Famous San Diego zoo is the second best zoo in the country, and is partnered with the Safari Park in northern San Diego. These parks offer a peak of animals in replicated natural habitats and have everything from tigers to the famed Pandas. Another hot spot is Sea World, which has many aquatic animals and lots of animal shows. These are great for the whole family but be warned if you sit in the splash zone at a show, you will get wet!

     While the parks might be great for hanging out with the family during the day, the real fun happens when the sun goes down. San Diego has a number of great areas for night life, but the top destination is downtown in the Gaslamp District. The Gaslamp has a number of bars and restaurants lining a couple of densely packed streets, and is always exciting on Friday and Saturday nights. Clubs, bars and restaurants offer specials and it's a great place to take that special someone or meet the next special someone. The Gaslamp also has a number of upscale hotels so in case you have a little bit too much to drink you can walk home or hop in a bicycle powered taxi carriage. Another great location for entertainment is Little Italy. The best Italian food in the city can be found here as well as eclectic shops and even a farmers market on the weekend. A word to the wise, bring your dog for the walk, because everyone else will. The first thing to do after a long night out is to cure that hangover.

     In San Diego that means Mexican food. San Diego has a number of fantastic Mexican food restaurants ranging from very causal to slightly upscale. Some of the local favorites include street tacos from local taco carts which pop up at various locations in downtown. Another must try is the fish taco or the California burrito. Both are excellent choices and some of the top destinations include Lolita's, Fresh MXN food and a taco shop themed after Mexican wrestlers called Lucha Libre.

     The perfect compliment to a Mexican food feast is craft beer, and San Diego has a growing brewery scene that rivals anywhere in the country. Well known breweries like Stone Brewing, Karl Strauss and Coronado Brewing are all fantastic sites to check out and most offer sampling or a tour. Don't forget to pick up a growler or two while you're there.


     So whether you just want to lay on the beach, visit some parks or enjoy the night life San Diego is your top destination. Just make sure you take your time and enjoy the burritos, because you can always come back for a second trip.