I love maps and memories, so I was gutted when Google Maps deleted my timeline history. Years of visits to places are gone. I love to look back on the restaurants I visited and the hikes I took. I am very sad. I am trying to spend less time on my phone, so maybe it’s for the best, but for now, I am morose.
I stumbled upon this post recently and was inspired to make my own little list. Here are some of my favorite spots to hang out and/or walk around in San Diego:
When I lived in San Diego for a year, I lived next to the charming neighborhood of Kensington. I loved to stroll through it and pretend that I was a resident. It felt like walking on a movie set—so picturesque. Palm trees lined the streets, which were filled with gorgeous Spanish haciendas. Each one had delicate tile work and inviting gardens. I miss the bougainvillea, which made the neighborhood feel Mediterranean and enchanting.
Liberty Station is an old naval training center that is now a delightful spot in San Diego. It has a similar feel to the Ferry Building in San Francisco. My favorite place in Liberty Station is Stone Brewing. The outdoor seating there is unparalleled. The gardens are lush and relaxing. The beer is solid. Do you enjoy soft pretzels as much as I do? That was a trick question, of course, you don’t! But if you enjoy carbs in the slightest, you will enjoy getting a pretzel from Stone.
I think South Park is the most romantic neighborhood. It’s such an easy place to kill a few hours meandering. It has cute shops and lots of restaurants with excellent indoor/outdoor seating (what SD does best!) I never made it to Buona Forchetta but I always wanted to go there for date night.
One of my favorite SD hikes is Cowles Mountain. On Friday, it was 70 degrees in Bend, so we decided to hike Pilot Butte, which reminded me of Cowles Mountain. The best part of this hike was getting a delicious acai bowl from Pure Press afterward. Lake Murray is a nice family neighborhood with a park bordering the lake. The park reminds me of the reservoir where I grew up. It’s a delightful place to walk along the lakeside path.
If I could, I would move back to San Diego and live in Pacific Beach near Kate Sessions Park. It’s a beautiful neighborhood. Kate Sessions is the SD equivalent of SF’s Mission Dolores Park. It has a sprawling grass area that overlooks the city and ocean. It is a lovely picnic spot and a place to see and be seen.
Speaking of picnic spots, Balboa takes the cake. Whenever we had a free Saturday or Sunday, we would pack a blanket, beer, and snacks, and head to Balboa. There are so many wonderful places to relax. The park is huge and has so much to offer. The Sculpture Garden is a very peaceful place to post up. We would often hang out in the NE corner of the park for easy access.
This spot is the best for so many reasons. It’s endlessly fun to watch the paragliders (and even more fun to actually be one of the paragliders!! Highly recommend). The views are stunning. The sunsets are soothing. Whenever we had visitors (which wasn’t often, this was peak Covid times), we had to take them here. It never got old.
Last but certainly not least, Moonlight!! This is the place I miss the most. It is a magical beach! I think that climate change is going to cause the cliffs to fall into the ocean in the not-so-distant future but until then, visit this special place! As I said, we lived in SD from June 2020 to July 2021 so it was not when you wanted to be up close and personal with strangers. Our solution was to head to the beach, and although Moonlight was always packed on a nice day, there was enough room for everyone to not feel on top of one another. I remember floating in the ocean and being completely blissed out. We saw dolphins not far from shore. Moonlight is magic.1
Ahh San Diego. It was the best of times (beach, sun, beer!), it was the worst of times (cockroaches, no AC, no parking!). When will I return?
What are your favorite old haunts? I love a list. Please share!
I will say that Moonlight is a completely different beach in the off-season. It becomes littered with rocks and the tide is too high to walk. It’s nothing like the summer season.
I visited San Diego two years ago, and I was so impressed by how family friendly it is!!! I want to go back again and explore more of the city.