San Diego

A visit to sunny San Diego! La Jolla was our home base for this leg of the trip. There are tons of restaurants and things to do right here in town, but the relaxed vibe also allows for pure relaxation. Truthfully, we spent many hours lounging in the luxurious mattress-thick cushions by the hotel pool at La Valencia Hotel and Spa, but we managed to find some favorite spots for both eats and sites while we were in town.

Poolside at La Valencia

Duke's has a relaxed surfer-dude vibe that immediately put me in the San Diego mindset. We were famished after a somewhat traumatic flight (a story for another day) so rather than wait for a patio table with a view we sat down at the indoor bar, manned by a super friendly California dude. The fish sandwich was fresh and delicious, made from seared oho and served on soft brioche with a tangy slaw. 

Nine-Ten is a La Jolla gem. The back terrace had beautiful views and a nice low-key yet upscale atmosphere. The Fava Bean & Ricotta Agnolotti is melt-in-your-mouth creamy and flavorful, and the fish entrées were fresh and cooked perfectly.

Poseidon in Del Mar was an absolute treat. We were lucky enough to have wonderful San Diego-based cousins take us to dinner here and snag the best table in the joint. Sitting as close to the beach as possible without our feet in the sand, the food was delicious, the sunset view unbeatable, and the company was a blast.

World-class dinner at Nine-Ten. Fava Bean & Ricotta Agnolotti and Baja Striped Bass (with preserved kumquats!)

Torrey Pines Gliderport is such a unique "only-in-California" site. A designated take-off and landing port for hang gliders, we sat up close and watched brave souls fling themselves off the cliffs of Torrey Pines. The snack bar was surprisingly delicious with fresh made-to-order sandwiches that exceeded any expectations for a state park snack bar. There is so much ground to cover in Torrey Pines, this was the perfect spot to sit and take in the spirit of the park. 

Torrey Pines Gliderport—up, up, and away!

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is classic California coastline, and my brother's rave review of walking these cliffs is essentially the reason we planned this trip to San Diego. He wasn't wrong! It's hard to imagine that people actually live in homes with these views as their front yard. When we were here mid-morning there was hardly anyone else walking the cliffs. Just a few neighbors, surfers heading out into the water, and a few tourists like us.

Cabrillo National Monument is dedicated to Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to step on the west coast. Worth checking out for the expansive views of downtown San Diego.

And finally, the famous La Jolla Cove seals and sea lions. I made it a habit to visit the cove every day since it was around the corner from our hotel. I found the animals most active in last afternoon / pre-dusk. Makes for a pretty picture, but beware, the musk of the wild beasts can be overwhelming!