San Diego Travel Highlights
Last week, I had the pleasure of hosting three of my friends in San Diego. I took it upon myself to create an itinerary of things to do and sights to see. When I travel, I am the type to jampack my itinerary with things to do. I love to stay active and busy. One of the greatest things about San Diego is the fact that there are endless things to do and see. Although I have lived here for a while now, I still find myself totally enamored and in love with the place. There is still so much that I have yet to explore.
I figured I should dedicate a post to my love for San Diego. It is a beautiful place to call home. Here are some of my favorite places that I went to with my friends last week.
1. Annie’s Canyon
This hike in Solana Beach is very easy and loads of fun. Though it’s a relatively quick hike to complete, I really like visiting the cave, scaling the walls, and climbing up the ladder. I would recommend wearing hiking boots to the canyon for a better grip. The trail consists of this fine sand which makes it very easy to slip and slide. This trail is also not for those who dislike enclosed and tight space. You’ll need to squeeze your way through the narrow parts to get to the viewpoint. Annie’s Canyon is a place that I take all of my friends to when they visit. It is an unexpected local gem and a beautiful escape from the city.
2. Grandview Beach
Grandview Beach is a small beach off of La Costa with an incredible view. It is a little secluded, so not a lot of people come to this beach. The staircase to the beach gives you breathtaking views from an elevated standpoint. I especially love coming to Grandview when the sun is setting. If you’re hoping to get a nice tan in, this beach is not the most comfortable place to sunbathe in. The shore of Grandview is covered in pebbles. Don’t go barefoot on a hot summer day because the pebbles absorb a lot of the heat (unless you’re looking for a free hot stone foot massage). This is one of my favorite beaches in San Diego, a place you certainly don’t want to miss seeing.
3. Potato Chip Rock
Potato Chip Rock is a fun, yet challenging hike to complete. It’s a 7.4 mile out and back trail in Poway. I like to take the Mount Woodson trail. It’s long and egregious, but it’s paved. It makes going down the mountain pleasant because you’re at lower risk of tripping and falling. People hike up this mountain for the Potato Chip Rock at the peak. I’ll be honest. It’s not for the faint of heart. You have to jump from one rock to the other and safely stick the landing in order to take a photo at Potato Chip Rock. It is definitely sketchy as hell, but you can always ask for assistance from the other hikers who are taking photos at the rock too. People are generally nice enough to support you as you take that leap! Because this mountain is in Poway (east side of San Diego), it can get really hot and sunny (especially in the summer). I personally recommend hiking as early as you can in the morning or later in the day to avoid the blazing heat. Put on sunscreen, wear your hat, and bring lots of water!
4. Blue Bowl
Blue Bowl is a southern California favorite. Although most of their locations are in Orange County, we have one spot in La Jolla at the UCSD campus. If you’re looking for a filling and refreshing treat, this is the place for you. No acai bowl compares to the ones you can get a Blue Bowl. For what you get, I think it’s definitely worth it. You get unlimited toppings with no additional charges. I usually stack my bowl with a bunch of bases and toppings. My favorite bases are blue coconut, matcha, and pitaya. Since this San Diego location is at UCSD, I park at the parking garage and take my bowl to-go. If you park for longer than 30 minutes, you’ll have to pay for parking. I’m not a fan of paying for parking, so you best believe I’m going elsewhere. Usually, I’ll bring my bowl to the Torrey Pines Gliderport so I can watch people hang glide near La Jolla Cove. It’s a beautiful view.
5. Raised by Wolves
This place blew up on Instagram, and I think it is worth the hype. Personally, I don’t like to drink. However, I think Raised by Wolves is a fun experience. It is a beautiful speakeasy that’s tucked in the UTC mall. The fireplace rotates to take you into this dark, moody room that transports you back to the 1920s. Raised by Wolves gets booked very quickly, so you’ll want to make a reservation on OpenTable a few weeks in advance. Their drinks are very good. It’s hard to go wrong. I usually order their nonalcoholic/mocktail drinks. They have yet to disappoint!
Special thanks to Marie, Fatima, and Julian for inspiring this fun week of excursions in San Diego. I am forever grateful to have such great friends. May we continue to always go on fun adventures and make unforgettable memories. Make sure to subscribe to my mailing list for more of my travel highlights! You can find more life-related posts here. Stay tuned for more updates on my adventures.
Emily
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