Hey y’all! This post is long overdue, but over fall break last year, my family and I took a trip to San Diego, California! It was quintessential California – perfect weather, gorgeous beaches, great food, and lots of traffic.
In this post, I’m going to show y’all some of my favorite places from the trip! I also compiled all of my videos from the week into a travel vlog. It’s linked at the end of this post, and you can always watch it from the Swirl’s YouTube page.
This post is making me super nostalgic because I’m currently writing this at school, where it’s 43 degrees with heavy fog. Why can’t everywhere be like California??
Where to Eat in San Diego
Mitch’s Seafood
Mitch’s is a super small hut that sits on the water overlooking the fishing boats, so most of their seafood has been caught literally that morning. Both times that we went (for lunch and for dinner), the lines were out the door. It’s a little local place that I would absolutely recommend if you’re looking for fresh seafood and some great scenery on the water!
But don’t fear, seafood haters! They had a (surprisingly delicious) chicken sandwich that I ordered both times.
In-n-Out
Of course, we had to hit up In-n-Out at least once on our trip. This iconic California fast-food joint has almost no menu, so you just have to know what to order! Real talk: I thought In-n-Out was okay, but not something that I miss about California. I’m glad we went for the experience!
Some of our other favorite eateries included The Coronado Brewing Company, Moo Time Creamery, Burger Lounge, Jo’s Diner, and Phil’s BBQ!
What To Do in San Diego
The San Diego Zoo & Balboa Park
Even if you’re not traveling with kids, the San Diego Zoo is a must! I would recommend taking the Sky Buckets to get an aerial view of the park, and also taking a guided bus tour so you can learn more about the animals!
The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park. It’s a massive park filled with museums, gardens, theaters, and walking paths. Just wandering around took us the whole afternoon!
Point Loma
If you’re looking for an amazing view of San Diego and the San Diego Bay, a trip to Point Loma is a must. They have a cute little lighthouse at the top, and a national monument dedicated to Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who was the first to sail into the Bay.
Another must-see in San Diego is the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá. It was the first mission built in California, way back in 1769. We took an afternoon just to wander around the church, the gardens, and the museum!
The Hotel Del
One of the more famous San Diego landmarks, the Hotel Del is located on Coronado Island. While the rooms are a bit $$, it’s still nice to walk around or hang out on the beach right outside. Coronado Island in general is a must-see; it’s got cute boutique shops, beautiful homes, a large golf course, and fantastic food, all with that laid-back California vibe.
Watch the Sunset
You also must watch a beach sunset while in San Diego. Here are just a few of the amazing one that we saw the week that we were there! It’s pretty cool that tourists & locals alike will come stand on the beach just to watch a few minutes of this spectacular event.
If you’re in Downtown San Diego, a great sunset vantage point is at the top of the Hyatt Place overlooking San Diego Bay. They have a few quotes written on the windows, which make for some amazing pictures!
You can see more of the amazing places that we visited in the video down below! Some other highlights include Torrey Pines State Park and the seals and sea lions in La Jolla.
So that was my weeklong trip to San Diego! Have you ever made it out to the West Coast? What were some of your favorite things to do over there? If you have any questions about where I went in the video, make sure to drop a comment down below or email me at hannah@theswirlblog.com. See y’all on Wednesday for the next installment of the Weekly Brew!
