2 Days in San Diego
I’ve always heard “San Diego is so expensive, but the most beautiful city in America,” "San Diego is unreal,” “I’d give anything to live in San Diego.” I thought, “surely it can’t be THAT great???”
I was wrong. It is THAT great. Incredible weather, tons of healthy and delicious food offerings, amazing shopping and vibes, very distinct neighborhoods. I absolutely loved it.
I was lucky enough to go for work, which meant they paid for my flight and hotel, but everything else I paid for myself - and I did a LOT of exploring. I was sick on this trip though, or else I would’ve done even more - so I’ll share what I did, what I wish I had done, and what I’ll do next time!
Where I Stayed
Again, my work paid for my hotel and I had an event in the harbor, so I needed to be close to the convention center. I chose the Intercontinental San Diego near the Gaslamp Quarter and immediately in front of the USS Midway. It was a very nice hotel with Byredo products, clean rooms, and great views! I didn’t get to enjoy any of the onsite restaurants or bars, but they looked great!
The hotel was about a 15-minute walk from the Convention Center and maybe a 25-minute drive to La Jolla (where I spent a lot of time). It is also conveniently located near the Marina with lots of restaurants, shops, and bars.
Where I Ate
I was sick on this trip, so I didn’t eat as much as I would’ve liked, but we still had some great meals!
The Cove House - my first meal was fish tacos at The Cove House. They were pretty good, but it was expensive for not a ton of flavor. I think you’re paying more for the convenience and views of eating right near the beach.
La Valencia Hotel - I grabbed a few drinks at the La Valencia Hotel… AMAZING views and delicious drinks!
Marisi - I was soo excited for dinner at Marisi, but my sickness + jetlag got the better of me. I got a caesar salad and the crab agnolotti and unfortunately barely ate either :( Both were DELICIOUS though!
Palmys - Palmys was the perfect breakfast. I got a smoothie + a breakfast burrito… holy moly. A must visit!
Malibu Farm - I had my event here, so I wanted to visit beforehand. I’ve eaten at the Malibu Farm in Newport Beach (twice), Malibu, and San Diego, and it is incredible every time. Healthy, flavorful, delicious. I love Malibu Farm.
Izola - I grabbed a coffee and some mini croissants from Izola for my final breakfast and went to the beach. HIGHLY recommend visiting Izola if you visit San Diego. The croissants (and mini croissants!!) are so good.
What I Did
Obviously, I was here for a work trip and I was sick, so I couldn’t explore as much as I would’ve liked… but I did spend a lot of time at the beach. The beaches I went to were:
La Jolla Cove
Children’s Pool
Pacific Beach
No Surf Beach / Sunset Cliffs
At La Jolla Cove, I was able to see Sea Lions and their new pups, and see Harbor Seals and their new pubs at Children’s Pool - both were such an incredible experience!
I went shopping at Westfield UTC, which had quite a few cute shops but the layout was very confusing to me LOL.
I hoped to have enough time to wander Balboa Park, but will have to save that for next visit, along with the San Diego Zoo.
Unfortunately, having been sick while also there for work limited my ability to explore, but I was able to get a nice little taste of San Diego! If you have any recommendations, add them below in the comments for my next visit :)