Everybody loves San Diego. It’s pretty, safe, insanely life-changing, and so much more. Former NFL Safety, Eric Weddle famously said 

“San Diego is the best city in the world”. 

And who are we to disagree? San Diego is the oldest European-settled city on the West Coast. The Spanish might have arrived in the late 18th century, but the influence still shines in the architecture and lifestyle. If you’re planning a trip to San Diego, this guide is your best bet. We do have our hidden gems- locals’ favorites, but that does not take away from what the pillars of San Diego are. 

In this 3-day itinerary, we will account for literally everything- where you stop, where you dine, and where you sip on your favorite wine (yes, that rhyme was intentional). 

What is the Temperature in San Diego?

San Diego has a mild Mediterranean climate, it remains the same almost through the entire year. The city stays relatively temperate year-round due to the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean. 

Almost every day is a great time to visit San Diego. Even locals vouch for it. There’s barely any difference in the temperatures, except when it rains in the months of December to March. 

Caveat to our suggestion, May and June might get too gray and gloomy for a visit. The mornings are very misty, and the fog can get intense. 

Where To Stay In San Diego? 

1. Hotel del Coronado

Hotel del Coronado was recently renovated, and hundreds of millions were invested. The rooms are spectacular which makes the stay exciting. The Queen Anne architecture is hard to miss on Coronado Island. The poolside restaurant and artisanal pizza definitely top the list as one of the best in the area. 

2. Pendry Hotel

The spa at Pendry is exceptional. Try out the IV treatment and the Sound Bath- you’ll be spoiled for the rest of your life. Rooms are so big, the sizes start at 350 sq. ft. The suites are especially comfortable for family stays. The showers are all glass-walled and walk- in. You also get free robes and towels during your stay. 

3. Lafayette Hotel

Lafayette is not your basic hotel. It is maximal, extra, and a complete technicolor vision. Every bit of this hotel is boisterous- you feel like you’re in one of those quirky hotels from the movies. Colonial Revival is exhibited in every bit of the property- the grand columns, chequered floor, etc. Stay in this hotel for the riot it is; it will be an experience sans pareil. 

San Diego 3 Day Itinerary

Day 1- Visit Central San Diego

We love a good simple breakfast and Mom’s Chicken and Waffles is just that. It’s just minutes of a drive away from Balboa Park. Interestingly, the place opened in the same spot Lucky’s Place was. Lucky’s was one of the favorites of localites and tourists alike. It was a quaint old school place with food that would shake the ground underneath. The place closed after owner Lucky’s death. Back to Mom’s- the à la carte cinnamon twist waffle is spectacular.

As you move to your right, you’ll find the San Diego Museum of Art. The tours come with free admission tickets to the museum to view the extensive Spanish Old Masters collection by El Greco, Goya, Zurbará, etc. Just nearby is the Japanese Friendship Garden San-Kei-En. This literally means “three scenes garden”- for the three types of landscapes present- water, pastoral and mountain. The Garden runs its own calendar that displays events for the month.

The House of Charm is nearby- home to the Mingei International Museum. The entire museum is fabulous! You’ll find exhibitions of art of the people- what daily life has been like through cultures and eras. Most artifacts remain uncredited but every exhibition in the rotation has impressed visitors. The Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture outside the museum is a complete work of art. Plus do not miss photo op opportunities in front of the mural on the outdoor patio!  We are especially in love with the architecture of its in-house cafe.

For lunch, we prefer an in-house restaurant rather than exiting the 1100 acre plot. Adjacent to San Diego Museum of Art lies one of the best restaurants in San Diego- Panama 66. You must try the local craft beers on tap and the Park Burgers. They are a huge hit with visitors.

The San Diego Zoo trip follows this little lunch. While the zoo is pretty expensive, it is also very magnanimous. The zoo has been on our bucket list ever since two giant pandas were rehabilitated there. Besides that, you’ll find species you probably wouldn’t have heard of. Babirussas, okapis- more than 12,000 endangered species live in this area.

The zoo is not the easiest place to walk through. The inclines are steep and it can get a bit too crowded for your comfort. We suggest you to add a guided bus tour to your ticket- these do tend to fill out fast. Skyfari Aerial Tram is a great experience too. The bird’s eye perspective in the gondola takes you across the opposite ends of the park over the Savannah habitats. Note- Each gondola only takes in 4 people at once.

After the zoo, you might want to sip on a drink at one of the lounges in the Park. If you skip and want to go for dinner directly, fine dining at the Prado awaits you. The restaurant is absolutely one of the best restaurants in the city. Even if it were not a part of the Balboa Park trip, we would definitely make a visit for a good night out.

Pro tip- Try the spicy calamari fries in Korean chili sauce. You’ll not regret it.

If you want to get out of Balboa Park for dinner, take the Exit via El Prado on Sixth Street and head towards Sixth Avenue. The Pushkin Restaurant, Lounge & Bar near the Museum of Illusions is a good dining place.

Day 2- The Day on The Coast

Our Day 2 itinerary San Diego is more coastal than the day before. Pizza Port, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Coronado Beach are some of our favorite San Diego beaches​, but what takes our heart is La Jolla. It’s quaint- looks almost like a scene from a post card, and feels like a Hollywood movie with the titular character living their whimsy.

If you are on a family vacation in San Diego, CA, visiting the sea lions at La Jolla Cove and the Children’s Pool is your best activity. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves- no one loves La Jolla on an empty stomach, and we are here to cure that. Our pick for breakfast in the area is Brockton Villa. The French Toast is lovely and just the right food for what the day has in stores for you. If your cinnamon bun is your mood, Wayfarer Bread & Pastry is your place. The buns are très special but you’ll also enjoy their pastries.

First, we will find you at the beach. Shores are the gold standard- sun and surfing, you do all of it here. The waves are gentle so most of the surfing lessons of the area happen here. La Jolla Cove is iconic. The clear and calm water spots the best marine life. The Windansea Beach has nice deep reeves for surfers but by no means is it beginner friendly. Even the Marine Street Beach can turn out to be incredibly unpredictable.

We love our fauna, hence we stick majorly to the Cove. It’s small but its depth harbors prime Leopard Sharks. Sightings are rare though- even the guided tours might be unable to get you that experience. People also love the La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour. These tours take you to visit beaches, reefs, cliffs, kelp forests, and deep water canyons.

After the Kayak tour, your body will definitely be asking for some food. For our lunch picks we actually have two options that are pretty much nearby- Piatti and Caroline’s. Piatti is an Italian restaurant at the Avenida De La Playa. While the beer and cocktails are crafty, we enjoy our wine with Italian. Much like an average Ristorante, Piati serves mean pasta primis; the Saffron Pappardelle, Seafood Linguine, and Wild Mushroom Rotolo are our favorites. Even the antipasti is amazing- Love the Semolina Fried Calamari!

Linger around at the beach after lunch because what succeeds is a good hike in Torrey Pines State Park. The trail is very versatile- you hike through different geological formations, Pacific Coast Highway, and look at golf courses. What’s special about the hike is the views of Torrey pines. They are extremely rare and endangered- you’ll find them in a couple of other places. Year-round the trails draw people on this easy trail. Go early in the morning or the crowd might get in the way of your quiet time.

PSA- The trail is nice but the cliff walls are extremely unstable. Stay off the edges. 

For dinner we love Seasurf Fish Co. Of course the food is good, but we appreciate the integrity of the food chain more. They don’t skimp out on quantities to make up for the discounts they give. It is not the most posh dining place you would imagine. But let the food get to your table and you would know exactly why we recommend it. Try the Tarmasalata and the Gyro Sandwiches; you’ll fall in love!

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