Thinking about visiting San Diego but wondering what to do that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? I've got you covered with these FREE things to do and places to visit!
In my opinion Lefty’s in Mission Hills because it’s thin crust. I am not a deep dish person. Although I know there’s lots of places in Little Italy where you can get deep dish. I also put pineapple on my pizza and I know that’s pretty unpopular as well 😆
I used to live in San Diego but since retiring I've moved to Northern California where all the water falls, hiking, camping are. My family dtill live down south and YES many great restaurants, free places to go, activities to do, tons of beautiful beaches, surfing spots for humans & dogs, and very friendly respectful people too and, sadly expensive ...... but don't let that stop you from going there
It sounds like you have nice memories of San Diego, it’s a great place! But that you’ve also made some great memories in Northern California, which is lovely as well! Definitely much more of a change of season!
Thank you Averie, my 18 year old daughter and I are going to San Diego for the first time at the end of July (from our Amsterdam home) so I’m super excited for your tips 🙏🏼💖🦋 we will then drive to Los Angeles and fly back to Amsterdam on Aug 8 so we have a week to be between San Diego & LA - if you have tips for a teenage girl visiting California for the first time, I’m most grateful 🙏🏼 she love shopping, sushi, steaks and beautiful beaches!
Hi Shannon thanks for being a paid subscriber 🙏🏻! Second you are going to love SoCal this summer! My daughter just turned 19 on Monday so I am familiar with all things teenage girl :) For shopping in San Diego, Fashion Valley Mall is the best. UTC (University Town Center) is also great. Beaches...for your daughter, she'll love seeing the energy in PB (Pacific Beach, she'll also want to go to Brandy Melville there, it's the only Brandy store in San Diego). For you and her both to enjoy, go to the Hotel Del Coronado for the day. Just put it on your GPS, dine at a restaurant, and then walk around the hotel and beaches there in Coronado, just stunning. Also for a more North County Beach, I love the 15th Street Beach and Powerhouse Park area in Del Mar. Downtown Del Mar is SO CUTE with little boutiques and restaurants and everything is overlooking the ocean. For sushi and steak, check my restaurant guide that I just posted yesterday! https://www.averieinreallife.com/p/san-diego-restaurant-guide-the-restaurants all my recommendations are there and it's no contest where both my #1 steak and #1 sushi are in SD. Also for sushi on the beach, your daughter will love this, go to Cannonball Sushi at Belmont Park on Mission Beach. This is a whole experience too with the boardwalk, the people watching, the roller coaster, super fun!
Hi Averie, I’m so grateful for the detailed reply with wonderful suggestions! And I loved your guide that indeed included steak and sushi restaurants- thank you! 🙏🏼 it would be so fun to meet you! I love your recipes and also love to cook! I’m half Mexican, raised in Spain - then in the USA for 15 years and now living in Europe for 20 years.
I really want to visit Mexico sometime in the coming years…and loved your puerto Vallarta guide too..(saved it) 🙏🏼❤️ thank you! If I can help with anything regarding Europe (especially Spain or the Netherlands - let me know)
My husband is Mexican and I speak fluent Spanish and we travel to Mexico a lot (but if you read my Puerto Vallarta post then you probably knew I spend time in Mexico) but I love your story that you're half Mexican, raised in Spain, lived in the US, but now are living in Europe. So I am guessing you speak Spanish, English, and either Dutch, French, or German. Which is incredible!!!
Another couple I know, he's American, she's Dutch so I have learned a lot about the Netherlands from her actually. And Spain, love it. Was in Sevilla this summer for a week and was in Barcelona for a week two summers ago with my daughter and husband along with other European destinations. We always try to stay 3ish weeks since it's so far and see as much as we can while we're there!
Drop me a note a couple weeks before you're going to be in San Diego and let me know you'll be in town! 😊
Thank you so much for your lovely reply 💖 I totally missed it until today ☺️ but happy I saw it now.
How fun that you get to learn about the Dutch culture too (fascinating) and I love knowing that your husband is Mexican and that you travel to Mexico a lot. I hope to go again soon.
I’ll definitely send a message a few weeks before we go to stay in touch 🌷
Thank you for the tip! I absolutely love the Henry in Coronado but if you don’t have reservations, it’s pretty challenging half of the year to get in! Glad to know of another one opening!
Cabrillo Monument is beautiful and has some nice hiking trails. If you have a national park pass, it’s free. Otherwise there is a charge, but you can gear to the right at the entrance and drive to the tide pools and this is free. It’s a lovely walk. There is a new trail (all uphill from the tide pool), but it ends in Cabrillo Monument and you don’t have to pay. Just remember what goes up must come down!
Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach is also a beautiful walk along the cliffs.
Liberty Station in San Diego was a Marine military base, but was decommissioned. It now has several restaurants, boutique type stores and many activities.
Shelter island is not too far from Liberty Station and there is a sidewalk for taking a stroll along the ocean and watching sailboats. Also, several restaurants.
Torrey Pines Glider Port is across the street from UCSD and you can watch hangliders land and take off. You can also sign up to have a tandem ride with a trained guide. There is a charge for this, but even if you don’t do this it’s fun to watch and there are some trails. There is also a restaurant or bring a picnic.
I love all your suggestions, Laurel, and was going to include many of them in my post but it was getting pretty long! Sunset Cliffs in OB is great, and we go to Liberty Station frequently. Shelter Island is a great spot too (Humphrey's summer concerts are fun although not free). I appreciate you taking the time to share all of this!
I live in San Diego, too, and there is soooo much to do. I left out visiting Little Italy’s Farmers Market on Saturday and La Jolla Farmers Market on Sunday. Have you been to Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave at The Cave Store at La Jolla Cove? So interesting but there are 145 steps down to see the cave opening and then you have to climb back up! Then you can walk along the Cove to see (and smell) the sea lions.
I second everything you recommended!!! The list could go on and on!
Love those farmers markets! I go to the Hillcrest one too. Jimmy's Sea Cave, no I have not been there and now I should check it out - but there is yes a very telltale aroma coming from the sea lions area always....haha! Sounds like you're a hiker and active so you've probably hiked Mount Woodson and Potato Chip Rock. Also Top of The Hyatt downtown at the Manchester Grand is technically free to ride up to the top (although buying 1 drink goes a long way no doubt), but great views towards the south and the Coronado Bridge and beyond. There's so much to do here - you're right!
The sea cave is not a long adventure but it was something I’d never done even with living so long in San Diego! I do like to hike, but haven’t done the trails you mentioned. I’ve heard they can be challenging! Funny you should mention Manchester Grand. My niece and nephew were just here visiting and went to a rooftop movie there. I didn’t even know they had this!
Whats the best pizza in SD?
In my opinion Lefty’s in Mission Hills because it’s thin crust. I am not a deep dish person. Although I know there’s lots of places in Little Italy where you can get deep dish. I also put pineapple on my pizza and I know that’s pretty unpopular as well 😆
I used to live in San Diego but since retiring I've moved to Northern California where all the water falls, hiking, camping are. My family dtill live down south and YES many great restaurants, free places to go, activities to do, tons of beautiful beaches, surfing spots for humans & dogs, and very friendly respectful people too and, sadly expensive ...... but don't let that stop you from going there
It sounds like you have nice memories of San Diego, it’s a great place! But that you’ve also made some great memories in Northern California, which is lovely as well! Definitely much more of a change of season!
Thank you Averie, my 18 year old daughter and I are going to San Diego for the first time at the end of July (from our Amsterdam home) so I’m super excited for your tips 🙏🏼💖🦋 we will then drive to Los Angeles and fly back to Amsterdam on Aug 8 so we have a week to be between San Diego & LA - if you have tips for a teenage girl visiting California for the first time, I’m most grateful 🙏🏼 she love shopping, sushi, steaks and beautiful beaches!
Hi Shannon thanks for being a paid subscriber 🙏🏻! Second you are going to love SoCal this summer! My daughter just turned 19 on Monday so I am familiar with all things teenage girl :) For shopping in San Diego, Fashion Valley Mall is the best. UTC (University Town Center) is also great. Beaches...for your daughter, she'll love seeing the energy in PB (Pacific Beach, she'll also want to go to Brandy Melville there, it's the only Brandy store in San Diego). For you and her both to enjoy, go to the Hotel Del Coronado for the day. Just put it on your GPS, dine at a restaurant, and then walk around the hotel and beaches there in Coronado, just stunning. Also for a more North County Beach, I love the 15th Street Beach and Powerhouse Park area in Del Mar. Downtown Del Mar is SO CUTE with little boutiques and restaurants and everything is overlooking the ocean. For sushi and steak, check my restaurant guide that I just posted yesterday! https://www.averieinreallife.com/p/san-diego-restaurant-guide-the-restaurants all my recommendations are there and it's no contest where both my #1 steak and #1 sushi are in SD. Also for sushi on the beach, your daughter will love this, go to Cannonball Sushi at Belmont Park on Mission Beach. This is a whole experience too with the boardwalk, the people watching, the roller coaster, super fun!
Hi Averie, I’m so grateful for the detailed reply with wonderful suggestions! And I loved your guide that indeed included steak and sushi restaurants- thank you! 🙏🏼 it would be so fun to meet you! I love your recipes and also love to cook! I’m half Mexican, raised in Spain - then in the USA for 15 years and now living in Europe for 20 years.
I really want to visit Mexico sometime in the coming years…and loved your puerto Vallarta guide too..(saved it) 🙏🏼❤️ thank you! If I can help with anything regarding Europe (especially Spain or the Netherlands - let me know)
My husband is Mexican and I speak fluent Spanish and we travel to Mexico a lot (but if you read my Puerto Vallarta post then you probably knew I spend time in Mexico) but I love your story that you're half Mexican, raised in Spain, lived in the US, but now are living in Europe. So I am guessing you speak Spanish, English, and either Dutch, French, or German. Which is incredible!!!
Another couple I know, he's American, she's Dutch so I have learned a lot about the Netherlands from her actually. And Spain, love it. Was in Sevilla this summer for a week and was in Barcelona for a week two summers ago with my daughter and husband along with other European destinations. We always try to stay 3ish weeks since it's so far and see as much as we can while we're there!
Drop me a note a couple weeks before you're going to be in San Diego and let me know you'll be in town! 😊
Hi Averie,
Thank you so much for your lovely reply 💖 I totally missed it until today ☺️ but happy I saw it now.
How fun that you get to learn about the Dutch culture too (fascinating) and I love knowing that your husband is Mexican and that you travel to Mexico a lot. I hope to go again soon.
I’ll definitely send a message a few weeks before we go to stay in touch 🌷
Have a fabulous week ahead
Warmly Shannon
Great roundup of fun places here in San Diego! We’re getting a Henry’s in Carlsbad and I can’t wait to try it out.
Thank you for the tip! I absolutely love the Henry in Coronado but if you don’t have reservations, it’s pretty challenging half of the year to get in! Glad to know of another one opening!
Cabrillo Monument is beautiful and has some nice hiking trails. If you have a national park pass, it’s free. Otherwise there is a charge, but you can gear to the right at the entrance and drive to the tide pools and this is free. It’s a lovely walk. There is a new trail (all uphill from the tide pool), but it ends in Cabrillo Monument and you don’t have to pay. Just remember what goes up must come down!
Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach is also a beautiful walk along the cliffs.
Liberty Station in San Diego was a Marine military base, but was decommissioned. It now has several restaurants, boutique type stores and many activities.
Shelter island is not too far from Liberty Station and there is a sidewalk for taking a stroll along the ocean and watching sailboats. Also, several restaurants.
Torrey Pines Glider Port is across the street from UCSD and you can watch hangliders land and take off. You can also sign up to have a tandem ride with a trained guide. There is a charge for this, but even if you don’t do this it’s fun to watch and there are some trails. There is also a restaurant or bring a picnic.
I love all your suggestions, Laurel, and was going to include many of them in my post but it was getting pretty long! Sunset Cliffs in OB is great, and we go to Liberty Station frequently. Shelter Island is a great spot too (Humphrey's summer concerts are fun although not free). I appreciate you taking the time to share all of this!
I live in San Diego, too, and there is soooo much to do. I left out visiting Little Italy’s Farmers Market on Saturday and La Jolla Farmers Market on Sunday. Have you been to Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave at The Cave Store at La Jolla Cove? So interesting but there are 145 steps down to see the cave opening and then you have to climb back up! Then you can walk along the Cove to see (and smell) the sea lions.
I second everything you recommended!!! The list could go on and on!
Love those farmers markets! I go to the Hillcrest one too. Jimmy's Sea Cave, no I have not been there and now I should check it out - but there is yes a very telltale aroma coming from the sea lions area always....haha! Sounds like you're a hiker and active so you've probably hiked Mount Woodson and Potato Chip Rock. Also Top of The Hyatt downtown at the Manchester Grand is technically free to ride up to the top (although buying 1 drink goes a long way no doubt), but great views towards the south and the Coronado Bridge and beyond. There's so much to do here - you're right!
The sea cave is not a long adventure but it was something I’d never done even with living so long in San Diego! I do like to hike, but haven’t done the trails you mentioned. I’ve heard they can be challenging! Funny you should mention Manchester Grand. My niece and nephew were just here visiting and went to a rooftop movie there. I didn’t even know they had this!