California

San Diego

San Diego is a city you can feel slowing you down, in the best way. I spent my days between palm-lined La Jolla streets, Balboa Park’s gardens and Coronado’s wide beaches, ate my way through Little Italy, and ended almost every evening watching the sun set over the bay.

La Jolla Balboa Park Coronado Little Italy The waterfront

Seaport Village at sunset

The sun setting over San Diego Bay with a ferry and an aircraft carrier in silhouette — Sunset over San Diego Bay

In pictures

Evidence in a San Diego sweatshirt in front of the Star of India tall ship at dusk — Star of India, Maritime Museum

Evidence relaxing on a wooden deck with Scripps Pier stretching into the ocean behind her — Scripps Pier, La Jolla

Evidence in a blue shirt walking under tall palm trees in La Jolla — La Jolla’s palm-lined streets

Evidence and a friend striking poses on the La Jolla Shores boardwalk — La Jolla Shores with a friend

Evidence posing by the lily pond in front of Balboa Park’s Botanical Building — Botanical Building, Balboa Park

The ornate carved facade of Casa del Prado in Balboa Park — Casa del Prado, Balboa Park

Evidence in a blue halter dress sitting on Coronado Beach — Coronado Beach

Evidence seen from behind on Coronado Beach under a dramatic gray sky — Coronado, before the clouds broke

Evidence in red sunglasses sitting at a fountain in Little Italy — Little Italy

The flag-draped island tower of the USS Midway — USS Midway Museum

Evidence taking a smiling selfie on the bay at sunset — Golden hour on the bay

Waves rolling under Scripps Pier with a surfer catching a wave — Surf at Scripps Pier

An all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ spread with meats, salads and dumplings around a tabletop grill — Manna Heaven BBQ

Two dessert crepes dusted with powdered sugar, one with ice cream and strawberry — Dessert crepes

On video

Seaport Village

The Pacific, on loop

Downtown by the water

Sunset with a friend

My San Diego picks

Favorite experiences

Watching the surf roll under Scripps Pier from the deck above the beach. Wandering Balboa Park, from the lily pond at the Botanical Building to the carved facade of Casa del Prado. A slow afternoon on Coronado Beach. And catching sunset on the bay by the Star of India.

A powdered sugar donut stuffed with whipped cream and strawberries

Where to eat

Little Italy’s farmers market, where I found this strawberry-and-cream donut. Manna Heaven BBQ for an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ night. And dessert crepes for something sweet by the water.

A San Diego Seaport Village souvenir shopping bag

Planning tips

Split your time between neighborhoods: La Jolla for the coast, Balboa Park for gardens and architecture, Coronado for the beach, and Little Italy for food. Save your evenings for the waterfront around Seaport Village; the sunsets over the bay are worth planning around. Check market days before you go to Little Italy.

Planning a San Diego trip? I’ll build your itinerary.

Work With Me