The most common response when I told people that I am going to San Diego to attend Biophysical Society Meeting so far, without exception, has been “lucky you”. To put this in perspective, I am coming from Minnesota where windchills this week reached -32 degree F. In contrast San Diego has been sporting an almost teasingly pleasant 70 degree F for past week. But weather is not the only reason for people to be almost jealous of you if you are visiting San Diego. This is my second visit here and during my first visit I got to experience firsthand a phenomenon of a city called San Diego.
I usually prefer AirBnB over hotels because of their more social and intimate setting. My last AirBnB host, a San Diego resident for past 20 years, completely justified my choice. In his words, “once you dial San Diego, you never go back”. When he realized that I have a couple of days to explore the city, he personally handcrafted me a plan to experience the city like a true local, for which I’ll be forever indebted to him. Most of his recommendations were promptly followed by their highly descriptive praises with profuse use of superlatives and I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t agree with him after experiencing those myself.
Since this is my second visit, I’d like to share some of my experiences to aid others get a flavor of what this city holds. Hopefully you will be able to find places which do not appear on cursory internet searches which will make your visit a truly memorable one.
Journey in San Diego must start with food and while the city offers every imaginable cuisine, one of them stands out. Sharing the border with Tijuana, Mexico, the Mexican food in San Diego is as close to authentic as it gets. To get a taste of this, I was recommended breakfast Margaritas and handmade fresh tortillas at Café Cayote which is located in a historic abode of the city called The Old Town. The most appropriate word to describe the Margaritas here is “balanced” and it redefined the whole concept for me. Old town has, apart from food, a lot to offer. From the historic cafes turned into museums, to handicraft market it is certainly a must visit if you are in San Diego. In the middle of Old Town, there stands a marvel of human creative genius and perseverance, called the Train Depot. This miniature model of an entire city is just perfect to the last detail. The best part is that there is no entry fee. But donations are accepted and the high appreciation for your donation is well communicated by ringing of the bell when you make one.
Any post about San Diego is incomplete without a mention of La Jolla Cove which is simply the nature embedded in a metro. The smooth transition from a city which sports happening places like Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy to the dens of sea lions in a matter of few miles is nothing short of mesmerizing. While many people know about the La Jolla Cove, I’d like to add that your visit to the Cove is incomplete if you don’t try the Chicken Sandwich at George’s at the Cove, preferably on their Ocean Terrace. You’d probably be thinking, why would one travel to such a place where one can bask in the serenity of nature and eat a Chicken Sandwich? The answer is, because it is THAT GOOD! Craving for desserts after a satisfying meal? Bobboi Gelato awaits you right in the neighborhood.
If you are looking for a night out with a group of friends in San Diego, I’d highly recommend giving one of the city’s many famous speak easy bars a shot. The one that I could explore was called False Idol. While finding the way to it might be challenging, the innovative cocktails they offer will make it worth your while. Apart from the drinks, this place will pleasantly surprise you with its unique Angkor-like ambiance.
There are many other places in San Diego where you can go either in a group or solo including the SeaWorld, the famous San Diego Zoo, Coronado Island etc. While all these places are great in their own respect, I hope including the above-mentioned places in your itinerary will make this visit, more than just a visit, but a lifetime memory.
Feel free to contact me on my email [email protected] in case you need any recommendation about places. Also, I’d be extremely glad to meet you in person during my poster presentation which is scheduled from 1:45 PM on 18th February, Tuesday at board number LB54.