The first place I ever got on a plane and traveled to was San Diego, CA, about eight years ago with my friends. Up until then, I had this strange fear of flying and refused to get on a plane. Then randomly, I thought to myself one day “how are you going to travel the world, but you’re scared to fly?”
After I pondered that question, I decided I had to get over this fear. So I planned a trip with some of my closest friends. San Diego, CA, was the destination we all decided on. I’ve been a few times since then.
However, this was the first time that I actually explored what San Diego had to offer, and did some sightseeing. I didn’t get to see everything, however, I did have a great time. Below, you’ll find everything I did, my thoughts, where I stayed, and the restaurants I tried.
Where To Stay In San Diego, CA
My friend and I stayed at The Monsaraz San Diego, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. This hotel is near the airport, less than 10 minutes and it is located in a good spot. The staff was kind, and accomodating, and the outside had the cutest setup and decor.
If you rent or drive your car, you do have to pay for parking per night. Not sure what the fee was, we decided not to rent a car for this trip.
We took a Lyft everywhere and our Lyft charges weren’t wild, even with the current surcharge that’s happening due to inflation. Also, our flight landed at a whopping 7:30 a.m. which landed us at the hotel at 8:00 a.m. They had rooms available that were clean and let us check in early.
Our room was clean, and in what I felt like was a safe part of town. Our room had two queen beds and was rather spacious. The decor was beautiful, lively, and had a boutique hotel look and feel. The bathroom was the cutest. Overall, I really enjoyed our stay and would recommend staying here to anyone looking for a nice hotel.
Let’s Talk Food
Flap Your Jacks
Flap Your Jacks is a breakfast and brunch spot that does not disappoint. They have an extensive menu and interactive restaurant where you can flip and make your own pancakes at your table (if you want to.) They have a huge focus on supporting local farmers and vendors. Everything on the menu sounded delicious and it was very hard to decide what to order. I ended up getting a loaded/works omelet with sourdough toast, breakfast potatoes, and freshly squeezed juice. Everything was delicious, seasoned to perfection, and so filling. Everything I ordered tasted so fresh, was bursting with flavor, and was a good-sized portion. I even tasted my friend’s french toast, and it was delicious as well.
This was hands down my favorite spot we tried while in San Diego, CA. They do tend to get busy, so if possible, I would recommend making a reservation. To learn more about Flap Your Jacks, click here.
Old Mexican Cafe
Old Mexican Cafe is located in Old Town in San Diego. The food portions are huge (they don’t skimp on the food.) You can taste the authenticity of the food. It’s fresh, flavorful, and really fills you up. I had lunch here and stayed full throughout the whole day.
The chips and salsa were tasty. For an entree, I tried their shrimp tacos and beef enchilada. They were both very large, filling, and seasoned to perfection. The service here was A1. If I’m ever back in the area, I’ll definitely drop back in here.
The Waffle Spot
By its name, you can probably guess what The Waffle Spot is known for. If you guessed waffles, you’re absolutely correct! This spot is casual and relatively busy. If you dine here, I would definitely recommend making a reservation cause it stays busy. I tried their chocolate chip waffle and chicken. They were out of chicken legs so they substituted them for chicken strips instead. The chocolate chip waffle was huge. The waffle was light, fluffy, and packed with chocolate chips, just like I like. The chicken strips were really good as well. If you like waffles, I would definitely recommend giving this spot a try.
Breakfast Bitch
Breakfast Bitch came highly recommended. And yes, they refer to you as “bitch” but not in a rude or derogatory way. It’s all in fun. So don’t be alarmed when they say this word carelessly. If you like margaritas, I would recommend trying their margarita flight. They have 4 different flavors. They were all good, and tasty. They also all packed a good kick (they didn’t skimp on the liquor.)
The food, however, was just ok to me. I am such a huge foodie and had such high expectations. My food was mediocre, and could have used a bit more seasoning. However, the restaurant is such a vibe. If I went back, I would give it a try and maybe try something different. Overall, it’s a cute spot. If you go by, I would recommend making a reservation if possible, it’s very popular.
Mitch’s Seafood
This food spot was right across the street from our hotel. I will say I absolutely love seafood and was excited to try this spot. It was very busy and had great Yelp reviews. Their service is fast, and they get their lines down quickly as well. The food was just ok to me. It was hot, and they give you a lot (they don’t skimp on the food.) However, it could have used some more seasoning or flavor.
Things To Do
I didn’t do too much while here, it was more of a relaxing trip. There are quite a few things to do in San Diego, however, there were three things in particular that I did that I really enjoyed.
- Mission Beach – I really liked this beach because it was surrounded by lots of beach shops and restaurants. Very walkable, and easy-going. *Sidenote: The water is very cold here.
- Go Cart Tours – San Diego – This was the highlight of our trip. I’ve been to San Diego a handful of times, however, this was the first time I really got to explore and see more of the city. My friend and I did a one-hour tour on the go-carts through various parts of downtown and Old Town San Diego. It was a great way to see the city. The go-carts have built-in GPS that directs you on your route and keeps you from getting lost.
- Sunset Cliffs – These cliffs are very popular. They’re so beautiful and have a beautiful, scenic background.
Whether you’ve been to San Diego before or never, I hope this city guide helps you explore the beautiful city of San Diego!
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