Before you come for me, Kelvin and I actually spent a little more than 72 hours in San Diego. We were there from Wednesday to Saturday, and our flight home was on Saturday afternoon, but we didn’t have much time to explore before heading out on Saturday.
If you’re on a time crunch and only have a few days/hours to explore the city, here are a few things that I recommend.
How San Diego, California Stole My Heart
Let me just say that San Diego has my whole heart. After visiting once, I can honestly say I aspire to have a home here someday. “Okay, Katie, everyone says that when they travel some place new!”
I’m serious, guys. Mark my words – one day, I will be a bi-coastal resident. I’ve been to California before, but the first trip was to visit LA, and it was nothing like this one. (Still fun, but LA is not the place for me).
This trip to San Diego was a first-time visit for both of us. It was filled with so many good memories, beautiful places, and delicious food. Can you blame me if I can’t help but be absolutely obsessed?
How It Started
The brainchild of Sam & Justin, this trip was conceptualized a year and a half in advance. Sam has been one of my best friends since childhood. We were roommates in college, and shortly after he graduated, he moved to Arizona for a job. I’d have followed him if I could because, at the time, all I wanted was another adventure. Who am I kidding? All I ever want is another adventure!
When he and his boyfriend Justin came back to visit Rhode Island in June of 2022, Justin briefly mentioned that Vance Joy was going on tour in 2023 and that we should all go together.
Immediately, I was obsessed with the idea. Kelvin and I love Vance Joy’s music; it’s been the soundtrack to many a road trip. How could I say no?? Not only was this one of our favorite bands, but Kelvin had never been to a concert before, and honestly – what’s more perfect than your first concert to see one of your favorite musicians live?
Vance Joy would be in San Diego in May 2023, so we grabbed tickets and decided to figure out the rest later!
Why Only Three Days in San Diego?
Instead of flying directly to San Diego, Sam and Justin invited us to visit them in Arizona. So we made a week out of this trip to see a concert. Our trip started with flying to Phoenix and spending the first half of the week exploring Flagstaff, Sedona, and The Grand Canyon.
I’d never been to The Grand Canyon before (the boys all had), but we love to visit National Parks, so that’s how we spend the first half of the week. If you want to hear all about our Arizonan adventures, check out these blog posts for a Guides To Sedona and Flagstaff.
How It Went: 3-Day San Diego Itinerary: Here’s What You Shouldn’t Miss
On Wednesday, we made a road trip out of getting to San Diego. You know me – any excuse for a road trip, sign me up! Concert night was on Thursday, so we wanted to get there a day in advance and have time to explore without being exhausted. Even though Phoenix is about 4 hours from San Diego, we were taking the Tesla, and we knew that we’d have to stop and charge.
Day 1: Wednesday
After our almost 7-hour car ride from Phoenix, we checked into our Airbnb, this cute little Minty Surf House. Immediately, we went to Buon Appetito for dinner. They serve some of the most delicious Italian food I have ever had in my entire life, and they offer gluten-free menu items– I was in heaven.
The wine paired so well with our meals, which were savory and indulgent. If you’re looking for decadent Italian food & wine, I can’t recommend this place enough! However, I highly recommend making a reservation because this place was PACKED when we arrived, with multiple people waiting to be seated. Thankfully, we planned ahead and booked a reservation while we were still on the road.
For dessert, we ran across the street to Salt and Straw, where I bought myself a pint of dairy-free ice cream because, well, obviously. I snacked on it for all three days we were in San Diego. Don’t sleep on this place for some yummy treats!
Day 2: Thursday
I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t start the day without breakfast. We went to Breakfast Republic for a yummy start to our day and then decided to go into full tourist mode and rent bikes on Mission Beach.
Don’t roll your eyes at me; there is something so refreshing about just being a tourist, without a hard-set schedule, doing some of the most basic things like riding bikes on a boardwalk or renting scooters to drive around town. This is something I will always recommend doing. Playing tourist is a great way to cure boredom, even in your own hometown, on the weekend.
After the Mission Beach Boardwalk, we drove around and ended up in La Jolla with the seals. This was a wild experience because we were able to be on the beach within literally 3 feet of a seal. Friendly reminder: the sea lions here are wild animals and deserve respect.
In fact, as of September 2023, The California Coastal Commission voted to seal off some of this cove area to protect the sea lions from the public after several incidents of intrusive human behavior. Honestly, it’s probably for the best, but it’s still disappointing to know that errant human decisions ruin incredible experiences like this for everyone.
Thursday was concert night, so after we did some exploring during the day, we headed home for a nap before the concert. Of course, I took exactly zero videos of the show, but it was absolutely magical, and I was able to be fully present for it. Like I said, it was Mr. K’s first concert, and I’m so glad we could turn the whole experience into an adventure.
Day 3: Friday
Friday was our last full day in San Diego, so we spent the day exploring Balboa Park, walking the grounds, and enjoying more sunshine. Spur of the moment, we decided to get lunch at The Prado at Balboa Park. We arrived right when they opened, and after they seated all their reservations, we were able to get a table. They sat us right next to a water feature on their outdoor patio, which was a dream. Again, we were served delicious food and had a really nice afternoon.
After this, we parted ways with Sam & Justin so they could start their drive back home. Like I said, our flight wasn’t actually until the next morning, so Kelvin and I were mostly killing time until we were able to check into our hotel room. This trip was kind of a splurge for us, but since we were only spending an extra night in San Diego, I wanted something comfortable. We stayed at the Mariott Marquis and enjoyed a stunning harbor view from our balcony.
Bonus Day: Saturday Morning
Before flying out Saturday morning, we grabbed a bite to eat at Breakfast Company, which was a perfect way to end the trip. They served gluten-free pancakes and, I’m not exaggerating when I say this, the absolute best Salted Caramel Latte I have ever had.
Overall, this was a 10/10 vacation, and I’ve been daydreaming about it since we left. Have you been to San Diego before? What should we try next time we visit?
