San Diego- Where The Desert Meets The Pacific Ocean

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Known for its miles upon miles of picture perfect beaches, near-perfect weather and enchanting natural beauty sunny San Diego epitomizes all of Southern California’s irresistible charms.

During the long, luminous days of summer, we visited incredible white sand beaches and world-class surf spots, grabbed our picnic basket and watched magnificent sunsets on the ocean and took scenic drives which wound us through lovely neighborhoods and along the beautiful coastline.

La Jolla

Considered the crown jewel of Southern California beaches, La Jolla is an upscale beach ‘city’ 15 minutes from downtown San Diego. With its rugged cliffs, secluded coves and clear waters is no surprise that La Jolla is often cited as the most photographed beach in San Diego. The “Jewel of San Diego” is also a real paradise for art lovers thanks to its wonderful art galleries and boutiques.

San Diego Port

Kissing Statute

I truly loved the waterfront statue depicting the infamous sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square as they celebrated the end of World War II in 1945. Named Unconditional Surrender, the 25-foot bronze statue is placed along the Port of San Diego, near the USS Midway Museum. At sunset its even more magical!

USS Midway Museum

As Top Gun has been one of my favorite movies, visiting the USS Midway Museum was a must for me. Did you know the USS Midway was America’s longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century?

We took special delight in touring numerous spots such as the galley, sick bay, officer’s country and even the flight control area, and watching restored aircrafts ranging from the World War II TBM Avenger to the Operation Desert Storm A-6 Intruder. We also had the opportunity to take over the pilot’s seat in the Strike Fighter 360 flight simulator!!

Kansas City Barbecue: The “Top Gun Bar”

Located in the harbor district of San Diego, the Kansas City Barbecue is known for being the filming location for scenes used in the film Top Gun. Click here to read the post I wrote about this iconic bar.

Dining At Seaport Village

With the ocean-scented breeze gently blowing our hair, we spent wonderful afternoons strolling around and having quaint and relaxing meals overlooking the sea. Pier Cafe was one of my favorites restaurants.

Balboa Park

Known as America’s largest urban cultural park, Balboa Park with its stunning Spanish Revival architecture is an oasis of lush vegetation and magnificent gardens. The park is home to 15 major museums, art galleries and theaters.

Old Town

With a rich Hispanic heritage thanks to its proximity with the Mexican border, which is only 18 miles south of downtown, San Diego has a truly unique city feeling and personality. A trip to the America´s finest city for me wasn´t complete without a stop at the historic Old Town which is full of colorful restaurants with wonderful outdoor patios, galleries, cafes, and souvenir shops.

Coronado Island

Just a few miles from downtown lies the beautiful Coronado. Surrounded by stunning water and bathed in sunshine, Coronado island offers incredible views of San Diego skyline.

A living legend for nearly 130 years, legendary Hotel Del Coronado is definitely an American treasure. The oceanfront beach resort was immortalized in the 1959 Billy Wilder comedy “Some Like It Hot”. Click here to read the post I wrote about this iconic film location.

The Gaslamp Quarter

Stretching over 16 blocks, from Broadway to Harbor Dr., downtown’s trendy Gaslamp Quarter is Southern California’s premier entertainment district. The vibrant neighborhood is always alive and bustling. With an endless selection of dining options, there is something to suit every taste.