Selling Myself on San Diego

48 hours in San Diego, the TTS way :)

Heyyyyyyy!!

How are we dooooing? I hope you are having a lovely spring thus far - everything is in bloom and we are realllly living in color rn! Saturation at 100!

Today, I present to you - San Diego, ~my way~. I really aim to avoid writing in the negative here on TTS, so I’ll keep the sh*t talking brief. I’ve spent a decent amount of time in San Diego over the years and always had just an okay time. My hot take is that there are better versions of everything SD has to offer in other parts of California. I’ve contemplated why the area feels so meh to me quite a bit - even resorting to: my last two trips were with exes, so maybe they were the problem? :)

After a few years away, saving cool spots to my map when they popped up on my feeds here and there - I was finally ready to give it another go and find my pockets of San Diego. I’m very happy to share I did just that! Below, you’ll find a 48 hour itinerary from my trip. Overall, I was naive to think I’d seen it all - San Diego is a massive region of Southern California, filled with tons of different neighborhoods just like LA. There is truly something for everyone!

Day 1 - La Jolla & North Park

11 AM - Coffee at Blue Whale - cute cafe in La Jolla perfect for a caffeine fix! Food looked tasty too

12 PM - Museum moment at MCASD - La Jolla - The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego's La Jolla location not only offers an amazing array of modern art (Warhol! Murakami! Nara! Kusama + more!), but also presents stunning oceanfront views. My favorite part was the intersection of art & nature - Robert Irwin's "1° 2° 3° 4°" - which features three rectangular cutouts in grey-tinted exterior windows, creating openings that frame the ocean view outside. Absolutely stunning!

2 PM - Hunting for ~more views~ at Windansea Beach / Bird Rock - Stunning coastal views no matter where you stop!

2:30 PM - Lunch at The Taco Stand - A Tijuana-style taco spot that serves the San Diego signature - California burrito! Really hit the spot after not having it for so many years!

4 PM - Check-in at The Lafayette - The most perfect boutique hotel and absolute highlight of the trip! Every corner of this place is decorated so beautifully - category is MAXIMALIST! Between the pool, several cocktail bars, jazz lounge, bowling alley + skee ball, restaurants including a 24 hour diner… we could’ve spent the entire trip at the hotel. I have to go back ASAP!

7 PM - Dinner at Mabel's Gone Fishing - A Spanish-inspired gin, natural wine and oyster bar serving up the most delicious assortment of fresh seafood & tapas. Loved it here!

9 PM - Drinks & grooves at Part Time Lover - The most stunning vinyl listening bar, complete with top tier cocktails, sexy lounge areas & warm woods throughout, and a record shop to boot !

Day 2 - Downtown San Diego, Normal Heights, Oceanside

9 AM - Pastry run at Izola Bakery - Top tier croissants in DT San Diego

9:30 AM - Pastries by the pool at Lafayette, crying about imminent check out

12 PM - Lunch at White Rice - Amazing fast casual Filipino bowls! Loved

2 PM - Afternoon caffeine fix at Revolution Roasters in Oceanside

2:30 PM - Oceanside vintage shopping:

• Captain's Helm - A nautical-themed vintage store with a coffee shop attached

• Ransack - A hyper-curated vintage clothing store, a lot of true vintage here and a little more on the pricey side. Great selection of cowboy boots !!

• Sea Hive - A massive vintage marketplace housing multiple vendors, selling everything from mid-century furniture to retro clothing and unique gifts.

5 PM - Catch one final ocean view at golden hour before you hit the road!

Thanks for tuning in! IG highlights HERE in case you need some more pretty visuals. Back soon, TTYL! <3