When in SoCal...
- Camille Bassett
- Jun 1, 2019
- 6 min read
When in SoCal, where do you go? Here's a couple things you can do whether you are home for the summer or just visiting.
I've lived in #SanDiego for my whole life, but once I left to go to college I finally realized what I was missing. Every summer, I would make sure that I would find some new places to explore once I was home. Now that I'm back in my hometown, I might as well tell you about some cool places to visit and enjoy a place full of great history and beautiful beaches.
We all know about the classic amusement parks that so many people come to visit... Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Six Flags are definitely worth visiting, but not all of us can afford to go. Here's some places both #locals and #tourists enjoy to visit (and of course some of my favorite spots).
First thing's first... Let's talk about beaches.
If you want to get a feel of what San Diego is all about, take a trip down to #LaJollaCove. La Jolla is a beach town full of hotels and homes that have fantastic views. If you walk down near the water, you will reach the cove where you can observe sea lions sunbathing and swimming in the water. If you enjoy #snorkeling, the cove is an easy-access place where you can swim alongside fish! People enjoy walking along the cliffs, and if you're lucky you'll be able to stand near the sea lions (even though they don't smell too great). This beach isn't a place I would recommend for tanning since there is very little sand in the cove, but it is definitely a place to find a unique Californian experience.
For the people like me who like to be outdoors but still need to get a workout, #TorreyPinesStateReserve has a great #hike down to the beach. If you park inside of the State Reserve, it will cost money... That's why I like to park a little bit farther away and walk into the park for free. There are multiple trails to hike once you get into the park, but my favorite one is the #beach trail. This trail has you sweating up a serious incline at the beginning, but once you journey down the cliffs you get a fantastic view of the Pacific Coast. The hike takes you all the way down to the beach and, if it the water is low tide, there are some pretty cool rocks you can explore that have some crabs and anemones to look at. Once you're done, your journey back to the car by walking along the beach is all you have left. It's a great way to see the beaches while getting a good sweat!
One of my favorite places to go is Carlsbad State Beach. From breweries to waves, this beach is the perfect hangout spot (and this is coming from a local). If I am wanting to go to the beach, I would pick this place due to the less crowded sands and large waves. Many surfers come here to surf in a designated spot more south of the beach, and tourists hang out more north. #CarlsbadVillage is the town right off the beach that you can easily walk to for some ice cream, pizza, beer, and so much more. There's stores designated for beach equipment rentals if you decide you want to rent a surfboard or some gear, and of course there are plenty of gift shops to remember your trip. One of my favorite places to go is Beach City Smoothies after a couple hours in the water to sit down and enjoy an #acai bowl. If you're not wanting to get in the water, Carlsbad has a great sidewalk trail that walks along the beach providing a great view and some coastal winds.
If you travel a ways up the coast, you'll hit another great beach that is hidden by large houses on the edges of tall cliffs. Thousand Steps Beach is accessed through what seems like a thousand stair steps, but once you hit the sand you'll be happy you went down all of them. Full of caves that can be accessed during low tide, Thousand Steps is another small beach that can be enjoyed through a little bit of adventure. If you're brave enough, there are cliffs you literally have to crawl through to access more private beaches and views. Sometimes they are too dangerous to travel through, so please be careful of the changing tides! This beach is known for its amazing homes that can be seen above you while you are tanning, and there are some great photo spots as well. The water is not as easy to swim or surf in because of the rocks in the water, but it is still a nice place to lay down and enjoy. The only part that is unfortunate is the walk up the stairs when it is time to go home!
Enough of the beaches... Let's move on to some more cool places in SoCal.
Whenever I would fly home from school, I would always love to talk a walk around Seaport Village. This place that sits on the #SanDiego harbor is full of beach shops that are fun to walk around for a day trip. There's so many quirky shops from a magic shop to a store just for crazy socks. In the middle of the shops there is a Ben and Jerry's that has some wonderful ice cream cone options to top off a sunny coastal day. Right next to Seaport Village you can easily walk right into downtown San Diego and continue you journey there. Usually I will spend most of the day in the village shops and walk a little bit inland to the Westfield Horton Plaza, a five-level outdoor mall, to enjoy some more mainstream stores and city life.
Take a break from modern day and visit Old Town San Diego for a historic atmosphere. Old Town is a preserved area with old buildings that resemble what San Diego looked like when it was first created. One of the biggest attractions is the Whaley House which is well known for being pretty dang haunted. I enjoy touring the house in the day time as it has great information on all of the uses that the house had and the history of the town in general. Old Town is also home to some of the best #Mexicanfood. There are so many places to choose from and sit down for a bite to eat. If you enjoy history like me, I have enjoyed walking around to see what each of the buildings was used for and how the town grew into what it is today.
3. USS Midway
I have always thought of the USS Midway to be one of the best museums in Southern California. USS Midway is a retired aircraft carrier used by the US #Navy years ago, but now it sits in San Diego Bay to serve as a museum for the public. This museum opens up the aircraft carrier to educate visitors on how the USS Midway was used. You can climb through the levels to observe the living quarters, dining halls, and places where people worked. On top, the USS Midway has many different aircrafts that have been used by the US Military as well as a wonderful view of San Diego that can be pictures above. The tickets for this museum are very reasonably priced for the educational experience you get out of it.
This is a newly explored place for me, but one that I cherish so much. #CatalinaIsland is an island off the California coast that is perfect for day trips or weekend getaways. This small #island is easy to walk around to visit shops, restaurants, and beaches. I spent a day last summer with my friends for the first time and absolutely enjoyed it! You can make your trip as expensive or cheap as you'd like, but I'm always a fan for spending less money. There are multiple boat ports where you can buy tickets out to Catalina for cheap, and then you can either choose to stay out there in a resort or come home the same day. We spent the day out there and had enough time to lay on the beach with some tropical drinks, walk around some shops, and enjoy looking at the colorful houses and boats along the coast. One of the best things about the island is that cellphone service is limited, and it forces you to take a day off and spend time with the people around you.
Obviously there is so much more to do in California than what I have listed today, but I just wanted to touch on a couple of my favorite spots that aren't super expensive. Southern California is full of so many things that I still haven't visited, but I really hope I can soon. The limits here seem almost endless. Let me know if you have been to any cool places in California that I didn't mention, because I am always willing to go on new adventures. Thanks again for reading, and I will see you next week!
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