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SoCal local: California dreaming in sunny San Diego

Monica VidenieksThe West Australian
Oceanside Pier in San Diego.
Camera IconOceanside Pier in San Diego. Credit: sandiego.org

Sometimes, the tricky thing about travel is making decisions about what you have to skip in order to make ends meet.

For most of us, budget and time constraints mean we can’t visit everywhere we might like to when travelling to a new location.

And it seems to me, after a recent trip to California, that visitors may do this with San Diego; instead, putting various parts of Hollywood, Las Vegas or San Francisco on their Californian itinerary ahead of the southern city.

Big mistake.

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San Diego is a Californian dream — and a visit here will have you itching for more. I am already thinking about when I can go back with my family.

Maybe it’s the endless, clean beaches, the perennial sunshine, the fresh food, the chilled and friendly people or the locals’ love of a good beer; San Diego has a similarity to our WA lifestyle that made me feel instantly relaxed and happy.

Relax by the water in San Diego.
Camera IconRelax by the water in San Diego. Credit: The West Australian/Monica Videnieks

It also reminded me how, a little like Perth, sometimes overseas visitors select the bigger cities ahead of the smaller gems.

It’s a 29-minute flight from Los Angeles to San Diego, which is located just a 20-minute drive to the Mexican border (the busiest border crossing in the world), making it a popular transit point for Americans heading south to let their hair down.

Its close proximity to Mexico’s Baja Peninsula has seen a delicious Mexican influence; particularly in the mouth-watering Cali-Baja food scene.

A love of excellent quality food — enjoyed with a refreshing beer — really does bind the people of San Diego, and if you’re a visitor, these elements will have you living like a local ... and loving life.

Farm-to-table foundations

Located between the desert and Pacific Ocean, San Diego is blessed with clear blue skies and abundant sunshine. This fertile 70-mile (112km) coastal stretch boasts more small farms than any other county in America.

San Diegians claim it was the county that pioneered the fresh farm-to-table movement, supporting local farmers in Californian restaurants and eateries and then expanding into the farmers’ market movement that has now enveloped the rest of the world.

Golfers will know of Torrey Pines, the stunning San Diego USA Open coastal golf course (it will host the prestigious event again in 2021).

The third hole at Torrey Pines golf course.
Camera IconThe third hole at Torrey Pines golf course. Credit: sandiego.org

But Torrey Pines boasts another star: Jeff Jackson. The executive chef at award-winning AR Valentien restaurant at The Lodge is credited with beginning the farm-to-table movement.

Many years ago, the French-cuisine trained Jackson made the sea change from crazy Los Angeles to mellow San Diego and immediately made it his mission to produce meals from produce grown in the region.

He prides himself on the mouth-watering menu, awash with offerings from local farms. And each year he hosts the Celebrate the Craft food and wine festival, where leading chefs are paired with local farmers to create seasonal food. The gourmet event has a cult following among foodies.

At AR Valentien I couldn’t decide between a breakfast of lemon ricotta pancakes with raspberry syrup or fennel and Meyer lemon cured salmon avocado toast (all made with local produce) so I ordered both. And I ate both. And I still daydream about both.

Filled to the brim, as Jackson says farewell he urges a detour from the planned itinerary to visit a nearby farm — Chino — it’s open to the public and home to the sweetest strawberries.

If food is your thing — San Diego is your thing.

Wish you were beer

But where San Diego is really hitting its straps is in an area close to the heart of many Aussies — beer.

Specialty craft brewing is massive in San Diego. When I visited, there were 156 specialty craft brewers and counting. Dubbed the Capital of Craft Beer, many of San Diego’s breweries are located within a couple of kilometres of the stunning coast. It even hosts a beer week to celebrate the city’s local brews. The New York Times describes San Diego as “a sunny heaven for suds lovers”.

So successful are San Diego’s craft beers that Stone Brewing Company — one of the scene’s pioneers — has opened a brewery at the home of beer, Berlin.

San Diego’s stunning Ocean Beach at sunset.
Camera IconSan Diego’s stunning Ocean Beach at sunset. Credit: The West Australian/Monica Videnieks

So, here’s a predicament: You’re visiting San Diego, thirsty to sample some local beer, but have no idea where to start — or how to get around? The solution is Brew Hop.

Run by husband and wife team Larz Watts and Summer Nixon, this local couple with a love of beer and a passion for the local craft-beer scene run custom-designed tours of San Diego breweries, access to behind-the-scenes facilities, meetings (and beers) with brew masters — and a designated driver. They’ll even take care of the bill for your beer samples and gratuities for bar staff.

Among the breweries and cider houses I visited in San Diego was Modern Times and as I sat, happily sipping on the well-rounded line-up of saisons, pale ales, IPAs and tasty seasonal releases, I admired a giant wall mural made entirely out of sticky Post-it notes. No, that’s not the beer talking; they’re a creative bunch in San Diego.

Cali cruising

Once the alcohol has worn off and you are safe to drive, head to the beach and hire a bike for the most memorable Californian cycle along the endless (and thankfully, flat) boardwalk that links the stunning Pacific and Mission beaches.

With the sun on your face and breeze in your hair this is a time for awesome people-watching as locals jog, cycle, stroll and rollerskate by; it’s a dreamy Californian scene.

Over at nearby Ocean beach, the local crowd of alternative sea and sun worshippers host a cool eclectic street market where you can pick up anything from handmade jewellery to second-hand instruments.

San Diego’s stunning coastline.
Camera IconSan Diego’s stunning coastline.

The Beach Boys song Surfin’ USA was inspired by prime San Diego surf spot Swami’s, and the county embraces all things water based: surfing, swimming, sailing and fishing, to name a few. Even the world bodysurfing championship is held in San Diego each summer.

Tourists are encouraged to get out on the water too. I joined the San Diego Speedboat Adventure tour — in which we skippered our own vessels and, with a guide in a boat ahead, basically hooned around San Diego Bay, getting our bearings from the water. It is thrilling fun.

If it’s sunshine, sea air, fresh food and damn good beer you’re seeking in your next holiday ... pop San Diego on your travel wish list. It’s a winner.

  • For more information visit sandiego.org.

Monica Videnieks travelled to San Diego as a guest of Gate 7 representing the San Diego Tourism Authority. They have not seen or approved this story.

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