San Diego, California: The Best Food & Things To Do

We traveled to San Diego in February for a 4 day trip with our 2 kids (ages 1 and 3).

The weather was perfect for us (low 70’s) – not too hot but warm enough to hang out on the beach!

Kids or no kids, below are some fun things to do in San Diego! And yummy food stops!

Free Itinerary at the bottom of this post!

TIP: If you are flying from Des Moines, Allegiant has a non-stop flight to San Diego!

5 Things to Do

1. Little Italy Farmers’ Market

This was one of my favorite things we did in San Diego! I love exploring a new city through food!

Farmers’ Markets are a great way to get a glimpse at what the locals eat.

The Little Italy Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday (rain or shine) all year round. Check out this site for more detail on San Diego markets.

Be prepared to pay for parking (most lots close by were $20 for 2 hours). You might be able to find street parking, but will most likely have a longer walk.

I asked one vendor about a fruit that I’ve never seen in Iowa before. He said they were boysenberries and he let me try one.

Talking with the vendors is another great way to learn more about the area!

2. Go Hiking at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve has several hiking trails. The picture above is from the Torrey Pines Beach Trail Loop.

TIP: I recommend using the ‘AllTrails’ app to see all available trails and find the one(s) that fit best for you. The app will show you trail length, difficulty level, pictures (if available), and much more!

They also have a beautiful beach area here if hiking isn’t your thing!

General Admission Day Use Fee is $15-$25 per vehicle (they have demand based pricing).

Here is a link to the Torrey Pine’s website with more details.

3. Visit the Beaches in La Jolla

La Jolla (pronounced “La Hoy-a”) is a neighborhood/area in northern San Diego. It is known for its beautiful rugged coastline.

We grabbed some burritos to-go from The Taco Stand in La Jolla then headed to La Jolla Tide Pools. We enjoyed our lunch with a pretty view and watched some surfers.

If we had more time, I would have also gone to Boomer Beach to see the seals and sea lions. My daughter would have loved watching the seals!

4. Mission Beach

We stayed in a rental on Mission Beach, so this is where we spent most of our time.

We loved being able to just step out to the beach at any time (especially sunset walks every evening)!

Would I stay on Mission Beach during US spring break (March) with my kids? Probably not.

Mission Beach is known as a party zone during the summer. But in February, things were pretty calm/quiet and there were other families with young kids visiting as well.

And if you aren’t into the party scene or are traveling with young kids, I would personally avoid staying in Pacific Beach. When we walked through this area it seemed to be a younger, more rowdy crowd. Not ideal for kids (or adults) with early bedtimes! Haha

5. Walk Mission Beach Boardwalk

There are lots of restaurants and coffee shops right off of the boardwalk (especially on Mission Blvd).

Renting a bike and riding the boardwalk would also be a lot of fun!

TIP: If you are looking for a quieter area to walk, try walking on the Mission Bay side.

6. (Bonus) Eat all the Burritos!

The burrito scene is top notch in San Diego. Try as many as you can!

See some burrito suggestions below. Just be sure to try a California Burrito while you are there. They have steak and fries in them.. seemed weird at first.. but they are so good!

The Food Scene

We ate a lot of Baja Mexican food on this trip! And the craft beer scene in San Diego is strong!

Below are some of the best food stops we found in San Diego!

Breakfast

• Better Buzz Coffee (on Mission Blvd) – Try ‘The Best Drink Ever’

• Olive Cafe (on Mission Blvd) – try the breakfast burrito!

• Olive Baking Co (off of Mission Blvd) – known for their cinnamon rolls (frosting has a lemon flavor to it) & kolaches

• Juice Wave (on Mission Blvd) – known for their Acai bowls, but they also have yummy juices and smoothies

• Saltwater Culture (coffee stand on Mission Blvd) – delicious coffee and cool vibe!

Lunch/Dinner

• The Taco Stand (in La Jolla, pics below) – I really enjoyed the Al Pastor Burrito here!

• Harumama Noodles + Buns (multiple locations, pics below) – They have cute animal buns that are savory or sweet. My daughter LOVED this! And the noodles.. delicious!

• Sayulita’s Mexican Food (in Mira Mesa area, pics below) – My favorite burrito from this trip, was the California Burrito from Sayulita’s! And if you want to go big, try the bacon wrapped burrito!

• La Perlita Mexican Food (on Mission Blvd, pics below) – yummy tacos & burritos!

• Tacos El Trompo (on Mission Blvd, pics below) – Tacos! I really liked the tortillas here. They make the tortillas in house (or at least roll them out fresh in house). Also, most places have their own salsas so be sure to ask for them!

Craft Beer

Below are just a few different San Diego craft beers that we enjoyed.

• Pizza Port Brewing
• Protector Brewery (veteran owned)
• Ballast Point Brewing
• Offshoot Beer

Where to Stay

We rented an Airbnb right off of Mission Beach. It was perfect for us! Here is a link to where we stayed.

Other Things To Do

• Take a Surfing Lesson
• Visit local Craft Breweries
• San Diego Zoo
• La Jolla Tide Pools
• La Jolla Secret Swings
• Scripps Pier in La Jolla
• Balboa Park
• Belmont Park
• Eat your way through Little Italy – make your own food tour and stop for appetizers/drinks at multiple places! Use the Yelp app to find the best restaurants.
• Waterfront Park
• Sea World
• Legoland

Free 4 Day Itinerary

Other Posts You Might Like:

• Hwy 1 Drive: Monterey to Pismo Beach, California
• Hiking Trip: Dillon/Frisco/Breckenridge, Colorado (with or without kids)
• The Ultimate 2 Day Trip to Kansas City with kids

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