A Perfect Day In: San Diego
Photo by Christine Amorose Merrill
It’s kind of funny, but I don’t remember how I became friends with Christine Amorose Merrill. I do know that she and I somehow met a few years ago — I’m thinking that I probably liked one of her pretty Instagram posts — and I’ve enjoyed watching her life unfold in little squares ever since. Christine lives with her husband, two pugs, and newborn daughter in San Diego, where she works for Spotify. (At the moment, she’s on parental leave.)
One of the things I love most about Christine is that we share the same philosophy about travel: Pick a few can’t-miss places on your trip, and then go with the flow everywhere else. It’s a lot more relaxing that way.
“I started a travel and lifestyle blog called C’est Christine when I moved to the French Riviera on a whim in 2010, and kept it up through living in France, Australia, and New York City. I traveled (often solo) to 40-plus countries along the way,” she told me. “Although I’m on a bit of an extended blogging sabbatical, I still love to share travel, lifestyle, and content recommendations on Instagram and occasionally contribute to travel publications.”
I grew up in Los Angeles, but I don’t know nearby San Diego all that well, which is also kind of funny. So I asked Christine to describe her perfect day in the city she’s called home for five years. Here’s what she had to say.
Photo by Christine Amorose Merrill
What drew you to San Diego, and now that you know it well, what do you love about it?
I’m originally from Northern California, and after five winters in New York City, I knew I was ready to move somewhere without blizzards. We did a tour of less expensive cities with better weather the year before our lease was up in late June (with long weekends exploring in Portland, Austin, and Oakland), and threw in a last-minute weekend in San Diego after a few different sets of friends had come out for winter weddings and raved about it. After 24 hours of exploring in the sunshine, my husband and I turned to each other and said, “We’re moving here, right?”
What initially charmed us about San Diego is still why we love it so much: Life is just a lot easier here than in New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. The weather truly is 70 degrees and sunny year-round. There isn’t much traffic and you can always find parking, and while some neighborhoods are more walkable than others, everything else (including the airport) seems to be a 15-minute drive away. The vibe is very laid-back and friendly, and there’s a big emphasis on enjoying the outdoors (with a solid dose of microbrews). There’s no shortage of fantastic hikes, too!
Growing up in Northern California, I always equated San Diego with tacos and surf bros. And while we certainly have plenty of those, I’m continually impressed by how much the city continues to evolve with design-forward spaces, varied restaurants, and world-class culture. There is truly so much to enjoy and discover here, it’s impossible to do it all in just one day or a weekend!
Photo by Christine Amorose Merrill
Describe your perfect morning. What would you be doing?
I’d start by putting my name on the waitlist at The Cottage La Jolla, and then picking up a coffee at Better Buzz or a juice at Parakeet. Then I’d take a walk by the water in La Jolla. I’d head down to Children’s Pool first: It’s a very scenic little cove where the city built a seawall in 1931 to make it pleasant for children to play in. However, it was swiftly taken over by the local harbor seal population! It's a fun place to see the seals and their pups swimming and sunning themselves (although it’s very important to keep your distance! Tourists taking selfies with seals has caused mama seals to abandon their pups).
Depending on how long the wait is, I might walk along the water all the way up to La Jolla Cove through Scripps Park and then circle back through downtown La Jolla. At The Cottage, I’d get the lemon ricotta pancakes and maybe a fresh grapefruit mimosa! After that, I’d pop into the Museum of Contemporary Art. It recently reopened after a multi-year renovation, and it’s a gem. In addition to stunning ocean views, it’s home to a wonderful collection of modern art that isn’t so big as to be overwhelming. Depending on how those lemon ricotta pancakes are sitting, I might pop over to Trilogy Sanctuary for a rooftop aerial yoga class or Riffs Studios for an al fresco yoga class on their tropical-esque back deck with live guitar accompaniment.
Photo by Christine Amorose Merrill
Now for the afternoon! Where are you eating? What do you order? Where do you go next?
Frankly, if the weather is right, I’m not mad at spending the entire afternoon with a good book at Scripps Beach, a burrito from The Taco Stand and a can of Juneshine (our favorite local hard-kombucha brand!).
But that’s not the right way to show off everything that San Diego has to offer. No matter what, though, tacos would have to be on the menu: I’d head down to Barrio Logan and pick from shredded beef tacos where the tortilla is fried right in front of you at Las Cuatro Milpas (don’t forget cash!), a chile relleno taco and a spiked horchata at Salud!, or a fancy fish taco at Lola55 downtown.
After getting my fill of tacos, I’d go to Balboa Park: I love to wander through the Spanish Colonial Revival buildings, the recently reopened Mingei and Timken museums, the old Cactus Garden, and the expansive Rose Garden. Unfortunately, the beautiful Botanical Building is currently undergoing a two-year restoration, but that’s usually one of my favorite free spots to duck into for some shade. Balboa Park is also home to the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ: There is a free concert every Sunday at 2 p.m.!
After getting in plenty of steps exploring the park, I might grab a local beer at Panama 66 and enjoy it on the grass of the open-air sculpture garden. If I wanted something a little fancier, I’d pop a couple of blocks past the west side of the park and head to Mister A’s: The rooftop restaurant and bar has some of the best views of the city, with a bonus perfect vista for planes landing in San Diego (somehow without any of the noise). Just know that Mister A’s may be the only place in San Diego with a dress code: No T-shirts or “beach attire” allowed!
Photo by Christine Amorose Merrill
Finally, your night plans! Where are you headed, and what makes it special?
The most important thing is to see the sunset. My personal favorite spots are the aptly named Sunset Cliffs or Windansea Beach — they’re gorgeous places to take a walk during golden hour and watch the sunset over the surfers and the ocean.
I’m also delighted by our growing number of fun restaurants and bars to grab a fancy cocktail: It’s hard to go wrong with any of the Consortium Holdings properties, but my personal favorite is Polite Provisions. They have a tequila-pineapple-jalapeño cocktail on tap that’s my absolute favorite, although the non-on-tap drinks are generally a bit more fun and photogenic! If I could get into Fortunate Son next door, I’d stay there for dinner. But if that’s an impossible task, I’d head a few blocks south into North Park where the food options are endless. Tribute Pizza and Underbelly Ramen are always good bets.
And to end a truly perfect night, I’d hope that something good was on at the Rady Shell: San Diego’s newest outdoor music venue is on its own little island just past the downtown waterfront, and it’s a truly incredible setup. My favorite is when the San Diego Symphony plays the score to an outdoor movie in the Shell! But if there’s nothing on at the Rady Shell, a cult classic at the Rooftop Cinema Club downtown is a worthy alternative. And if you’re more of a sports fan than a culture fan: There is truly nothing better than an evening Padres game at Petco Park.
Photo by Christine Amorose Merrill
What's something you've learned about your city through experience that visitors should know?
Although most people come for the beaches and that gorgeous coastline, east of San Diego is home to some incredible “mountain” hiking trails.
You’ll have to head into Alpine to get some true elevation (and snow!), but hikes like Iron Mountain, Cowles Mountain, and Fortuna Mountain all deliver on some challenging uphills and gorgeous views out to the ocean. That said, hiking is a favorite activity in San Diego: If you want the trails to yourself, you’ll have to head out very early or go on a weekday. If you want the best of both worlds, hike the trails at Torrey Pines. They have some of the best work-to-view ratios over the ocean and a lot of options, depending on how much you want to challenge yourself.
Thanks so much for sharing, Christine! And be sure to check out her own list of San Diego favorites here.
