Sunny San Diego

San Diego is definitely a place in Southern California to which we would return. With a population of 1.4 million people, we felt comfortable and safe and had no problem in finding things to do and places to see. The delightfully warm temperatures, blue sky and sunshine was also something we really appreciated during our three day stay. 

A fun way to start our visit! Held every weekend!

San Diego has an amazing culture and relaxed vibe. No place was this more evident then during our visit to Seaport Village, a quaint little seaside board walk of local shops, restaurants and brewpubs. Many people milled about

enjoying the warm temperatures and local entertainment while others took advantage of the scenic area to get ina morning run. Not far from the village was the USS Midway Museum,  the United States’ longest serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, from 1945 to 1992. A self guided audio tour led us through the map and chart room, the wheelhouse, the Brig and engine room as well as along the armoured flight deck. We also had an opportunity to take in a variety of presentations by retired navy personnel that highlighted the capabilities of the ship. It was a very interesting tour.

The USS Midway

The Brig of the ship

San Diego Harbour

During our second day, we decided to visit the Torrey Pines Recreation Area along the northern coastal area of San Diego. The hike was a coastal network of dirt hiking trails along bluffs overlooking the Pacific, through sandstone canyons

and protected wilderness areas of pine trees. The approximately 6 kilometre hike is very popular but one we are glad to have taken in. The end of the hike took us back along the beach, a mix of sand and beautifully coloured beach rocks. A trip to visit Old Town San Diego was certainly in order after this little excursion. Created in 1769 it is California’s first settlement and is considered the historic heart of San Diego. The Old Town has done a wonderful job at retaining its natural character, converting the old buildings into museums and specialty shops. There were also many restaurants, opportunities for wine tasting and local entertainment. A drive into the hills above Old Town displayed beautifully appointed homes reflecting the influence of Spanish and Mexican architecture. It was a great end to our day!

During our time in the area we had discovered that the Taylor Guitar Factory was right in our backyard AND they offered free factory tours Monday to Friday. Being a guitar enthusiast this was not an opportunity Steve could pass up and

 boy I’m glad we didn’t. The 1 hour guide led tour took us through the complete manufacturing process from raw product right through to the guitar being put on the retail shelf. We learned a lot about the manufacturing process and Taylor’s commitment to environmental sustainability, replanting more trees than they use to produce their product. The Ebony Project highlights the work Taylor is doing in Cameroon, Africa in sourcing and processing ebony for the manufacturing of their guitars but also demonstrates their social responsibility in assisting the communities and the people of the area. If you are ever in the San Diego area this is one tour you don’t want to miss. It was hard, but we did manage to escape the factory without Steve buying a brand new Taylor!

In the Milling area

Time to leave now and head North along the Pacific 101 Highway! Our drive through Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach reflected the amazing views synonymous with the California coast as well as the amazing wealth of the people who live there. Every car we passed was a Bentley, Maserati or Ferrari and then everyone else drove BMW’s, Mercedes, and Porches. The houses were sprawling mansions, all occupying coveted hillside space with Pacific views. The cost of overnighting in the parks in these areas also reflected the cost of living!! Moving on towards Santa Monica and Malibu, we gradually made our way to the bustling city of Los Angeles and surrounding areas.

Beautiful Laguna Beach