TBH my first time in San Diego was actually very gloomy and grey LOL apparently, I chose one of the “worst” times of the year to visit California – something locals refer to as “May Grey”.
I had been planning a visit to see my best friend Chelsea, which also gave me an excuse to see one of the most beautiful cities in the U.S.! She planned an amazing 4-day extravaganza that included two of my favorite things – hiking and FOOD.
I arrived around midnight Thursday night so obviously went straight to bed when we got back to Chelsea’s apartment. Then it was off to the races!
Day 1 – Hiking Three Sisters Falls + s’mores on the beach!
We may or may not have been hiking with a machete 
Gotta stay alert! Friday morning we made a quick breakfast at her place and then headed out for a hike at Three Sisters Falls. The is a 4.1 mile out-and-back trail and I would consider it moderately difficult.
We got a later start and the weather was pretty cool at first, but warmed up quickly. Just an FYI: there isn’t much shade along this trail and we were dying by the end (ha!). Make sure you bring some water! It’s a pretty popular trail so it’s likely you’ll always run into other hikers. Once you get to the falls, there are some trees you can hang out under and take a snack and water break. We saw some kids sliding down the falls but we did not partake lol
The hike took us about 3 hours (including hanging out at the falls for a bit) and then we headed back to Chelsea’s apartment to get ready for the evening. We explored hotel Del Coronado and then grabbed dinner at a stand outside the hotel. I wanted something light so I decided on a grilled chicken and prosciutto salad and it was SO delicious!
We did some more exploring until our bonfire reservation at 7:30. The reservation included all-you-can-eat s’mores for the entire hour! It was such a cute idea and a great way to finish out a day of hiking.
Day 2: Brunch + Explore Del Mar
We started off with brunch at Monarch Pub! Unfortunately, they don’t accept reservations so I recommend getting there as early as possible. People started lining up about 30 minutes before they opened and the line was quickly wrapped around the building. The atmosphere was SO cute! I got the spicy chicken sandwich and then we ordered the Hawaiian donuts for dessert.
picture was taken from the website
For dinner, we made a reservation at a speakeasy called The Grass Skirt. This is such a cute tiki-themed bar and the food and drinks were AMAZING. I got the Dan Dan noodles and tried one of their cocktails called Bird on a Wire – SO good if you like gin!
After dinner, we wandered over to the famous bar next door, Captains Quarters. If you like the dark and moody vibe, this bar is for you! I got the Yacht Pirate off their cocktail menu and we were feeling pretttyyyy good at this point so we indulged in the Fool’s Gold dessert before heading home.
Day 3: Yoga on Sunset Cliffs + Temecula Wine Country
Sunday morning started off with a much-needed yoga session! This was a free meet-up by a local instructor who just takes donations if you’re inclined to give. Apparently, this group meets up every week so I would check it out if you’re in the area! We did have a homeless man pacing and talking to himself behind the group for about 20 minutes at the start of the class but he eventually wandered off. I recommend getting a spot up front if you can.
Later that afternoon we ventured to Temecula wine country. Temecula Valley is home to over 50 wineries and offers an array of lodging as well. The best time to go is during the week (Monday-Thursday), as the weekends tend to get pretty crowded, especially during peak season. We visited the Europa Village Wineries and bought the wine-tasting passport. For $25 per person, you get to sample 5 different wines of your choice. You’re able to grab your wine and walk around. There was live music as well!
Day 4: Brunch at Morning Glory + Explore Balboa Park
Last day! We made a reservation at Morning Glory. Let me just say – the vibe is insta-worthy. Pink EVERYTHING. I recommend trying the soufflé pancakes – they were to DIE for! I also got a side of sausage to balance out that carb coma LOL *pro tip: pairing a carb with a protein source can help prevent blood sugar crashes*
After breakfast, we grabbed (another) coffee – hehe – and walked around Balboa Park! Balboa Park is a historical area that is home to 17 museums, beautiful gardens, and the San Diego Zoo. It was a little gloomy and rainy so we didn’t stay long but we enjoyed dropping into some of the local shops. There’s a ton of free things to do here as well:
- browse the gardens
- several museums are free and open to the public
- I don’t have kids but many of the parks offer picnic areas in addition to play areas and swings
- bring your dog for a walk!
- check out tons of artwork and murals
My time in San Diego was one to remember and I would definitely go back!
If you’ve been, let me know your favorite spots to put on my list for next time!
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