San Diego is the place to be. Perfect weather, a colourful foodie and bar scene and loads of friendly hipsters all blend in a mix of Southern hospitality and a Mexican feel. Read on to find out which spots to hit in one of America’s sunniest cities.
San Diego is only a 15 minute drive from Tijuana and the Mexican border, which have a major influence on the city’s architecture, flavours and styles. Head to Old Town San Diego to feel like you’ve just been thrown into a Zorro movie: saloons, small markets and Mexican costumes and restaurants, together with statuettes from the Dia de los Muertos, will give you the perfect South-of-the-border feel.
If you’re looking for a younger crowd, head down to Ocean Beach for surfers, taco joints, smoothies and thrift shops. Newport Avenue, the street leading up to the beach, is one of San Diego’s hipsters’ favourite spots. Buy and trade in its thrift shops and sip Pitaya or Açai smoothies in one of its juice bars. Foodies here can enjoy fish tacos at the South Beach Grill, or go for a burrito at Nico’s , one of the best burrito joints in the States according to BuzzFeed.
Just a short drive away from Ocean Beach, the beautiful sunset cliffs provide a breath-taking view when the sun goes down.
For a full immersion in San Diego’s hipster lifestyle, pop down to North Park, near the main University College of San Diego’s buildings. Thrift shops, cafés, record stores, farmers’ markets and smoothie bars are as ubiquitous as beards here.
North Park’s University Avenue is a vegan’s heaven. Try Swami’s salad with mango, apples, soy cheese and soy bacon and its Swami’s surprise smoothie with dates and bee pollen. 
Go for brunch at The Mission and try the Patatas con Chorizo with soy chorizo, rice and beans. Delicious!
Go for a stroll down Balboa Park and enjoy its marvellous architecture together with its museums.
For a slightly more traditional San Diego outing, go to the Gaslamp Quarter and enjoy live music in one of its many bars.
San Diego also hosts a big hiking community, so try out an easy and quick hike up Cowles Mountain and check out its wounderful view.
Whether you love nature or going out, make sure you don’t underestimate San Diego!
Pictures: Carolina Are
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A San Diego ce n’é per tutti i gusti: tempo fantastico, una vivace vita notturna, hipster amichevoli e un’aria di Messico rendono questa cittá uno dei posti più particolari d’America.
Andate a Old Town San Diego per sentirvi catapultati in un episodio di Zorro: saloon, polvere e casette in stile Messicano vi faranno pensare di aver attraversato il confine, che é a soli 15 minuti di macchina dalla cittá.
Per un’atmosfera più giovanile, andate ad Ocean Beach, ritrovo hippie e hipster. Newport Avenue, la strada che porta fino alla spiaggia, é piena di negozi dell’usato, bar e mercatini per tutti i gusti. Provate i tacos di pesce al South Beach Grill, sono buonissimi!
A pochi minuti di macchina dalla spiaggia ci sono le Sunset Cliffs, scogliere che offrono una vista mozzafiato del tramonto.
Per una full immersion nella vita degli hipster di San Diego, passate per North Park. Sede dell’University College of San Diego, la zona pullula di bar, café, negozi dell’usato e barbe.
Provate il brunch di Mission, con chorizo di soya, o i frullati e le insalate con mango, bacon di soya e formaggio di soya di Swami’s.
A Balboa Park potrete ammirare un’architettura esotica e una serie di musei, mentre per una serata più tradizionale potrete sentire musica live al Gaslamp Quarter.
San Diego é un paradiso anche per chi ama il trekking: Cowles’ Mountain é facile da scalare e offre un bellissimo panorama della cittá.
Che siate amanti della natura o della vita notturna, San Diego é una cittá da non sottovalutare!
Foto: Carolina Are
