A Relaxing Weekend in San Diego
Being less than 2 hour drive from where we live, it is actually surprising to us that we visit San Diego so infrequently. As we came to realize that it’s been a few years since we last visited, we booked a rather last minute mini getaway to this famous coastal city with easy itineraries and exciting restaurant reservations, all for the goal of a simple and relaxing weekend.
Gaslamp Quarter
As one of the most well known district in the city with so much to offer, we decided to stay in this area to enjoy the most of the urban life here. From all these trendy shops and restaurants, to the unique architectures and iconic street lamps, Gaslamp Quarter can never bore you and its vibrancy will stun you. We wandered around this 16 square-blocks neighborhood with no objective in mind, but ended up coming across so many interesting spots to check out.
There is no better way to see how lively a city is than visiting it at night times, so we sure stayed till after sunset and walked under the renowned Gaslamp Quarter Sign - a welcoming and illuminated entrance to the historic downtown of San Diego.
Balboa Park
“Ever Changing. Always Amazing.” Quoting this from Balboa Park’s official website, love how it so precisely described this 1,200-acre cultural park with more than a dozen museums, venues, and gardens.
The Botanical Building is one of the most photographed architecture in the park, a beautiful wooden structure built over a century ago and home of some astonishing tropical plants.
Right outside of the building, a large pool known as Lily Pond adds more tranquility to the park, with aesthetic reflections from its surroundings, it sure deserves a spotlight in the heart of this artistic park. From this exact spot, you can also have a unobstructed view of Casa de Balboa across the Lily Pond, another totally picturesque scene worth a few designated camera clicks.
The California Tower is on the other wing of Balboa Park and can be seen when you first entered the place. If you’re intrigued by this building, make sure you get a shot from afar first because it would be difficult to capture its whole from a close proximity.
Attached to the tower is California Building, with exquisite details and a dome roof that is simply stunning.
There are so many more incredible spots to check out in Balboa Park that you can probably spend the whole weekend here, though it’s not possible to capture everything, we do want to share a few more of our favorite places below.
Unconditional Surrender & USS Midway
We didn’t visit USS Midway again during this trip, but it is a must-see if you’re in the city for the first time. We did however walked to the Unconditional Surrender and had another memorable photo taken with this classic statue of San Diego.
Little Italy
Another vibrant neighborhood in town, Little Italy is also a fun place to shop and dine with plenty of options to choose from.
Even if you’re not hungry for food, it is still fun to meander on the streets and absorb some of this city’s energy here, great place for a relaxing evening.
Waterfront Park
Finally, stopping by at the Waterfront Park after sunset to end a day filled with joy.
Laid-back, yet energetic, San Diego is totally this city. This short trip has absolutely completed our ultimate goal here, returning home feeling total relaxed and recharged, till next time!
Hotel of Our Stay: Solamar San Diego
Great upscale hotel experience in super convenient location (Gaslamp Quarter), well maintained and spacious room, rooftop bar and pool for hotel guests, friendly and quick valet parking service (at cost) and urban style restaurant onsite. Overall great stay!
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