We went to San Diego.
Where the sunsets are gorgeous, even when the clouds are rolling in.
And even the plants are better.
Seriously, my dad spent YEARS of his life babying a bird of paradise plant at home, and I never once saw it flower like this. These plants are everywhere.
We spent a week living within walking-distance of the beach. It was amazing.
We imagined what life would be like if we lived there. And didn’t have to go to work. We could just bum around the beach all day and leisurely stroll from store to store.
In Phoenix, everything is brown and the sprawling city is not very walkable. In La Jolla, it is the opposite. There were a bajillion restaurants, cafes, and shops all within a few minutes walk.
We enjoyed this view with our Easter brunch.
We walked around a lot.
We walked around a lot more.
We went to the Birch Aquarium and saw lots of jellyfish and seahorses.
We watched them feed the sharks. We took a lot of pictures.
And I took pictures of the BF taking pictures.
We went to the famous San Diego Zoo, where I got to see one of my favorite animals, the adorably sleepy red panda.
We did the “backstage pass” where we got to watch spotted leopards frolic, and howl with a wolf. Which caused an extreme desire to find a way to acquire one for myself. There is no way those things could be even a tiny bit vicious. I don’t see it.
We also got to get up close and personal with a rhino and a zebra. I touched a bearcat (did you know they smell like popcorn?), and stood (kinda) next to this cheetah.
Apparently it’s too dangerous to let you stand right next to her.
Or to hug her. Snuggles were definitely out of the question. I bet she likes snuggles.
BF and I also decided, officially, that the “Giant Panda” is a stupid and gross animal. Look at him, he’s just a mess.
Go home, Panda, you look drunk.
We spent a day wandering around Balboa Park as well, which is filled with beautiful gardens and like a bajillion museums. We went to the SD Museum of Natural History, which advertises with pictures of dino bones. We did see some dino bones.
But they are right in the entrance and the only ones they have. I would say it was probably the worst museum I’ve ever been to, which I mean in the least offensive way possible. It’s not horrible, it’s just super small and there isn’t a lot to see.
So, yeah, save your money on that one.
And now… what we ate.
Our first night there, we ate at La Taverna. If you follow on Instagram you may have seen these.
We shared the “tiny meatballs with crostini” appetizer, Aaron got gnocchi, and I got pasta al pomodoro fresco. All of it was delicious.
We took a cue from Serious Eats and checked out the burger at Nine Ten.
The burger was pretty dang good, but the rest of it, not so great. Service wasn’t that amazing and the restaurant was filled with old people. Like, 70+ years old “old people”… then again, could’ve been an off day I guess.
We also checked out Cucina Urbana where I got a meatball pizza, BF got a sandwich of some sort. I really dug the ambiance, and the food was pretty amazing too. I would love to try their drinks, but I think a cocktail midday is probably frowned upon… even though it was vacation. Next time we go to San Diego we will definitely be going there again. I’ve heard good things about their desserts as well.
We had breakfast at The Cottage, walking distance from where we were staying. I got lemon ricotta pancakes, BF got eggs benny, and the biggest latte in all the land.
We also ate at Prepkitchen, where we had a pretty stellar charcuterie plate, some tasty patatas bravas, and there were probably a few other items…
In summation…
We are already trying to figure out when we can go back, and where to stay… and fantasizing about living there… no big deal…
So, if you’re planning a vacation, here’s what we did and where we ate.
What we did:
Where we ate:
- La Taverna
- Nine Ten
- Cucina Urbana
- Prepkitchen
- The Cottage
- The Shores (Brunch)
- Puesto (tacos)
I’m so stressed getting everything done at work before I leave for my new job that I barely have time for blog comments…but i saw you had a new post so i had to take a break 🙂
Your vacay sounds amazing. However, I completely disagree about your panda comment. Panda bears may be just about the laziest, fattest animal I’ve ever seen, but how could you not love that face?! I think the red panda’s prob just as lazy…just not as gluttonous 😉 Anyway, so happy you had such a nice week away!!!
Red pandas get sleepy from frolicking, giant pandas get sleepy from eating too much bamboo!
Let’s compare, when I google “Giant Pandas Playing” I get this video and when I google “Red Pandas Playing” I get this video.
Which is more fun to watch?
hahaha, ok, well the red pandas are much more active, but those giant pandas are so cute! Look at that weird panda tail. I dunno…I guess I find anything furry adorable 🙂
damnit, amy: QUIT MAKING ME LOOK BAD.
so bearcats smell like popcorn; i’m filing that away in my brain for trivia to use on Mr. Table at odd moments. he loves it when we’re having serious discussions and i’m all “did you know that bearcats smell like popcorn?” it’s fun living with me.
i don’t know why but i’m dying over the drunk panda. you’re right though: go home, panda. you’re a total mess. the other bear species are probably SO embarrassed.
and that’s the thing with vacations, right? like you go somewhere, and you are obviously not working at that moment, so you start thinking how awesome it would be to live there AS IF you could just move there and magically not have a job and be able to wander around all the time. like it would be awesome to live there, it seems (sea lions!) but probably the working part would dampen things.
You’re right about being on vacation and picturing yourself living there jobless. I wish my job was to sit around reading food blogs all day….I’d take any location.
Yeah, how dare all those old people be out and eating at the same place as you!
LOL, looking back, I realize how that sounded. Not my intention hahahaha. I’m sure the old people have more to do with eating at like 5:30pm … hahahaha and YES!!! HOW DARE THEY!!!