What would you do if you had an extra day in your life? Do you think it’s just a useless hypothesis? Well, we have the day this year, the 29el of February, as leap year is back after four years.
Whether you are a San Diego native, a new neighbor, or a transient like myself – I’m leaving the U.S. in four months – why don’t we see San Diego from a tourist’s point of view for 24 hours? Let’s explore the City of San Diego, or better yet, the entire county, on leap day. What can we do on the 60el day of the 366 days?
• Exploring Balboa Park to the fullest
With 16 museums and 65 miles of trails, fully enjoying Balboa Park in a day might be a challenge. Choose museums based on your interests, ranging from the Natural History Museum to the Science Center, Air & Space Museum, Museum of Art, and more. You also have 1,200 acres of urban green spaces for a picnic. Immerse yourself in the exotic vibe of the Spanish Colonial architecture found in the main buildings along El Prado. Prado, a great restaurant, offers the best food, atmosphere, and service. Lastly, don’t forget to visit the Zoo if it piques your interest!
• From La Jolla to Torrey Pines
La Jolla is a place that you can never get enough of. Feel the sea breeze as you drive along the coast. If you take Bus 30 from Bird Rock to La Jolla, you’ll encounter wonderful scenery with the Pacific Ocean and clean, neat residential streets. Spend some time watching the sea lions barking or kayaking through the La Jolla Sea Caves. Enjoy lunch at a nice spot. Harumama is an Asian fusion restaurant that specializes in Japanese ramen. There are a few more branches in other locations, the one in La Jolla boasts an ocean view with its glass walls. In the afternoon, head a little farther north from La Jolla and explore Torrey Pines. Choose one of the trails in the Natural Reserve – check trail availability at the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve website – or try paragliding if you haven’t before. Who knows? It might be your new hobby.
• To the ocean or the city, Downtown is the answer
Struggling to choose between the city and the ocean is futile because, in Downtown, you can easily enjoy both. I used to live in Little Italy for a while, and walking or running by the
waterfront was my hobby. Grab some food or snacks at Little Italy Food Hall and have a picnic at Waterfront Park. Take a stroll from the park to Unconditional Surrender, the renowned kissing statue. If time permits, visiting the USS Midway Museum is a great option in the city of “Top Gun.” Check out the restaurants; it will be tough to choose just one. I love Rei Do Gado Brazilian Steakhouse. You can taste various cuts and recipes of steak along with an appetizing salad bar. This was recommended by my Brazilian friend, and I can attest to her taste.
• Maximizing the CityPASS experience
The optimal way to embrace the tourist experience is by investing in a CityPASS. With the pass, you can enjoy four or five attractions of your choice. These may include SeaWorld, Legoland, San Diego Zoo, or Safari Park, USS Midway Museum, City Cruises, Old Town Trolley Tours, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Maritime Museum of San Diego, and more. Assess how many you could do in a day and save the others for the following weekend. CityPASSes are available for purchase through CityPASS o Go City, with prices varying from $104 to $224.
• A night and two days on Coronado Island
Coronado Island is a beautiful place to enjoy both alone and together – it’s my favorite spot to spend a day in San Diego. Take a ferry at the Broadway Pier; it only takes 10 minutes to reach
the island. If you drive or take bus 901, the panorama view from the Coronado Bridge is a spectacular sight. You can spend some peaceful time at the Coronado Public Library or have a little picnic in Spreckels Park. Experience some classic diner vibes at Clayton’s Coffee Shop, or savor Italian cuisine at Garage Buona Forchetta. Spend a night at the Hotel del Coronado. Take a late-night stroll at the beach and drink some wine at the hotel’s restaurant. You won’t need to worry about the time to head back home.
• A day trip along the beaches
Take the Coaster or drive alongside the West Coast. Stop at the beaches you encounter, from Del Mar to Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside. Enjoy an e-bike tour from Solana Beach to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. Join a whale-watching tour in Oceanside. Simply wade in the ocean or lounge back on the sand. Walk along the trekking course and enjoy the blue ocean and green trees at the same time.
• How about venturing a little farther?
If you are seeking a refreshing getaway outside the city, let’s expand our horizons to the county. Visit wineries in Escondido, where you can sit in front of the vast stretches of vineyards
and taste a bottle of wine. Want to venture even further? Then head to the Salton Sea via Julian and Anza-Borrego State Park. Explore Julian, the historical town, and taste an apple pie. Go on an off-road ride from Anza-Borrego to the Salton Sea. Just be sure to fill up with enough gas.
• Who was born on leap day?
It is truly special to be born on leap day. You are among the rare individuals who fall under a probability of just 0.07%. You deserve to celebrate your birthday as grandly as possible! If you are someone who can confidently say, “Music is my life,” why not treat yourself to a ticket to a jazz club? Enjoy a meal or some finger foods along with some cocktails with your folks. How about dining at restaurants near the pier? On my birthday, I visited Ketch Grill & Tap (near Waterfront Park) and made lovely memories with my friends. They serve delicious food, particularly Mahi Mahi with sweet and sour cauliflower, and sautéed Brussels sprouts leaves, which is phenomenal. You can also host a birthday party on board near the pier. Rent a boat, indulge in food and drinks, party, and happy birthday!
FRIENDS’ SUGGESTIONS FOR LEAP DAY ADVENTURES
I asked for some recommendations from my friends to spend the perfect day in San Diego. They have spent parts of their lives here and are keeping cherished memories. Most of them are now in different countries or cities, leaving San Diego behind as they take their next steps forward. I hope you can recall some of your favorites in the county while reading about what they miss the most in San Diego.
Juri: “If you follow the Black’s Beach trail in Torrey Pines, you will find a gorgeous view of this beach. Paragliders are flying across the sky, and the sunset in the afternoon is impressive. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bringing some drinks because the way might be exhausting. Taking some rest in the Jacuzzi after those activities was my favorite. Have a barbecue time with your beloved people. It would be a great wrap-up of the day!”
You may remember Juri Kim, our previous international intern from Korea, much like me. I was able to get in touch with Juri thanks to her kindness. I also adore the vast scenery overlooking the ocean at Blacks Beach. If you are interested in reading more of her recommendations, I suggest checking out a few of her columns: Crispy hiking in San Diego y Dear my second hometown.
Saskia: “I think a perfect way to spend the leap day is to have a nice breakfast at a sweet little café. I like Parakeet Cafe in Little Italy. After that, I would go to the mall, definitely Fashion Valley, either alone or with some friends. After some shopping and lunch at the mall, I would go to Coronado Beach to round out the day, perhaps reading a book or doing something I enjoy. Coronado Beach is one of the things I miss the most about San Diego.”
Saskia spent about a month in San Diego last summer and then returned to Germany to finish her school. It was a short-term experience, but I believe that’s why this city is more precious to her. She said she wanted to come back here again someday.
Hyunjung: “I recommend you to have a nice brunch in Hillcrest in the morning. Hash House A Go Go is one of my favorite places. Then, you would come over to Coronado Island for aesthetic afternoon time. Fill your mouth with sweetness at Gelato Paradiso (on Orange Avenue), and relax at the beach lying down on a picnic mat. The next destination is Balboa
Park. After appreciating great pieces at the San Diego Museum of Art, you will encounter a beautiful pinkish sunset near the fountain. Let’s move on to Old Town for a satisfying dinner. Get some tacos and cocktails. Your final stop for the leap day will be Pacific Beach, where great clubs are located. Why don’t you fire up the end of your day at PB Shore Club?”
Hyunjung is working near Torrey Pines, and she has been in San Diego since last July. I have been spending a lot of time with her recently, and we are planning to explore San Diego together, including activities like paragliding, climbing, and hiking.
For the last section, I will share suggestions I received from the group chat with my close friends. Some readers might be familiar with their names since they have shared their thoughts through my column before.
Sangki: “I would take a walk in Balboa Park in the morning, then surf in the ocean. Mission Beach was my favorite spot to surf. To wrap up my day, I’d spend the evening on Coronado Island.”
Sena: “First, I’d have brunch near Mission Beach. Then I’d do some shopping at Fashion Valley and head to Old Town. It would also be nice to have a barbecue there. For the evening, watching the sunset at Solana Beach would be perfect.”
Donghyo: “I would surf at Pacific Beach during the daytime, and then enjoy chicken wings to fill up my hungry stomach after swimming. Or how about Mexican food? Personally, La Puerta was the best place for Mexican cuisine.”
These friends are surf lovers who are perfect for California. They are now working in different cities, so the activities they miss might be some of the best things to enjoy in San Diego.
I hope suggestions from me and others will help you, readers, at least a little to spend an amazing leap day this year. I also should choose from countless options that I have in San Diego. Let’s take a leap to make the most of leap day.
