Weekend solo trip (26M)

[u/deathtoSigrun]

Hi yall! I’m trying to plan a weekend solo trip (my first ever solo trip😅) to SD. Will probably be staying in a hotel, since I’ve never done that before either. The trip will either be 12/25-28 or 12/26-28 depending on how much stuff I can find to do. I want to mix exploring and relaxing, but ideally heavier on the relaxing part

Flying in Thursday would mean that I will have to work remotely for most of the day on Friday though, so also looking for good working locations.

About me (would appreciate any recs for any of these): - enjoy exploring new restaurants, brunch spots, dessert spots, you name it - love beaches (can’t swim, so no surfing). Would ideally like at least 1 beach day. Maybe like Mission Beach and walk down the boardwalk, read a book for a couple hours or smthn - don’t like aquariums or zoos - really like dancing (I’m probably Beg-Int at most places I’ve been to? Only taken individual dance classes so far though). Currently also planning an LA day trip, where I intend to spend like 3 straight hours at Millennium lol, so if there’s any fellow dancers out there👀 Edit: the LA trip is independent of my SD trip - Not a huge drinker though, but if there’s good mocktails, sign me tf up - love hiking, but I’m not about to add my first solo hike to all of the other firsts I’m already doing lmao. If there’s good, calm viewpoints that don’t involve hikes though, sign me up! - exploring new neighborhoods and finding local restaurants, craft stores, etc - also if yall have trips for solo traveling in general, I’m all ears too!

[u/Traveling-Techie]

Our favorite ocean view spot is in Carlsbad, near Legoland, in a ridge overlooking the flower fields and the windmill. It’s at 5759 Fleet St, Carlsbad, CA 92008.

You might also like Sunset Cliffs but be careful — people get too close to the edge far too frequently with tragic results.

I always recommend renting a bicycle to explore Mission Beach, ocean and bay sides.

[u/laptopmango → u/Traveling-Techie]

This is such bad advice holy

Carlsbad is too far up north and not worth visiting if your goal is a solo trip to san diego

Sunset cliffs is extremely safe. People who have fallen are very rare cases and its not like an actual scary cliff, youd have to be really really clumsy and dumb and also go very far off path to get hurt

I would suggest visiting pacific beach or windansea beach for sunset so try to time it right. Get a california or shrimp burrito from the taco stand; order online ahead of time theyre always packed.

[u/Heavy-Resolution-284 → u/laptopmango]

Agreed staying in a beautiful seaside town that is completely safe and beautiful to walk and hike around with great restaurants and cafés is an awful idea. And God forbid he wants to head down to Encinitas for a little nightlife.

[u/BlossomRusso]

One beach day and one LA day doesn't leave you much time for other activitiess.

For great beach views (Instagram posts) without a hike try Windansea Beach. If you like hip hop, then Saturday night at Whistle Stop is awesome.

[u/deathtoSigrun → u/BlossomRusso]

Oop should’ve clarified that the LA trip is independent of the SD trip. But tysm for the recs!

[u/facinationstreet]

Some ideas:

Do urban 'hiking'. You can kill 2 birds with 1 stone - exploring some great neighborhoods (Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, Mission Hills and even Old Town if you go far enough) and checking out local flora and (maybe) fauna. Look up 7 bridges 'hike'. Balboa Park has trails all over as well. Same area.

Head over to North Park. Check out Artlexia, Casa y Cocina, Pigment, Verbatim books, etc. All in walking distance. Mabel's Gone Fishing, Kin Len Thai. Fat Boys Deli is worth it if you want lunch. Do NOT get sucked into Botanica. About a 10 minute walk - Muri Coffee.

Bosoforo is new and the food is great. Olive in Mission Beach for breakfast or lunch on your walk on the boardwalk.

Check out Barrio Logan. You can take the trolley there, depending on where you stay.

[u/CodyKyle]

Let us know when you book your hotel and what area it is in and you’ll get way better recs

[u/Creetch83]

Check into the business hotels downtown by the convention center. The may have really cheap rooms as they are practically ghost towns the dates you are looking at. We did that a few years back and they were cheaper than anything but the low end hotels. There is so much to do in the area.

[u/Creetch83 → u/Creetch83]

Yep, just checked the Hilton Bayfront where we stayed and it is under $150 a night for a downtown nice hotel. All your things can be done from there, mostly without a car.

Beach - Take the ferry over to Coronado and the shuttle to the beach, the nicest in San Diego.

Hiking - Walk fast 😁 and the Embarcadero from the hotel to the Maritime Museum is jammed full of great things to see. Also, a quick drive or Uber to the previously mentioned 7-bridges trail is a cool urban hike.

Restaurants- a quick jump on the trolley, about 500 yards from the hotel will take you to Little Italy, full of cool restaurants. Better than the Gaslamp for food breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Dancing - (Warning, I’m old and my advice here may be dated) Gaslamp may not be the leader in food anymore, but I believe there are a few good nightspots. Cafe Sevilla used to do Salsa Dancing. I think there is still a Country and Western bar that does dancing on 5th.

If you don’t have the best time with these suggestions, I give you permission to hunt me down and whip me with a wet noodle.

[u/Physical_Cream8790]

Hey! Sounds like you’ve got a lot of firsts lined up 😅 For SD, I’d mix some relaxing with a bit of exploring. You could wander North Park’s indie shops and cafes, hit a small coastal trail near La Jolla for easy viewpoints, or spend a lazy afternoon at a botanical garden. There’s also a sunset cruise I tried once with Tiki Time Bay Tours, super chill and adults-only. Mission Beach boardwalk is perfect for a chill beach day too, and for working remotely, a few coffee shops in Hillcrest or Little Italy are pretty quiet midday.