A few weeks ago I came back to this blog after nearly a year away, wrestling with my recent transition back to living in the United States from Italy, and the milestones that I’ve traded in for my experiences. It is a topic that I ponder often, and I appreciate any outside sources of wisdom I can find on the topic. Here’s an article that addresses this very issue. Since you all are lovers of traveling and experiences, I thought you would also find it interesting.
You don’t have infinite money. Spend it on stuff that research says makes you happy. By Jay Cassano
They say you can take the girl out of San Diego, but you can’t take the San Diego out of the girl. I am no exception to that rule. As I write this blog entry from exactly 6,201 miles away from San Diego – according to Google maps – in my current home of Bologna, Italy, I should feel far away. But I can still feel that unmistakable cool ocean breeze, I can tase my favorite burrito at Rubio’s, I can still see my friends smiling. San Diego and my nearby hometown of El Centro, CA still feel like they are right around the corner.
But, logic prevails, and I must admit that 6,201 miles are a lot. Chances are, you’ll be heading to San Diego before I do. So I thought I’d give you my personal rundown of my fave experiences in San Diego, the moments that I pursue when I want to forge out of the predictability of my routine and forget that I’m a local, forget stress and responsibilities and just be a tourist in my own fabulous city for a day. These are also my go-to’s for showing out-of-town-guests the best San Diego has to offer.
San Diego is not a place that can simply be taken at face value, and quantifying and explaining all it has to offer is no easy task. While it is famous for surf, sun, and the zoo, if you give it a chance and just dig a little deeper, San Diego will show you a side that you never expected. Not only can you get a tan, but you can also find exactly what your heart desires.
Here’s my list of favorite experiences, in no specific order. Each experience will be a separate blog post that I will be publishing over the next few weeks.
1. Enjoying some of the best beer the United States has to offer
2. More than just pasta and olive oil in Little Italy
3. A day on an island
4. Beach bums at their best in Northern San Diego County
5. Two for one – Culture and nature in Balboa Park
6. Baseball and Hipsters in the East Village
7. A day at the mall
8. Lavish elegance in downtown San Diego
9. Taco Tuesday in Old Town – A little bit of local, a little bit of tourist
10. Downtown La Jolla – Tradition happens for a reason
balbo
So, without further adieu, I present experience number one: Enjoying some of the best beer the United States has to offer.
Happy exploring!!!!