At first glance,“Go to Little Italy in San Diego” sounds a bit like “Try the burritos in Paris”. After all, San Diego is only 17 miles from Mexico. Famous foods like the carne asada burrito are all you really need to complete a stop in Southern California. But San Diego also has a vibrant Little Italy with a deep history and connection to the immigrants who arrived generations ago. And the neighborhood is the PERFECT place to rest and fuel up for the amazing array of outdoor activities available in town.
Our Stroll Through Little Italy, San Diego
For a half dozen or so blocks, sidewalk seating takes up would-be parking spots. Trattorias and corner stores selling artisanal pasta, breads, and more pack in customers despite the hour being well between lunch and dinner.
There is a Roman water fountain up a short hill, and children race around it in an apparent game of tag. We walk through two pop-up art markets. The sounds of busing tables and the low murmur of restaurant clientele’s conversations are occasionally pierced by a car horn in the street’s slow-moving traffic. We pass by multiple window displays of canoli. At times it smells fragrant, of freshly-prepared foods and espresso.
I forgot my sunglasses and find myself squinting in the warm, bright afternoon. We sit down under an umbrella, across the sidewalk from the inside of a restaurant. The waiter is quick to attend us, but offers no pressure when we say we just want a coffee for now. And a tiramisu.
The espresso dopio was exactly the jolt I needed. With that and the tiramisu, I have the energy to explore. A steady line of people are coming in and out of the adjacent corner store. I join, walking in and admiring how expertly organized the rows of sauces, noodles, and special ingredients are in the small space.
The store owner is a woman with dirty blonde hair and a green apron. It flies about as she flits around the store like an elementary teacher who needs to assist almost every student during test-taking time. I buy a bottle of Calabrian peppers. I can’t wait to add them to sauce the next time we make pasta.
My East Coast bias told me there couldn’t be a Little Italy worth visiting in Southern California. But that was way off. This was a perfect way to relax and refuel after days of paddle boarding and sunset runs on the boardwalk. I recommend you try it too!
Sunny San Diego was the last stop of our California road trip, and I couldn’t have been happier than a dung beetle coming across a herd of elephant’s poo. Days earlier, a Californian had opined to me that there are two types of Fun: Type 1, which is long and intense (think days of hiking in Glacier National Park), and Type II, which are short activities (such as an afternoon of surfing followed by a couple of beers). This man also told me that Southern California is the regional capital for Type II Fun. Which inspired me to find out what outdoor activities to try in San Diego.
Now, I’m not here to bash Type I Fun. In fact, we at Gringo Inca LOVE a good multiday hike or a stay at an ecolodge. But sometimes you just want a few solid days of playful fun, unconcerned about altitude sickness or how much time you have until the solar-powered water heater runs out so you can take a shower. Sometimes, you just want to splash in the water and have a beer afterwards. Especially after cramming you and your family into a car for the exquisite, exhausting 500+ mile journey from San Francisco.
Our trip’s exact final destination was San Diego’s Mission Bay neighborhood. This sunny touristy spot is hugged by the rolling Pacific shore on one side and the deep, calm Bay on the other. It attracts families and partying single folk year-round.
And indeed, it proved to be perfect for “Type II” Fun.
Water Sports
The Mission Bay Area is great for water sport experts and newbies alike. This is especially true for activities on the Bay, where the water is calm. But be careful if you aren’t a strong swimmer. Most parts of Mission Bay get up to 12 feet deep.
Kayak: Glide over the saltwater for a couple of hours at sunrise to start the day! You can rent kayaks on an hourly or daily basis, and you’ll run into multiple rental shops just by strolling around. Prices vary; for the best deal find a rental shop that’s not in the Belmont Park section.
Paddleboards: Paddleboarding isn’t new. But it’s definitely the trendy pick right now. There were easily 2-3 paddleboards for every kayak on the water when we visited. Just like with kayaks, you can rent a paddle board and spend hours exploring the Bay’s shores, sailing club, and estuaries.
Sailing: Feeling too fancy for those boards and boats that actually need you to do your own paddling? Harness the power of the wind, my friend! Rent or take lessons at Mission Bay’s Aquatic Center.
Snorkel: I’ve always thought snorkeling was an underrated water sport. For a relatively small price, you can own equipment that helps you explore oceans, bays, and lakes for a lifetime! The place to snorkel in Mission Bay is Mission Point Park, which is in the southwest corner of the neighborhood. Most beach stores sell snorkeling equipment if you don’t bring your own.
Surfing: The long, relatively low waves of the area are famously fantastic for surfing. This is definitely a true San Diego activity. In fact, surfers riding with the sunset behind them is a daily sight. It’s easy to find a board to rent. You can book a lesson at most rental places too.
Land
Mission Bay is a man-made area specifically designed for water recreation. Because of that, most land-based activities are your typical, Type II Fun beach activities. Think running alongside the water or renting skates for the boardwalk (skating is big here!). The one team sport that dominates is volleyball. Nets are everywhere, and you can find a pick-up opportunity anytime.
Balboa Park: OK, this is not in the Mission Bay Area but is a short 10-15 minute drive away. The park is 1,200 acres (486 hectares) large and includes miles of trails, cafes, museums, fountains, and even the world-famous Zoo. Definitely worth a half-day visit.
El Cabrillo National Monument!! An exclamation point because we only went on a friend’s tip and ended up returning to explore more on our final day. El Cabrillo is actually pretty small at only 144 acres (58 hectares). Make sure to walk down to the tidal pools for great wildlife watching. From there you can hike the mountainside for a couple of hours. We spotted several huge naval ships and walked beneath noisy flocks of pelicans during our visit
The vegetation at El Cabrillo is very shrubby, so don’t expect much shade. Bring sunblock, a hat and plenty of water!
The 10 minute drive to the Point Loma neighborhood takes you to this national monument. The charge is $20 per car, and the pass is good for 7 days.
Hiking and birdwatching at Cabrillo National Monument
EAT
So how are you going to fuel all of this boarding, surfing, and hiking? Well in case you didn’t know (I didn’t), Mexico is only 17 short miles away from San Diego. So, the Mexican food here is AMAZING! The typical San Diego burrito, the carne asada, is good enough to be a daily meal. Burrito fan or not, try all the Mexican food you can.
What about drinks? Do you like good beer? San Diego is also the birthplace of the American craft beer movement, making for an impressive variety of delicious local brews.
Conclusion
San Diego is the 8th largest city in the United States, and there is plenty to see besides Mission Bay. You can certainly spend weeks exploring the food, beer and culture scenes. For example, the Little Italy neighborhood is walkable and packed with cafes and trattorias, and it’s not far from the USS Midway museum.
But, for outdoor activities to try in San Diego, I’d go back to the Mission Bay neighborhood. It’s close to everything, and you can pick from a menu of activities ranging from relaxing (a la paddleboarding) to full body workouts (surfing). And you don’t have to spend much to rent a kayak or board, or to buy snorkeling equipment.
