I am currently packing for an annual trip I take with mom. I accompany her on a summer trip each year as she attends a work conference. This is a major opportunity for me to tag along and immerse myself in some fun travels. As I plan, pack, and prepare for this year’s adventure, I am reminiscing about our trip to San Diego exactly a year ago!
If I had to describe San Diego in one sentence, I would say, “This is the best weather I have ever encountered!” Everyday was engulfed in steady breezes and temperatures that were perfect for some sightseeing. I loved that trip and would have stayed longer if possible. So, let’s dive right in!
Number one on my list of things to do was to go to the popular San Diego Zoo! I like to go to a zoo anytime I travel. There is just something so relaxing about walking around and watching animals.
The San Diego Zoo was a day long activity that kept me smiling! It did not disappoint, although, my feet ached for days! It is a huge zoo, and I got to see animals I have never seen before as well as animals that I must see each time I go to a zoo. For starters, the hippos were astounding and massive. They were very active and seemed to be having a blast frolicking in the cool waters. I was most in aww by the gorillas. They were rolling around in their habitat preparing for an afternoon nap. I honestly could have watched these amazing creatures all day as they nestled under a water fall. The elephants and giraffes were entertaining, and I enjoyed watching the rhino. It amazes me how smart and adaptive these wild animals are.
When I visit big cities, I usually take advantage of the Hop On-Hop Off Buses. It is truly the best way to see a new place. In Sand Diego, I started my bus tour in Old Town and rode through each stop. I got off of the bus in Little Italy to enjoy some sweet gelato! I also was able to see the famous “Unconditional Surrender” Statue at Port of San Diego. The statue is a must-see and now the reason I that have a small replica of the statue in my house!
On the bus, we drove on the Coronado Bridge- a two-mile bridge that connects San Diego to Coronado Island. This bridge was very unique because of the curved shaped and the elevation. It was very windy, but the views of San Diego were breathtaking! Once we got to the other side, we got a glimpse of the beautiful California beaches and historic hotels! I definitely recommend doing a bus tour in any city that offers it!
The award for “Best Memory in San Diego” goes to the day I went whale watching and then to a Blink-182 Concert! Yep! Quite the combo! I woke up early on our last day and took an uber to a marina. I boarded a speed boat with another family, and we rode out to the open waters of the Pacific Ocean. We passed by lighthouses, seals, and a pod of dolphins that raced our boat for quite some time. The captain of the boat came to a halt and then we waited…Waited to see the largest animal to have ever lived-The Blue Whale. I was in aww when we saw and heard the sound of water being sprayed from the whale! The massive creature swam on the surface and would deep dive into the ocean, revealing its large tail. When the blue whale does a deep dive, it takes between 10 and 15 minutes before it reappears. To challenge this fact, our captain started a timer, and he was correct. We watched the same blue whale for about 30 minutes before heading back to the marina. On the way back, the captain received a radio call of another whale sighting near us. We were fortunate to witness another blue whale swimming across the Pacific Ocean. Seeing a blue whale in a lifetime is very rare, and I am now a person who can tell the tale of the great whale!
Now, how is Blink-182 involved with a natural outdoor experience such as whale watching? Well, when I arrived back to our hotel, my mom was at her conference, and I was starving. All I wanted was a sandwich, so I walked two blocks to Lucky’s Lunch Counter. I ordered my lunch and sat at a table outside and right next to Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. I was sitting by myself when a mother and daughter walked up to me and asked if they could share my table since there were no more seats available. I noticed they had the same conference name tags as my mom, so I offered them seats at my table. I told them my mom was attending the same conference, and we immediately sparked a long conversation over turkey sandwiches and pasta salad. They were from Ohio and travel together each year. As we were eating, music from the stadium started playing. I mentioned that it sounded like an old Blink-182 song. The daughter replied, “Well, they are doing a hometown show tonight at the stadium so it must be their soundcheck.” (Enter shocked emoji here!)
I want to mention too that Blink-182 is one of my favorite bands and I have seen them twice in concert. So, I did what every “bucket list” traveler must do- I looked up tickets. My mom was not interested in going to this concert, so I purchased one $20 ticket, got dressed for a rock concert in a flowery dress (I did not plan for a random rock show), and walked to the Blink-182 Concert by myself. I bought me some dinner, found my seats, and had a flashback to my high school days at my first Blink concert! I had the time of my life honestly! “Rocking out” to Feeling This and All the Small Things my last night in San Diego was not on my bingo card but it was the kind of spontaneity that was the perfect end to pretty cool trip!
“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.”
— Dalai Lama
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