Love this hidden gem that I discovered only a few years back when a new friend invited me to her…read morecondo in a street nearby this trail. So after the brunch the deal was walk away those mimosas. I have repeated this trail several times, most recently last week and always amazes me how cute it is, how beautiful the mega houses on the left and the sea on the right and that the trail ends in Shelter Island and you can get your cafelito or beer afterwards. This is a very mellow trail and you will see walkers and joggers, but very few as it is kind of secluded or not so well known. La Playa means beach in Spanish (in case you didn't know:). A small group of families with kids and the occasional buggy boarder or people playing with small boats. It is just such a stunning visual. The clouds are always mesmerizing and the smell of the plumerias that abound in the trail will mesmerize you.

Great organization full of such interesting information…read moreabout the history of our peninsula. Did you know that Ballast Point had a Spanish fort guarding the bay in 1796? Native Americans helped build it. Hides from inland ranchos we're tanned on the beach there. Trade ships would land off Ballast Point. The La Playa Trail was used to offload ships and transfer goods to destinations around town. Then hides were loaded onto the ships & about a year or so later, they'd return as hats, boots, shoes... We have cool history & La Playa Trail Association hosts speakers to spread this information to you. Lectures are usually at the Point Loma Assembly building, are free with a suggested donation of $10 & include beverages & appetizers (may change due to Covid restrictions).

Great area to go hiking with the dog. The trails are wide, clear, and well maintained. Plus, the…read moreview from the top is awesome!

If you live in the neighborhood, this is a convenient spot for hiking or jogging. There is very…read morelittle shade on the trail, but there are some picnic tables (not that I've ever seen anyone use them). It's usually quiet, so some people walk their dogs off-leash, as a heads up. The place could be better maintained because there is a fair amount of dog poop and crushed broken glass on the trail. Regardless, it's nice San Diego has so many open areas.

Cabrillo National Monument is awesome and needs to be top of the to-do list for a visit to San…read moreDiego. There is so much to see and do at the Park. The views of the bay, ocean, beaches and city are spectacular. The Visitors Center is packed with historical information about the landing of the first European, explorer Juan Cabrillo, at the bay. Naturalists offer special programs throughout the day about wildlife and other features of Point Loma. We saw a gopher snake during our visit. An overlook at the site offers explanation of ships and sea life that can be observed from the point. We found plenty of nearby parking at the Visitors Center. A short walk from the visitors center is a massive statue of Juan Cabrillo, the first European explorer to set foot on what is now San Diego Bay in 1592. The statue was created by sculpture Al Varo De Bree of Lisbon in 1939. We took photos by the statue. Old Point Loma Lighthouse is another prominent feature of the Monument. The lighthouse was one of the first lighthouses commissioned on the west coast of the U.S. During low tide, tide pools, on the north west side of the park, offer visitors a glimpse of ocean wonders. You can see sea-life up close. The tide was high during our visit, but I will return to check out the pools. Numerous trails lead up and down the point. The trails are somewhat steep, but offer spectacular views of the ocean and bay. Plan at least a four hour visit. Bring water and snack. Hiking stick is useful if you want to hike. Bathing gear is handy if you want to explore the tide pools. Go mid week to avoid the crowds. Wear hat and sunscreen. We found plenty of parking.

It was a bright, shiny day. We were surprised by how few people were there…read more It was going to be DOWN DAY, but my Partner suggested going to the CABRILLO National Monument. As for me, it was all a surprise. We had an amazing time at the Cabrillo National Monument, beginning at the lower level. We spent about 15 MINUTES there, on the nice bench!!! I would like to thank them for having a disabled parking spot amongst their parking spaces. We then drove up to the LIGHTHOUSE. I was dropped off, and Gonzalo parked down below. We saw something for the very first time, lots and lots Military Helicopters flying by from North Island. I then walked around the mini Museum and Lighthouse. It was then off to the Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo Statue. It was particularly windy up there, and we loved it. It had turned into a nice day, even though it was meant to be a DOWN DAY. We started at Starbucks, moved to CABRILLO NM, and ended up at Poma Delicatessen. We were surprised the most by how few people were there at the CNM. I was at the Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo Statue, and there were ZERO PEOPLE. Indeed, there were more military helicopters than people!!!

Sail Bay offers a diverse experience based on the section of the bay you decide to visit. From…read morelounge chairs by the Catamaran to children's climbing structures at Felspar Park, the bay provides hours of fun for all ages. Sail Bay is where I prefer to lay out with a book and relax. It is less crowded and busy than the beach, but provides the same beachy feel. The boardwalk is composed of concrete and well-maintained, allowing visitors to run, walk, or bike the length of the bay. This is a great place to walk and talk or simply stand and enjoy the sunset. Best of all, the San Diego Bay Water Quality Improvement Plan has been working to clean the bay. Now you can feel safe dipping your toes in the water after a stroll along Sail Bay Boardwalk!

A friend of mine recently moved just steps away from this place so we got to enjoy its wonderful…read moreviews. It's a great area to relax on the sand, play volleyball or even have a bonfire. The beach doesn't have its own fire pits so bonfires are allowed as long as you bring your own. There's also a paved trail along the perimeter of the beach so if you plan on running around PB this would be a great route to add to your run.

I've always seen this trailhead near the Mission Valley Y and the trolley station but I've never…read moretaken it before so today I decided to wander a bit. It's an absolutely lovely part of our mission Valley river system that's been taken over by unsheltered people, but they are just people just like us and they are someone's child, parent, or friend so I really enjoyed exploring this trail right in my hometown. Always something new to discover.

I love how San Diego is taking certain areas and preserving them as a trail as opposed to…read moredeveloping them. This is a cute little area right by the trolley and certainly something to poke around in. It's not that big of a trail, but there is a river and there is a little bit of a pond which I saw people fishing in. The only downfall is you might come across a homeless encampment, which is typical for San Diego because no matter where you go you're going to find a homeless encampment. I wouldn't suggest going there after Dark. I did find the trail really cute, there was a map when entering the trail, and somebody took the time to set up a bunch of rock hearts. That was brighten my day as I was able to take a picture and send it to a few friends. I saw numerous birds, and lizards throughout my little walk. All in all, I would have to say I didn't encounter too many people but it was on a weekday, it was quite relaxing, and a cute little find in an urban area. To be honest I'd rather see one homeless encampment over hundreds of people on a trail = what I usually get when I hike in San Diego. REASONS TO VISIT MISSION VALLEY PRESERVE: 1. Easy access 2. Fishing hole

I highly recommend coming to visit this USA Veterans Memorial Monument. This monument was…read moreestablished in the year 2000 and has been an icon in our community of San Diego for 26 years. It is run by an organization that values and appreciates the sacrifices of our USA veterans. Everything in the middle round monument is run by this organization and not by the City of San Diego. The monuments are so very well presented. Each of the walls of honored veterans have a wonderful photo and a brief summary of their service as well as who they were. This is a great educational opportunity for people to come visit and learn about the people who have sacrificed ultimately for our country. It was very nice to see that there were America 250 years flags flying. Also, I love that they have the POW MIA flag flying. at the top of the monument there is a big bench that says "Papa Doug" Manchester engraved on it. I try to come visit this location every other year if not once a year. It's a wonderful reminder about our veterans and how they've sacrificed for our country and for us to have the freedoms that we have today.

Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial is a significant tribute to our nation's veterans. The…read moresite offers incredible 360 degree views of San Diego County and the Pacific Ocean. The pinnacle of the Memorial is a massive white cross at the summit of the hill. Granite plaques, highlighting 3000 sponsored veterans, encircle the cross. Accessible walkways allow viewing of each of the highlighted veterans. U.S. flags and white rose bushes adorn the site. Panels around the monument describe the site, donors and controversy regarding the cross on public lands. The artistic cross was added in 1996 after court battles. Veterans can be added to the granite wall for fees around $3000 each for engraving. Information pamphlets are available at the site. Several benches are available for relaxing. Parking is somewhat limiting, but we were able to find a space. There are no restroom or other facilities at the site. Admission is free, but donations are requested.

Descanso town hall was an excellent venue for our wedding. The town hall is restored beautifully…read moreand the grounds are gorgeous. Rebecca was very helpful with all our questions. Just be sure to follow the cleanup list to the letter. Stayed an hour after my wedding to clean up and still lost my deposit and then some due to small things, like the chairs not being covered or 20 bucks for a couple water bottles in the freezer. There is no room for error, if you're not going to put things away, don't even waste your time as you will still be charged. Besides that, the venue is priced excellently, and they provide tables and chairs and table cloths for an additional fee.

Welcome to Descanso! We love our quiet little town and old fashioned way of living. The town hall…read moreis just another fine example of this. Old wood panelled walls that if they could talk would have so many stories to tell. The original town hall was built in the early 1900s and is still here today. Be sure to stop in for a pancake breakfast, second sunday of every month. Or book your next event here.

My son and I visited a week ago Saturday. Carol gave us the tour of the barn. There were many cool…read morehistorical items in the museum. Items from when it was a dairy farm, part of the Edgemoor Hospital and Photos of documents of Santee history. I would love to add photos to my review, but can't see how.