1. Nothing Gets San Diegans Rallying Like A Chargers Game
Anyone visiting San Diego can tell immediately how excited locals get about their football team. Sure, the Padres’ pitching staff is a source of city pride, but the Chargers blow up every sports bar and the hearts all over the city. Better get your tickets now—this is definitely shaping up to be their year.
2. You’ll Learn To Talk Like You’re Actually Fluent In Spanish
If you’re not sure how to pronounce La Jolla, Tierrasanta, San Ysidro or Jamul now, don’t worry—every day in San Diego is an unofficial Spanish immersion course. Even if you never become fluent, you’ll at least be able to repeat it like you know what you’re doing.
3. Uneven Tan Lines Will Be Your Biggest Complaint
Let’s get one thing straight: everyone in San Diego is fine. Turns out the formula for hotness is lots of sun + being outdoors all the time and hitting up the gym like it’s your job. So when you’re doing your minimum half hour of beach time, you’ll learn to be careful and get that sweet tan on all sides.
4. Every Sunset In San Diego Is Beautiful, But The Best Is From Mt. Helix
This peak features a panoramic path around the top that San Diegans take full advantage of, taking in the whole area on a clear day. If you ever feel like impressing someone, a quick hike up Mt. Helix as the sun goes down is as romantic as the city gets.
5. The Del Mar Fair Beats Out Every Meal You’ve Ever Had
The Del Mar Fair takes your average county fair and puts it on high-quality steroids. If you’ve never had Mexican funnel cake, Australian potatoes or a whole turkey leg in your life, get in this action.
It’s a fry cook’s dream, too: artichoke hearts, mushrooms—all of them get the battered and fried treatment, much to your stomach and taste buds’ content.
6. If You Say You’re “Going To The Park” Your Friends Will Know Just What You Mean
Maybe it’s the Spanish architecture that makes you feel like you’re walking through a spaghetti western, or the acres upon acres of stunning nature, or the seemingly rotating wedding groups anxiously waiting for that perfect picture.
Whatever it is that makes Balboa Park truly awesome, it’s not going anywhere. Also, the zoo is here, but that’s it’s own monster of awesome.
7. The Closest Anything Gets To Winter Here Is The Summer
If the terms “May Gray” and “June Gloom” mean nothing to you, prepare yourself. The warm sunshine and eternal summer every San Diegan takes for granted is about to take a turn for the gray.
The marine layer isn’t unique to San Diego, truth be told, but it definitely has the biggest cultural effect. There are two whole months where only hardcore surfers are hitting the waves, where you can’t tan, and your flip-flops won’t be coming out every day. Get used to it.
8. You’ll Get Used To Seeing Pro Skaters At Albertson’s
Almost a third of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 roster live in San Diego, and unlike the 3D sprites in those games, they are real people leading real lives, as many San Diegans know.
Tony Hawk himself is basically the most popular philanthropist ever. He’s responsible for opening So Many skateparks nationwide in low-income areas—he basically brings the coolest brand of fun to everyone. #SkateboardVersionOfMotherTheresa
9. SeaWorld Is Basically Just For Cooling Off
The same park San Diego kids loved back in the day is just as popular, not only with tourists, but locals who just want to cool off, splash-zone style. And you’d have to be pretty jaded not to find the amazing feats those killer whales are capable of.
10. The Santa Ana Winds Are San Diego’s Arch-Nemesis
If there was a comic book villain with the powers of the Santa Anas, they would be able to fly really, really fast, burn everything and there whole agenda would be to ruin. Just ruin. Good times? Ruin. Investment in a mortgage? Ruin. San Diego needs the Santa Anas like it needs another wildfire.
11. Your Relationship With Tourists Will Be Mostly Road Rage
We get it—San Diego is awesome, but what doesn’t make sense is why people who come from all around the world can’t just stay around SeaWorld. Did they come to simply enjoy the beautiful beaches? Have a place stateside while they go down and explore TJ? Are they really, really big fish taco fanatics?
Whatever they are, they really shouldn’t be in the left lane.
12. You’ll Get Your Daily Dose Of Cute From The La Jolla Beach Seals
Nothing will make you melt like an ice cream in the San Diego sun than the seals on La Jolla Beach. Those big black eyes, the chubbiness, the ability to max and relax with the best of them—these seals are the cutest zen masters in San Diego.
Bring a camera. Every shot will be priceless.
13. The Grittier The Exterior, The Better The Restaurant
The rest of the United States knows California has the most authentic Mexican cuisine, and the rest of California, begrudgingly, knows that San Diego is the best of the lot. You might be tempted to check out the pristine, “we’ve never had problems with a health code”-looking places, but trust the local knowledge: the grimier the place looks, the better the flavor.
Case in point: Roberto’s Taco Shop.
14. It’s Not “Salsa,” It’s Hot Sauce
Salsa is the homemade stuff you make with diced tomatoes, yeah, but hot sauce is what you’re drizzling your tacos in. Maybe it’s Trappey’s, maybe it’s Roberto’s, Chile de Arblo, whatever you’re having, it’s good and spicy.
15. If You Choose Starbucks Over Pannikin, You’ve Made A Huge Mistake
Reason number one: how could you not enter? The quaint spot in La Jolla is its own invitation to stop in and try it out.
Reason number two: the coffee tastes better, the tea is more affordable, and the pastries are richer and sweeter and way more sinful.
Reason number three: blueberry scone.
16. You’ve Probably Never Heard About San Diego’s Little Italy?
No one’s surprised that San Diego has enough authentic Latin cuisine to satisfy even the toughest critics, but turns out that’s not the only cuisine the city knocks out of the park.
Little Italy has it all: The best farmer’s mercato in the whole city, a lively downtown vibe without the ills of actual downtown, killer gelato and all the real deal Italian cibo at Mona Lisa.
17. Dunkin’s Got Nothing On VG Bakery
Because of the sheer selection, am I right? VG has all the right classics from the old fashioned glaze to the strawberry-filled, and a few adventurous flavors like the Shoe, Mini Jelly and the Blueberry Buttermilk. Also they’ll totally do your wedding cake right.
18. You’ll Save Torrey Pines For When You Really Want To Impress Someone
Mt. Helix has a great view of the whole San Diego area, but Torrey Pines is the best hiking in this outdoorsy city. The beach trail alone leads to a pristine view that would almost make you forget you were a stone’s throw from civilization.
If all your stunning Instagrams are bringing in your friends from around the country, this is the place to take them—it’s pretty much what the whole country imagines what California looks like.
19. If You Really Want To Get Sun ALL Over, Go Natural At Black’s Beach
Even if you aren’t into going bare everywhere, Black’s Beach will still be a favorite of yours. Turns out it’s the only truly “private beach”, no pun intended, that actually feels private.
It’s by the far the best beach in San Diego.
20. The San Diego Farmer’s Markets Don’t Do Seasonal
It’s Sunday morning—you just woke up and it sounds like the apocalypse hit overnight. Where is everyone? Down at the nearest farmer’s market, obviously!
The armies of local vendors sampling out their fresh products, the can’t-go-wrong prices and, if you’re lucky, live music and entertainment.
Of course, the market you pick will depend on the vendor you’re looking for—Jamaican, Indian, wherever you can get a cracked sea urchin (it’s real)!
21. If You Weren’t A Big Jack Johnson Fan Before, You Will Be Now
Jack Johnson and San Diego should just get it over with get hitched already. The surfer folk singer-songwriter is the mellow ideal to which all sunbathers, surfers and lazy Sunday-ers aspire to—and that’s already 99% of the people who live in the city.
22. You’ll Know The Apocalypse Is Here Because Of The Rain
There are cities out there that don’t cancel school after a fresh foot of snow has clogged the roads. And then there’s San Diego, where the phenomenon of the sky crying, commonly referred to as “rain”, warrants work cancellations, school closings, general catastrophe.
Take a rainy day recess inside—the sun will definitely be out tomorrow.
23. There Are Rules To Survive On The Boardwalk
The PB Boardwalk has awesome ocean views that go great with the seafood you’re eating that came out of them, and cabins where you can hear the waves rolling in and out all night.
Mission Boardwalk has a rollercoaster.
Take your pick, but whatever you do, walk on the right side, because the throngs of tourists will not yield.
24. Who Needs Vegas When You Have The Gaslamp
Need to let off steam with your buddies after work? Gaslamp. Looking to hit up the clubs with your friends? Gaslamp. Favorite band in town? Seeing a show? Want to relive The Hangover without a huge road trip?
Gaslamp.
25. Slomo Will Be Your New Favorite Celebrity
Say “Slomo” to anyone on the PB Boardwalk and they’ll immediately know who you’re talking about. Better yet, he might scoot by, headphones in, big smile, the picture of disarming calm, and they’ll all call out his name.
How much of a local icon is he? Dude got a short documentary done about him, and anyone whose met the man, was befuddled by him, or just curious, would definitely do to give it a watch.
26. Stop With The Anchorman Quotes
Just stop.
27. The Zoo Is Actually That Awesome
Not just because it’s at the heart of gorgeous Balboa Park, but the San Diego Zoo is as breathtaking as it is staggeringly huge. Bring your FitBit—you’ll be meeting your week’s goal in one day as you see the habitats and the amazing animals that live there (and some that roam with you).
Koalas, gorillas, kangaroos, whatever an okapi… the list is too long for this article.
28. You’ll Soon See Why People Are So Over LA
When you finally get your roots out in San Diego, you might be tempted to check out Los Angeles. Be forewarned: Venice Beach is where beaches go to die, the traffic is abysmal, there’s no NFL period (and the Dodgers are just terrible outright) and their “marine layer” is really just… well, better not to say.
Why not stay in San Diego, where the neighborhoods are closer, the beaches are nicer and they have the most ‘Merican burger this side of a bald eagle.
29. This Really Is The Most Beautiful City On Earth
Whether you’re out on a pristine beach, watching the waves roll in and out, driving down Harbor, seeing the city sights, or way up out in the hills, looking down on it all as the sun sets over the ocean, you’ll always agree:
This is the best city on the face of the planet.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about San Diego? Tell us in the comments below!
