Spotlight :: San Diego

trip styler's san diego[trip style = weekend away + beach + urban]

San Diego's sea breeze and surf life has been calling my name since high school, the last time I visited. I remember very few details from the trip other than one vivid moment: seeing A.C. Slater {of Saved by the Bell fame} walking down the street. I was so embarrassed---for who I'm not sure---I looked the other way.

MORE PHOTOS BELOW.

Prior to my brush with Mr. Mullet, my only interaction with this Southern Cali city was a quintessential kid-trip to Sea World. My sister and I sat in the splash zone for Shamu's show. We left with soggy bums and ice creams to forget the wet.

Mr. Trip Styler and I have been talking about strutting down to Ron Burgundy's stomping grounds forever, so this June we finally flew to the coastal cosmo and tried the adult version on for size. It fit just right. Because people surf before work. Because there's 100+ kms of coastline. Because everyone rides cruiser bikes. Because the temperature is just right---not too hot, not too cold. Because there's a brood of restaurants and shops and neighborhoods outside of tourist areas with a laser-focus on their food, their craft, their brew, their goods, and differentiating from the crowd.

Trip Styler Tip :: Find more San Diego deets in two articles I wrote for Expedia in the Expedia Viewfinder Blog: 48 Hours in San Diego and Beach 101.

Like modern explorers we sailed {read: drove} around town in search of a motley crew of cool; this makeshift map documents our tried, tested and trip styled recommendations. If I take the winter off, you'll know where to find me.

trip styler guide to san diego {To make things clear as ice, I've loaded each hotel, restaurant and lounge mentioned above into Google Maps, as well as tagged my San Diego snaps on Instagram as #TSsanDiego so you can search them easily.}

Photos tower 23 hotel {Tower 23 Hotel. San Diego's it shore-front sleepover.}

pacific beach SD {Pacific Beach.}

sessions public restaurant {Sessions Public. Pictured here: part of our happy hour feast!}

SD lifeguard station {Lifeguard station. I had to.}

coronado beach {Coronado Beach.}

monello restaurant SD {Monello Italian restaurant. Cool trivia: they serve Cicchetti at happy hour, aka you order a drink and the chef prepares you a petite appy.}

 SD pigment shop {Pigment. A shop. My muse avec air plants, beach wood furniture, handmade leather goods, etc... }

great maple restaurant {Great Maple, a gorgeous diner-turned-restau dishing out chic comfort food.}

Related Roam+Board :: The Pearl Hotel {Where to stay in San Diego}

[photos by @tripstyler]