What It's Like to Live In...San Diego

While we're wearing snow boots, Sparkler nicole2212 is frolicking around with surfers and eating fish tacos. IT'S NOT FAIR We're so happy for her! —SparkNotes editors

Hey Sparklers! Or shall I say, It’s like mucho excitomundo to like meet ya! Yes, I am a native San Diegan. San Diego is a wonderful city on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, even more south than L.A. (Los Angeles) and the O.C. (Orange County). However, unlike most of Southern California, we don’t have celebrities coming out of our ears (and we like it that way :-)).

San Diego is basically (but not really) in Mexico, and is the avocado capital of the world. (Fun Fact: Jason Mraz, everyone’s favorite ukulele-strumming, fedora-wearing singer owns an avocado farm in San Diego. How cool is that?!? Very cool, that’s what.)

San Diego is a coastal town, and most everyone lives there. There are the beach cities of La Jolla and Del Mar, two of the more affluent areas because they are just so gosh darn beautiful. Encinitas is the funky surfer town north of Del Mar. Downtown consists of Hillcrest, the cool and artsy town, and the Gaslamp, equally cool but urban with clubs and bars.

So if you’re ever in San Diego and want to look like a super cool native-type and not hang out in the overpriced touristy areas, here are me and my friend’s absolute FAVORITE places to hang out:

1. Rubios

Oh Rubios. Where would we be without your delicious fish tacos and salsa? This super amazing Mexican joint started in San Diego, and we’re all addicted. Even my Mexican friends who complain that it “isn’t authentic” love it. It’s that good.

2. Pannikin

Although a Starbucks latte is good in a pinch, Pannikin’s homemade drinks are heaven in a mug. Frequented by scruffy university types who are probably reading Dan Bergstein instead of writing their Kafka essay (I know I am) thanks to the free WiFi. And they have these as-big-as-your-head pastries that are a day’s worth of calories but sooooo worth it.

3. The Highlands

This strip mall is not much, just some restaurants, a supermarket, and a movie theater, but we all seem to like to hang out here. I don’t know why.

4. The Beach!

How could I talk about SoCal without mentioning the beach? Whether it’s La Jolla Shores or Powerhouse, we love going to the beach. So many activities we do happen at the beach: bonfires, surfing, hiking, surfing, tanning, and did I mention surfing? And even if you don’t surf (weirdo), you can still admire the surfers as they strut around in the sand, yum :-).

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