Today we have the privilege to hear from Julia Azulia, (Instagram-@juliaazulia) an Oncolory RN as well as a Yoga/fitness instructor who loves to be outdoors and is so lucky to call San Diego, CA her home. She will be sharing with us 3 AMAZING hikes located in the area, along with some yummy restaurants and tips for this beautiful location. Thank you Julia for your wealth of knowledge. Now let's get started!!
1. Torrey Pines State Park- nothing beats hiking along the ocean. With more than a dozen hiking trails within the park, you can pick an easy loop or do all the trails back to back for a full day of hiking. The best is to end on the beach for a day of hiking. My favorite is a 10K starting in the parking lot, heading up the payment to Guy Fleming Trail Loop to Parry Grove Loop down the Beach Trail, along the beach back to the entrance. Don't forget to check the tide if you will be hiking back to the entrance. Parking is readily available with two lots and beach parking (or from the top/South across from Torrey Pines Golf Course) and you can end your hike with a beach swim.
2. Annie's Canyon lagoon trail- Newly renovated nature preserve for walking or trail running. This trial has plenty of shade, great for birding and you can navigate to the slot canyons for an extra challenge. The PCH to El Camino Real trail out and back is approximately 10K with well maintained trails.
3. Mount Laguna Meadow Loop- Nestled East of the Cleveland National Forest about an hour East of San Diego, it doesn't seem like you are in California. At 6000ft elevation, there are plenty of hikes including part of the PCT. On a clear day, drive up to the observatory off of Sunrise Highway for some spectacular views of the Salatan Sea. You will need a wilderness pass for $5 a day or $30 annually.
Best North County restaurants:
View and ambience- Trilogy Cafe in La Jolla (all vegan and gluten free)
Kid Friendly - Farmer and the Seahorse in La Jolla
Hippest Happy Hour- Monach in Del Mar
Insta-Brunch Worthy- Waverly in Cardiff by the Sea
Although San Diego seems like the perfect destination for the holidays, it gets extremely crowded with limited parking, no availability for lodging and restaurants, hellish expensive and has LA-like traffic. It’s best to come off season or during the week. and there’s a reason we live here- the weather is perfect year round!
Want the perfect hiking adventure clothes? Shop our Hiked It collection HERE.
