Hi, I’m Chonkers. I grew up on the docks at Pier 39 in San Francisco, where my whole job was lying around in the fog and getting photographed by tourists. One day I thought: there has to be somewhere warmer. So I headed south, kept going until the fish tacos got really good, and never left.
SaDiego is what I wish someone had handed me when I got here. It’s for visitors who want the good stuff, not the brochure version.
Why this site exists
San Diego is a great place to visit. It’s also a great place to pay $16 for parking, stand in the wrong taco line and watch the sunset from behind a tour bus. I’d like to save you from all three.
So I write the guides I’d want: what’s worth it, what to skip, how to actually get there and where to park, because in San Diego parking is half the adventure.
What you’ll find here
- Hidden spots: the places worth a detour, from sea caves to secret bridges.
- Neighborhoods: where to wander, eat and stay, area by area.
- Plan your trip: when to come, where to stay and whether you need a car.
- The blog: fresh posts all the time, from seasonal events to the questions everyone googles before they land.
The taco rating
Every guide gets a rating from 1 to 5 tacos. One taco: skip it unless you’re already standing there. Five tacos: rearrange your trip for it.
To be upfront: my ratings come from homework, not free meals. I read official sites, menus, schedules and prices, look at what locals and visitors keep saying, then give you my honest take. Nobody pays for a rating here.
How I check things
- Facts like hours, prices, dates and rules come from official sources: the venue itself, the City, State Parks, the National Park Service or MTS.
- If I can’t confirm something, I either leave it out or tell you to check before you go.
- Prices and schedules change, so every guide gets updated when they do.
- Photos are free licensed images or official press photos, and the photographer always gets credit.
Say hi
Found a spot I missed, or did something change since I wrote about it? Tell me. I read every message, usually with a taco in hand.