You Stay Classy, San Diego!
Travel is one of the truest tests of a relationship, right? But as the day of departure loomed, I worried. Would the trip force me to see a new side of my dear friend and roommate? As we packed our bags with all the essentials for a sunny weekend excursion, I gave us a 50/50 chance. We would either end up even closer than before, or one of us would be moving out as soon as we returned.
A quick flight and a few hours later, we arrived in “America’s Finest City” and all the stress began to fade. We threw our weekenders in the trunk of our little Nissan Versa (courtesy of Enterprise) and demanded Siri direct us to The Lafayette Hotel, a historic hotel nestled in the heart of North Park. The boutique property is filled with an eclectic mix of details. With the help of subtle touches throughout and live music from local talent Normandie Wilson, vacationers are transported back to the 1940s. The hotel also features two on-site restaurants, an improv theater, a giant chess board, and a lavish pool built and designed by the original man of the jungle and the first Tarzan, Johnny Weissmuller.
Two drinks at Hope 46, and a quick tour around the hotel later, we were ready for dinner. And when it came time to dine San Diego certainly delivered. Urban Solace, a staple in the North Park neighborhood, serves up modern American comfort food in a space accented by dark wood. Starting with the seared albacore chop-chop and ending with the mustard crusted Sea Bass and spiced duck confit, we dined until our tummies could take no more, and then we took two more bites. The next night, we headed to Croce’s Park West, a long- time San Diego staple. From the moment you enter the restaurant, the live music and dim lighting intrigue the senses and the precision of service almost immediately guarantees your visit will be of five-star quality. But only when you’ve selected your perfect beverage with the help of their onsite sommelier and taken the first bite of your meal do you know this will be a meal you won’t soon forget. The firecracker shrimp and kale salad start the evening with a bang. The duck confit, and seared scallop entrees are on seal deal, leaving nothing to be desired, except maybe another few bites.
We would have been perfectly content eating ourselves into food comas, and lounging around our glorious hotel but with a name like Noah, we were snapped out our food craze and headed to the zoo. Now, when given the option between the San Diego Zoo or its new Safari Park, the choice was clear. When would we ever have the opportunity to see a cheetah run at full speed, watch exotic birds perform a dance routine, or interact with tigers? The Safari Park is located about 45 minutes outside of the city in Escondido, and while $48 might seem like a steep price to pay, the experience is worth every penny — and memories are priceless, are they not? As we explored every square foot of the park, we knew we’d made the right decision.
Tuckered out from a full day of hiking around the Safari Park in 100-degree weather, nothing seemed more fitting than a nice cold brew. We set a course for Hillcrest Brewing Company, the “First Gay Brewery in the World” and part of the infamous MO’s Universe of bars and restaurants. It was there we found our second wind and hit the streets of Hillcrest to explore the gay nightlife scene. Time flew, and the drinks disappeared quickly as we bounced from Baja Betty’s to Gossip Grill to Urban MO’s (where we guzzled down two world famous Blackout Lemonades) and finally to Rich’s, a high-energy gay nightclub — all of which were located on a single street. By the time the morning light peaked through the tightly pulled blinds of our hotel room, we barely knew what hit us, but fighting pounding headaches, we repacked our bags, checked out of the Lafayette Hotel and headed to La Jolla for our final 24-hour stretch.
Pulling up to the La Jolla Shores Hotel, we couldn’t help but notice the throng of wetsuits and beach bodies flooding the streets of the little town. We tossed our bags on the bed, popped a few ibuprofens, and headed to Surf Divas for a private lesson. It was there that our instructor, Stephen, took two landlocked city kids, and transformed us into B-level surfers (certainly NOT A-level and realistically more like C-level, but definitely not the worst). Take a private lesson, or grab a group of friends and take a lesson together with their party wave option — with more than 50 instructors and its multiple offerings, Surf Divas is hands down the best option in town.
Exhausted. Still slightly hung over. And now sand- crusted and a salty, we prepped for our last supper. Just off Prospect Street in downtown La Jolla, chef Jason Knibb’s Nine-Ten is heaven. Start with the signature Jamaican Jerk Pork Belly, then close your eyes and point because no matter what you pick, you certainly won’t be disappointed. For dessert, the vanilla tart flan will blow your mind.
As the sun rose over the ocean on our final morning, we gathered our belongings, checked out of our hotel, and set our sights on our own Mile High City. But before we could say goodbye, there would be just one more stop — the beach, Black’s Beach, a clothing- toptional beach in La Jolla. Like all nude beaches, it’s not about a sexual experience or even people watching, it’s about the freedom of being one with the environment, letting loose, and letting those ding-a-lings and tatas fly free. As we dropped trou, and let the warm ocean breeze overtake us, it was then we knew that this was not a good idea. It was the best idea.
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