DINE
Herb and Wood
There’s a real food moment happening in San Diego and we had a great night at Herb and Wood in Little Italy. The menu is a mix of seafood and Italian, served in generous portions. The service is impeccable and the décor is chic; the perfect place for date night or a fun evening with friends. Luckily for us, our bub fell asleep just in time for our dinner and we enjoyed some cocktails while sharing the mixed cheese pizza and lobster pasta, followed by vanilla bean gelato.
Breakfast
Café 21
We visited the lively downtown neighbourhood, Gaslamp Quarter, for breakfast at this beautiful local cafe with a family-friendly atmosphere.
It’s obvious that word about the Instagram-worthy meals has gotten out – a table beside us orders the Banana Foster Cast Iron Dutch Pancake without looking at the menu and they snap away before it’s devoured. We order a serving of the classic pancakes and they arrive surrounded by generous toppings of maple syrup, raspberry and kiwi puree.
They use only locally grown, organic ingredients for a socially conscious farm-to-table experience – certainly an experience worth having.

STAY
Intercontinental San Diego
We arrive at the brand-new InterContinental Hotel in downtown San Diego late in the afternoon and are swiftly taken to our corner room, with floor-to-ceiling views over the bay.
Like all of the InterCon properties, the San Diego hotel is chic in design and practical in layout. Rooms are built to enjoy the view from every corner and the oversize space is comfortable for this family of three.
A kitchenette with tea and coffee and all-you-can eat goodies, such as chocolate-covered-almonds, keeps us happy while we lie back and enjoy the sunset.
There’s a food market right in front of the hotel that we just miss by the time we’re checked in, and we can see the USS Midway Museum out on the water just minutes away. We spot the pool to the right, with views over the water, but we don’t get the chance to visit because it’s overcast. The bathrooms are huge and sleek, but it’s the beds that we love. After putting the little one to bed – easy with the blackout curtains – we relax on the white linen-clad bed with a fluffy duvet and watch Crazy Rich Asiansbefore passing out for the night.
The location is a real selling point for the InterCon. It is just 10 minutes from the airport, and Little Italy and the Gaslamp Quarter are about 15 minutes’ walk away, making this property the ultimate short-stop accommodation.
An expansive health centre overlooking the bay is equipped with a personalised video wall and outdoor yoga terrace.

SHOP
Las Americas Premium Outlets
If you have the time, you must visit Las Americas Premium Outlets, located just 20 minutes south of downtown.
Here you’ll find a huge variety of brands like Adidas, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Armani and Vans at up to 65 per cent off.

EXPLORE
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the United States and home to 17 museums, beautiful gardens, striking Spanish-Colonial Revival architecture and the San Diego Zoo.
The 1,200-acre urban cultural park is a beautiful space with plenty to entertain all ages.
San Diego Zoo
Even if animals aren’t your thing, the San Diego Zoo is a must-do.
Located in Balboa Park, this iconic zoo houses more than 3,700 rare and endangered animals. Our bub enjoyed the adventure of wandering around the huge park, but it was my hubby and I who were blown away by the design of the enclosures, allowing us to be within centimetres of beautiful tigers roaming throughtheir rainforest-like-enclosures, talking to their brothers and sisters.
You’ll see everything from 90-year-old tortoises to pandas and rare birds.

La Jolla by the Sea
Hire a car and head out to La Jolla by the sea. It’s a charming beachside town filled with luxury boutiques and art galleries. There’s a beautiful bookstore called Warwick’s on the main road, and seats by the ocean should you want to just watch the day roll away.
