Reuniting with my past in Myrtle Beach SC

I landed late on a Thursday night in Myrtle Beach.  Ten years have passed since I last visited here.  Nearly twenty years had passed since I lived here.  Walking through the airport, I didn’t even recognize the place.

So much had changed.

I was only here for a few days.  However, there were very few people that knew I was here.  This was a secret mission to see a few people I haven’t seen in years.

I was born and raised in South Carolina.  Nearly all of my family still lives here.  And most of them didn’t even know I was here.

As I reunited with South Carolina, I took a walk through my past, met with old friends, and planned a special surprise.

A secret mission in an old familiar place

Leaving the airport, I drove to the only two family members that knew I was in South Carolina – my aunt and uncle.

When I lived here many years ago, my aunt and uncle lived only a few miles from my house.  On my late night drive to their home, I didn’t even recognize the roads to their house.  Myrtle Beach had changed so much.

When I arrived at their house, they were already asleep.  I settled in for the evening and got ready for the weekend.  While so much seemed different, it was nice to know that a place I had spent so much of my time as a teenager was still the same.

My time in Myrtle Beach would be short as I was only here until Sunday.  Spontaneous trips are the best and that’s what I had planned on Friday.  On Saturday, I was going back in time.  On Sunday, my secret mission would be fulfilled.

What inspired this trip back to South Carolina?  I was here for my 20^th high school reunion and to revisit the places I used to call home.  I also had a surprise planned – but that would wait until Sunday.

Family, old friends, and memories in Myrtle Beach

Briggs and Jeremy – old friends hanging out in Myrtle Beach

When I awoke on Friday, I talked to my aunt and made plans for lunch in Myrtle Beach.

It was a cloudy, rainy, windy day – not ideal for spring at the beach.  However, I was excited to have lunch with my friend Briggs at Peaches Corner.  Years ago, Briggs and I had many classes together in school.  We were also teammates on the baseball team.

As I parked my car and walked to Peaches Corner, he was waiting at the door with his customary smile.  The present made acquaintances with the past as we spent an hour talking about our lives and memories.

After lunch, I wandered along the boardwalk, beach, and pier in Myrtle Beach taking photos.  A walk on the beach during the perfect storm taught me a few travel lessons about the storms of life.

I remembered September 1989 as a 14 year old when Hurricane Hugo slammed into Charleston and Myrtle Beach.  As I walked along the beach and pier today, I could barely stand.  The storm of the present made me flash back to the storms of my past.

While Myrtle Beach is a popular destination for beach lovers, this wasn’t a happy vacation spot for me.  After all, whether it’s Hawaii or Miami, I don’t spend a lot of time on the beach anyways.

However, this place was a huge part of my life.  Being back here, I was reminded of that past.

Reuniting with my past in Conway and Myrtle Beach

The house I lived in during high school

Over the next couple of days, I revisited the places and memories of my teenage years.

On Saturday, I drove by my old home and neighborhood.  I stopped to take photos of my house and the home of my friend Danny.  My house looked old and a little run down.   Memory lane looked a lot different now on Lander Drive.

I drove the short drive to Coastal Carolina University - a place where I spent a lot of time sneaking on to college baseball games, swimming, going to high school football games, and even playing baseball games on that same field as a high school baseball player.

Our high school football stadium was gone, replaced by a bigger, modern college football stadium for Coastal Carolina.  Much of the campus looked the same but the baseball stadium seemed to be going through renovations as well.

Coastal Carolina University

As a high school kid, I worked summers at a Myrtle Waves water park in Myrtle Beach.  Those were some of my best memories as a teenager – a lifeguard with a tan, friends from different high schools, parties, volleyball games, and a few encounters with girls.  As I drove by to take a look at the park, it looked run down and old too.

Myrtle Waves water park – summer days as a lifeguard

On my last stop, I visited my old high school.  Conway High looked the same but a few things had changed.

My high school now had its own football stadium right next to the baseball field.  As I walked onto the baseball field and stood on the spot where I had spent many winter and spring afternoons and evenings, the field looked the same.  Yet everything was different now.

I spent many hours with this view from shortstop

As I drove away from the school, my walk down memory lane was complete.

Nothing looks the same back home

Coming back to Myrtle Beach, things weren’t the same.  Old familiar places looked different and they weren’t the same as I remembered it.  A few things had improved; many things had changed.

As I looked back on my my high school days and and life memories, I was sad that the treasured memories from my past had aged.

Unlike places from my past, I hope that I’ve improved with age.

On Saturday night, it was time to find out as I met old friends and classmates at my high school reunion.

Have you visited a place from your past?  Did things look the same or were they different?  How did it make you feel to back again?

This post is a three part series about my surprise visit to South Carolina

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A Pittsburgh photo essay – downtown skyline at night

A  cold, overcast day greeted me as I took my first steps through downtown Pittsburgh.  From the days of the Steel City, the city of Pittsburgh has received a makeover.  I was here to experience the Pittsburgh Renaissance for myself.

However, this wasn’t the weather I was hoping for when I landed.  I wanted to see the city in all its colors under beautiful blue skies on a warm spring day.

I’ve seen Yosemite in Winter and walked on the beach during a storm in Myrtle Beach.  With just a couple of days in Pittsburgh, would this be the beautiful city so many people told me about?

As I walked through downtown, I didn’t know if the skyline and the weather would cooperate.  As I discovered, this city is special.

Impressions of Pittsburgh

I spent two days walking the streets of Pittsburgh – the Strip District, Market Square, the Stadium District, and even the steel mill history of this once dirty, gloomy city.  Surprisingly, Pittsburgh has gone from Steel City to Tinseltown – a Hollywood of the East.

I was here to learn about the film industry in Pittsburgh.  Yet my introduction to Pittsburgh started with a walk downtown on a cold, gloomy Spring Day.

I headed towards the heart of the city to enjoy a bite of breakfast before walking along the riverwalk.  My first views of Pittsburgh showed me that this city isn’t done with its makeover.

A number of construction projects are continuing downtown as the city seeks to become one of the greenest cities in the US.  As I headed towards Point State Park, the city introduced herself with the best it has to offer.

With 446 bridges, Pittsburgh has more bridges than Venice.  Point State Park leads you to the point where the Three Rivers of Pittsburgh meet – the Allegheny ,Monongahela, and Ohio.  From there, a walk along the river walk shows off two amazing sports stadiums – Heinz Field and PNC Park.

Over the next couple of days, I explored the new downtown Pittsburgh as well as the old steel and iron mills of its years gone by.

Is Pittsburgh the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen?  No.  However, there may not be another city in the US that has had a more amazing makeover than Pittsburgh.

The city of Pittsburgh is beautiful, under blue and gray skies.

A Pittsburgh photo essay

Other travelers have fallen in love with Pittsburgh and have even called the city a hidden gem.  However, these photos offer you a taste of the Pittsburgh I enjoyed and experienced.

Have you visited Pittsburgh?  What are your favorite places to see in the city?

A cloudy morning walk through downtown Pittsburgh

entrance to Point State Park and one of Pittsburgh’s 446 bridges

A view of the Pittsburgh skyline near Point State Park

The three rivers of Pittsburgh come together at Point State Park – Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio

Heinz Field – home of the Pittsburgh Steelers

PNC Park – home of the Pittsburgh Pirates

PNC Park and the Roberto Clemente Bridge over the Allegheny River

Roberto Clemente Bridge

View of PNC Park from the Roberto Clemente Bridge

A view of the Pittsburgh skyline in front of the Roberto Clemente statue

Pittsburgh skyline from PNC Park

Market Square – downtown Pittsburgh

Highmark building in Market Square

In the afternoon, the sun came out a little in the Strip District

The Strip District in Pittsburgh

The Pennsylvania Macaroni Co in the Strip District

produce in the Pennsylvania Macaroni Co

Pittsburgh skyline at night from the top of the Duquesne Incline

Blue skies and clouds on my last day in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh skyline and the Allegheny River from the seats at Heinz Field

Downtown Pittsburgh and a gray skies

Gray clouds and blue skies in downtown Pittsburgh

Carrie Furnace – an old iron mill in Pittsburgh and the site of many movies

Pittsburgh skyline from the seats of PNC Park before the Pirates game

Pittsburgh Pirates All Star Andrew McCutchen at bat against the Atlanta Braves

Travel expenses for my visit to Pittsburgh were provided by Visit Pittsburgh.  All photos and opinions of Pittsburgh are my own.

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The perfect storm in Myrtle Beach

As I overlooked one of the most popular spots in Myrtle Beach, I watched as the gray clouds covered the skies like a blanket on a cold winter day.  Here in early May, it felt more like winter than spring at the beach.

Mist fell from the sky as the bitter, cold wind ripped through my clothes and made me wonder why I decided to spend a day at the beach.

Flags rippled through the skies clinging to the poles like a kite on a string.  Torn and tossed by a force it can’t control, the flags rippled in the wind, swaying between danger and delight as they displayed their glory on this cold spring day.

Despite the wind, rain, and clouds, I was mesmerized by the beauty of the shores and the awesome power of nature.

On this day, I came to photograph that iconic Myrtle Beach vacation scene.  As I walked along the beach, shivering in a short sleeved shirt and battered by the wind and rain, I got something more beautiful than sun, sand, and paradise.

I didn’t realize this storm on the beach would teach me another travel life lesson.

Crashing waves and wind-swept beaches made this the perfect storm of adventure.

Rock you like a hurricane

In September 1989, I lived a few miles from Myrtle Beach as Hurricane Hugo made its way up the South Carolina coast ripping and shredding beach towns and cities in its path.  Twenty people sought refuge in our home as the strong winds wailed and rain pelted our home as candles flickered throughout the night.

As a young teenager, a massive hurricane passing through your town was an awesome thing to experience.  While I understood the devastation this hurricane caused, I was in awe of nature’s power.

Around 2 am, the eye of the hurricane passed.  For a few minutes, everything was calm as we stood on the porch to survey the damage and enjoy the eerie silence and calm.

As Hurricane Hugo made its way up the coast, the footage of the devastation was shocking.  I knew what I had seen and heard throughout the night.  However, I really couldn’t appreciate the true power and force of this hurricane.

Until I walked along the beach today.

Walking into the perfect storm

Winds were strong as I made my way a few miles inland to Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach.  As I watched the wind, rain, and clouds on Peaches Corner, this wasn’t the same experience that I had an hour earlier.

I walked along the boardwalk before making my way to the shore.  My face stung from the cold wind and grains of sand as they pelted my face as I walked to the pier.

As I stood at the edge of the pier, the waves crashed into the pillars spraying droplets of water soaring into the air.  As gusts of 30 MPH or more (it seemed much stronger to me) ripped through the sands and tossed the waves like a rag doll, I flashed back to Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

As I stood there taking photos, I could barely keep my body still, much less my hands and a camera.  While I experienced the wind and rain from the safety of a house a few miles inland, here I was on the shores, in the middle of the storm, with no protection from the elements.

I finally understood the power of a hurricane, being battered and beaten with nothing to protect me from the full force.  I could barely walk or stand in these strong winds.  I can’t even imagine being on the beach when 135 MPH winds hit these shores.

Making my way to the pier, I snapped photo after photo of the waves crashing as the pier rocked back and forth from the force of the water.  Even in the midst of driving wind, crashing waves, and gray skies, I was in awe of the beauty in the middle of the storm.

The storms of life

As I stood overlooking the ocean rise and crash into the shores from above, I gained a new perspective on the storm.

As the winds battled against me threatening to topple me over, I learned to stand even stronger to combat the difficult situation so I wouldn’t fall.

When I walked onto the beach that day, I knew the storm was coming.  I was prepared to face the winds and the sand in my face as I struggled to walk along the shores until I could see things from a different perspective from above.

I realized that those flags could only display their beauty and purpose when they were blown and tossed by the storm.

Sometimes in life, we walk into the storm knowing that it’s coming and are ready to face it head on determined to get to the other side.  We know that once we fight the wind, rain, and crashing waves, we will be able to see the storm from a different perspective once we get through it.

Other times, the storms come and blow as we lie there completely powerless against the forces that are beyond our control.  Without these storms, we can’t know how beautiful and strong we really are.

When the storms come, we stand up straighter, become stronger, and remain determined not to topple over.

Honestly, I don’t like the storms.  I don’t like being blown and tossed by forces beyond my control.  Whether I see them coming or am caught by surprise, I want to run away to safety and comfort – miles away from the shore.

Yet as I watched the winds blow and the waves crash, the beauty and power of nature were awe-inspiring and beautiful on a less than perfect day.

On those days I want to quit traveling or struggle through the ups and downs of life, I hope I can learn to appreciate the storms of life.  While they are never easy, there is beauty, purpose, and strength that can be found.

This may not have been a perfect day at the beach in Myrtle Beach.  However, it turned out to be more beautiful and inspiring than I ever expected it to be.

What have the storms of life taught you?

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As one of the most beautiful beach cities in the US, San Diego offers visitors sun, sand, food, a family friendly destination for families, and plenty of ways to explore this California coastal town.  Enjoy these travel tips from Mary Solio in this San Diego travel guide.  This guide is one of many in the Budget Travel Guides series sharing travel tips to help you save money and enrich your travel experiences.  

San Diego is a very attractive and popular tourist destination. Its proximity to the ocean, variety of attractions and mild climate year round makes it very appealing for singles, couples and families. It’s not the most budget-friendly city but there are many low-cost and free things to do in what has become known as America’s Finest City. This is your San Diego travel guide for transportation, lodging, food, attractions and connecting with the locals.

San Diego Travel Guide to Getting Here

There are many flight options into San Diego’s International Airport. It’s not a major airline hub so prices tend to be a bit higher than some of the Southern California airports. If you’re flying in from an international location, check the difference in costs with flying into Los Angeles (LAX) and renting a car and making the over two-hour drive down. There may be major savings with this option especially if you’re traveling as a family. As a family of four, we often fly out of LAX for more non-stop flight options and cheaper international flight prices. San Diego can also be reached by a Greyhound bus or Amtrak train from Los Angeles.

San Diego Travel Guide to Getting Around

San Diego, like much of Southern California, is very car-centric. The best way to get around the city and its outlying areas is to rent a car. Check sites like kayak, hotwire or even membership warehouse clubs like Costco to get the best discounts on rental cars. Most of the rental car offices are located in the downtown area near the airport.

There is also public transportation but it’s not as extensive system compared to other major cities. The buses have many routes and buying the $5 day pass is the best budget option. The San Diego trolley covers some of the tourist attractions including routes to the Mexican border. The $5 trolley day pass is the best way to save money. If you’re staying in the northern part of San Diego, the Coaster trains offer a scenic ride along the Pacific Coast to downtown San Diego with a $12 day pass that’s also good on trolleys and buses.

San Diego Travel Guide to Lodging Options

As a big city, there are plenty of lodging options that fit every traveler’s budget. Couch surfing, camping and hostels are the cheapest options. Some of the best places to camp are along the beach shorelines like San Elijo State Beach or Strand Beach. If you’re going to go camping, it might as well be someplace with some great ocean views.

Hostelling International – San Diego Downtown and International Travelers House are located close to many attractions and in a central location. For something near the water, try Ocean Beach International Hostel. Many of these hostels offer free breakfast and wi-fi. Check sites like hostels.com or hostelworld for other options.

For families or those in big groups, house swapping through HomeExchange or HomeLink or apartment rentals using FlipKey is a great budget option. Having kitchens available make it easy to cook and prepare your own meals. There are many diverse grocery stores around with popular ones like Ralphs, Albertson’s or Vons. Be sure to ask for the free membership card to get discounts. You don’t even need to fill it out on the spot. Superstores like Wal-mart and Target can also be found throughout the area.

There are many chain hotels in the city with a concentration in the Hotel Circle area in Mission Valley and downtown San Diego. Choose hotels with complimentary breakfast to save money like Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, La Quinta or Embassy Suites. A family favorite is Homewood Suites- Liberty Station for its amenities and great central location.

If you’d like to indulge in a bit of luxury but save over 50% off the rack rate, you can also try Priceline. Check the betterbidding website first to see which hotels other bidders have gotten. We’ve won the Grand Manchester Hyatt, a 4-star hotel in downtown San Diego, for less than $100 on a Saturday night.

San Diego Travel Guide to Food and Drinks

While there is an eclectic mix of restaurants around San Diego, Mexican food is prevalent around the city. Check the many taco shops for the best value. You’ll be sure to pass by one as you drive around. Many of them named after someone ending in “berto” (e.g. Roberto’s, Alberto’s, Eriberto’s, etc.). With a variety of street tacos, it’s not hard to find a meal for less than $5. Tacos El Gordo in Chula Vista is also a popular hangout for the locals in the South Bay area. A favorite after-hour treat is carne asada(marinated grilled steak) fries. Picture shoestring fries topped with carne asada, guacamole, cheese and sour cream to indulge and share.

Another San Diego signature dish is the fish taco using a variety of fish, cabbage and sauces. Visit South Beach Bar & Grille in Ocean Beach with many endorsements of having the best fish tacos around. It has ocean front views and serves $2.75 tacos all day during Taco Tuesdays. For the fast food option, visit one of the Rubio’s chains (Home of the fish taco) or any Wahoo’s Fish Taco locations with fish tacos for about $2-$3.

There are plenty of seafood options here too. Try Anthony’s Fish Grotto or Anthony’s Fishette in the downtown locations. Check out locations of Tin Fish or our family favorite – Point Loma Seafoods. Their crab sandwich can be pricey depending on the season but every delicious bite is worth it. Their location. along the water, also offers a great view of downtown.

San Diego is a multi-cultural city with its share of ethnic enclaves. Little Italy is a quaint neighborhood in the downtown area with many pubs, restaurants and shops. There’s a Farmer’s Market every Saturday from 8AM – 2PM for cheaper fresh fruits and vegetables. Landini’s Pizzeria offers 2 pizza slices and a drink for $6 that can satisfy many pizza lovers.

For some Japanese, Vietnamese and Korean food, the Kearney Mesa/Convoy area has some of the best Asian restaurants you’ll find around the city. Neighborhoods filled with Filipino restaurants are Mira Mesa and National City. They offer plenty of cheap meals including fast food favorite, Jollibee.

You can’t leave Southern California without eating at one of its food institutions – In-N-Out Burger. Don’t let its limited menu fool you. It offers some of the best burgers around for less than $3. But, there’s a whole secret menu that requires its own guide. Animal Style is by far the most popular option not on the menu and worth a try.

Many of the restaurants, bars and clubs are located at San Diego’s Historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown. This is the hub of San Diego nightlife. You’ll be sure to find a variety of restaurants for every budget within the 16-block neighborhood. It is especially crowded during weekend nights and after baseball games. Check the Gaslamp website for a dining guide on everything the Gaslamp Quarter has to offer.

One of the best times to come to San Diego, especially if you’re a foodie, is during Restaurant Week held twice a year. Fixed menus from over 180 of San Diego’s best restaurants are priced from as low as a two-course lunch for $10 to a three-course dinner for $40. It’s a great time for fine dining on a budget. Check the restaurant week website for more details and exact dates.

San Diego is becoming a hotspot of craft beers with over 50 microbreweries including favorites like Karl Strauss and Stone Brewing Company. There’s even San Diego Beer Week in early November for those who want to experience the thriving beer culture here. Stone Brewing offers a 45-minute guided tour of its microbrewery for $3 with a souvenir glass and four 4 oz samples. For more information on the local microbrewery scene, check out the Drink Up San Diego website.

The gourmet food truck sweeping the nation by storm has also made its way to San Diego. Many of their menus change on a daily basis but everything is made fresh. Some of these trucks also do gatherings so you can get a taste of what each one has to offer. There are too many delicious ones to try and many serve a great meal for under $10. Visit the San Diego Food Trucks website for their locations and specials.

Many locals’ go-to dessert place is Extraordinary Desserts with two locations (Little Italy, Hillcrest area). For years, I’ve taken many visitors here to indulge in cookies, cakes and other sweets decorated with flowers and rose petals. Their menu is constantly changing so you never know what delicious treats await you. The multi-layered cake slices are over $5 but the portions are huge and great for sharing.

San Diego Travel Guide to Activities

San Diego’s must-see attractions like the zoo, the Safari Park, Sea World and Legoland can be quite pricey especially for traveling families. Fortunately, the Go San Diego Card helps ease the cost a bit. The pass includes admission to 48 local attractions including the popular ones above and many museums for one price with 20-30% savings. Compare individual ticket prices with this card, available for multiple days, to see how much you’ll save.

Art/Cultural/History

Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the country. It’s free to stroll through the park’s small gardens, exhibitions and admire its Spanish colonial architecture. Visit the Spanish Village Art Center to see over 200 sculptors and artists working in their studios. Explore the Botanical Building for free with more than 2,100 permanent plants. You never know what’s in bloom inside this beautiful building.

The park has 14 museums and you can get some big savings by buying the Day Pass ($39) for admission to any of the five museums on the same day or the Passport ($49) to visit all 14 museums valid for seven consecutive days. Local favorites include the Museum of Man, Natural History Musuem and the Fleet Science Center.
Old Town San Diego’s state historic park, with its reconstructed museums and buildings, is the most visited California state park. It’s free to walk around here and experience this living museum. There are plenty of shops and a variety of restaurants too. Watch salt-water taffies being made at Cousin’s Candy Shop or get made homemade fresh tortilla.

The USS Midway Museum is an impressive and retired US Navy aircraft carrier showcasing 50 years of military and aviation history with 25 restored aircraft and 60 exhibits. It’s a very interesting walk-through to this once floating city. Don’t forget the free audio guides. Kids can participate in activities to be Junior Pilots and earn wings.

Outdoors

The county of San Diego has over 70 miles of beaches stretching from Oceanside to Imperial Beach. There is no shortage of water activities from harbor excursions to whale watching. Many of them are easy on the wallet including biking, kayaking or paddleboarding. Be sure to check out sites like Groupon or Spreebird Deals for specials and discounts on any of these water activities.

San Diego’s only National Park, Cabrillo National Monument, is a bargain destination at $5 per car good for 7 days. See the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, one of the West Coast original lighthouse, or learn about the Spanish sailors from exhibits and movies at the visitor’s center. Whales can also be spotted here during migration season in the winter months. Hike its two-mile trails or explore the tide pools during the low tides to see what’s lurking underneath.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a day-use park and home to the nation’s rarest pine tree. Admission is $10 Mon-Thurs and $12 on weekends. There are eight miles of trails for every type of hiker with some trails offering panoramic views of the ocean. Free, docent tours and nature walks are available on the weekends.

San Diego Travel Guide Day Trips

Southern California’s wine country, Temecula Valley, is an inviting area to spend the day and is only within an hour’s drive from San Diego. With 35 wineries ready to welcome you for wine tastings and winery tours, this is one of our favorite places to spend a weekend afternoon. Many of the wineries are along Rancho California Road but don’t miss the smaller ones along De Portola Road too.

Some wineries offer $10 for 6 tastes including a logo glass but do sign up for coupons. Print these winery coupons for some 2-for-1 wine tastings during weekdays. Here are some self-guided winery tour suggestions. Look into weekday wine tours if you’re traveling with big groups that can cut the costs of the transportation rates.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is America’s largest desert state park. It isn’t too far of a drive from San Diego. This park offers many activities and trails but the best time to visit is during spring when the wildflowers are in bloom.
Julian is a gold mining town in San Diego’s mountains. It is a wonderful day trip no matter what time of the year. Walk down Main Street where the enticing scent of its famous apple pies beckons you to come inside the bakeries for a slice or a box to take with you.

San Diego travel guide to connecting with the locals

San Diego is a pretty laid back city with friendly locals who love the outdoors and the water. It is a large military town with many transplants so chances are you may bump into someone from your home state. The best way to connect with the locals is by hanging out at the beach. From surfing to biking, running or strolling along the piers and boardwalks, locals love to be near the water throughout the year. You may even get invited for a game of volleyball or Frisbee while hanging out at the beach. Locals love picnics and bonfires by the beach on weekends. So, pick a beach and make some friends.

You will find a lot of the locals at the Gaslamp Quarter during the weekend nights too. Many locals also love Balboa Park for many outdoor activities and for cultural visits to museums. It’s a wonderful place for families to visit with street entertainers and plenty of open spaces for the kids.
San Diego isn’t a major sports fanatic town like other cities, but the locals do love the San Diego Chargers football team and the San Diego Padres baseball team. If you’re in town during these sports seasons, you can connect with the locals at the stadiums, tailgate parties or the bars.

San Diego is a wonderful destination year-round. Visiting the city and its neighboring areas doesn’t have to break your travel budget. There are plenty of free and low-cost attractions for a fun and relaxing visit. I hope this San Diego travel guide will help with your plans for an enjoyable and unforgettable trip to America’s Finest City.

Have you visited San Diego?  What are your travel tips and recommendations for the city?

If you enjoyed this Budget Travel Guide, check out more travel guides to cities like Chicago, Austin, Columbus, and other beach destinations like Australia and Costa Rica.

Whether it’s exploring our San Diego neighborhoods or a National Park, cruising or a vacation to a foreign country, Mary Solio loves to travel. Follow her travel journeys on The World is a Book. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Google + as she shares her love of travel.

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