Ever since my Montana by two-wheels adventure, this blog has taken on a new light. A light that can become costly in a hurry. No need to worry though, because I am cheap!
When visiting other cities or towns, camping is by far the cheapest way to go. Its even cheaper when you just "squat" somewhere safe for the night. I don't recommend squatting simply because paying for a camp site is cheap enough. If you just must squat, then I suggest places where people are (or should be understanding) such as a church.
Some of the advantages to camping or staying right outside a major city are: traffic, commonly missed local charms, cheaper prices and traffic.
I recently headed down to San Diego or better yet, the greater San Diego area. Having never been down there for a visit (only once passing through) I thought it would be best to explore as much as the area as I could.
The first night we camping in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park - a simple $20 for the night and located about 40 miles east of San Diego. The park was nice, but it is not recommended. Showers were on hand as well as fire pits and running water. Other then the simple amenities, there was simply nothing to do in the area. We were still a drive from San Diego.
For the rest of the time there we stayed in Carsbad California. A good central location. Not to far from San Diego, while also maintaining a small town feel.
From north to south, the towns listed below we visited.
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Oceanside - seems like a dumpy town, had a small arts festival going the night we visited.
Carlsbad - Simple town, great beaches.
Leucadia - Small surf town, good eats good coffee shops.
Encinitas - Small surf town, good eats good coffee, good beaches.
Solana Beach - Interesting beach. Although there is a town of Solana Beach, we only visited the beach.
Del Mar - Small surf and ocean town, foods expensive people seem snobby.
San Diego - Large city. 1.3 million large! I hear the Gas Lamp District is were all the clubs and bars are at. I suggest if your there to check out, Mission Bay Beach. This is your typical beach with tons of people and a board walk everyone travels down. You can avoid the crowd here by coming early and walking North of the main entrance to the beach. We actually ended up spending most of our time at Mission Beach.
Coronado - Small snobby town. If your into shopping and bug eyed sunglasses, then this is the place for you. There is a national monument out on the peninsula as well as a cemetery for fallen troops. Worth the drive to pay your respects.
Imperial Beach - Or as I called it, "My little baja". This is a tourist town, but it is not heavily visited as much as the other little places. There is a pier and plenty of little cheaper shops to pick up trinkets and t-shirts. I actually preferred "IB" due to how much slower the town seemed. The beach there was not as nice as Mission Beach, but you could still have just as much fun.
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If your not from around San Diego then you should have no problem spending two-three weeks exploring all there is to see in the near by towns, that is if you don't just end up beach bumming it, like I did. If that is your cup of tea, then I say bring, sunscreen a frisbee and a boogie board.
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