Willow Creek Trail

This was an exhausting hike, not sure why: the mileage was only 6.2 round trip and the drive there was a bit over an hour. On this cold winter day, we started out around 8.30 AM and first followed the creek for a while.

Weird sight: a pipe was broken spraying out water that froze on the trees

Snow was something we did not expect. And also gunshots... Yes, apparently it was the last day to hunt squirrels so gunshots were heard throughout the hike. Not a very pleasant sound, especially with my views against guns and hunting.

This lake was pretty cool, and the reflection of trees mesmerizing!

Weird and spooky looking trees

Camp Nelson Trail - First 2018 Hike

Camp Nelson Trail near Springville, CA is a relatively quiet trail, especially during winter. The second week of January you barely can find a squirrel there. It begins with a tiny parking lot, so tiny that you can't even call it a parking lot, but can fit about 6 cars. My AllTrails app recorded 5.5 miles round trip in and out. Although there is no official end to this trail, we turned around near a small waterfall to the left of the trail a bit after AllTrails marked the end of it.

Out end point

Solo Female Traveling in San Diego - Day 8. Finally!

Finally, day 8 of the San Diego trip! You probably are sick and tired reading all this and probably quite jealous viewing all these great pictures!

Today I started the day with another waterfront yoga experience. Originally, it was supposed to be (or so I thought) an hour yoga class, but somehow it became a 2 hour yoga, again donation-based. I have never done so much yoga in one sitting, so this was a bit too much, but what else is there to do on New Year's Eve?

After the class I stopped by the beach, got some sushi, dropped by at a local bakery store to buy some pastries and headed back to my rental.

The New Year's Eve party was in Del Mar, the place that I attempted to visit last year, but decided to leave early. I wanted to give it another shot. With no cover charge, L'Auberge Del Mark attracted a whole bunch of people to the point it was too crowded to even get a drink (literally impossible). I had an Old Fashioned that cost $25, the most I paid for a drink in my entire life! That was the end of drinking that night. Lots of dancing on the overcrowded floor, stuffed with hundreds of people in a tiny room in the main lobby of the hotel. I wanted to make the best of it, although music sucked as well.

Believe it or not, completely sober, hanging out with some people

My partner in crime for the night

Overall, I really enjoyed my trip. I made the best out of my time enjoying the social life in San Diego, natural beauty and hiking. I was a bit exhausted from going to Meetups every day, but it was the best way to meet people and get embedded into San Diego culture.

Solo Female Traveling in San Diego - Day 7

Yoga on the Bay? Count me in! Having enjoyed my first ocean-front yoga experience, I did not want to stop. Another group organized the event on the bay, and together with other 50 people, I completed an hour of yoga stretching on the grass and viewing the beauty of the water.

After the yoga class I finally headed to Torrey Pines Park. It was a leisurely hike, a bit overcrowded during the holiday week, but still worth doing.

Like in the movie "The Mist", very freaky experience

In the evening, I went to a donation-based comedy club Comedy Heights. Interesting that they did not sell any food or drinks, but you could bring your own. Apparently, this was for liability purposes, not sure how it works. The comedians were funny enough to provide a chuckling experience. Just another unique San Diego place.

Solo Female Traveling in San Diego - Day 6

Today I had a free morning, so I decided to revisit La Jolla. It is incredibly beautiful, and hence, crowded. You can rarely find free parking there. I wanted to park a few miles south in a residential neighborhood and walk there visiting a coffee shop, a thrift store and a juicery (these were not my original plans, but this is how it turned out).

I stopped at a Goodwill store in LaJolla village. It is a very small store and was quite packed, not sure if I liked it because of that. I did not find anything I liked, unfortunately. A bit tired from the hike, I stopped at Fruittitude (well, also because I needed to use the restroom...). I loved their juice! And such a selection! Definitely a stop worth visiting.

I took a few pictures of La Jolla and headed back to my car.

I didn't get my fill of thrift stores today, so I headed to My Sister's Closet, a designer brand thrift store of enormous size! I loved it there so much! Everything is so well-organized, by colors and size, as well as by the type of clothing (even short and long dresses). I bought two dresses, both $12 and satisfied headed back to my AirBnb for a short break.

Later in the evening I met with a group at Draft Republic. Pretty decent place, laid back with lots of room. Their mules are the best!

Solo Female Traveling in San Diego - Day 5

Batiquitos Lagoon Trail is located in Carlsbad, CA. It is right in the midst of hustle and bustle of the city life, yet somewhat isolated. There were some nice views, but the noise of traffic from the nearby highway tried to ruin the experience. The idea of the lagoon is preservation, which is why I wanted to see it.

We then continued on Eucalyptus trail, not very well-known to outsiders. San Diego Reader wrote an article about this trail recently. What I enjoyed about this trail is the aroma of Eucalyptus, it is so relaxing, you feel like you are in a spa.

After the hike, I found an amazing pizza place that was the first one in CA that offered pizza that tasted real.

Read Christy W.'s review of Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza on Yelp

Later that day, I met up with another group to go to one of Little Italy's restaurants, King and Queen Cantina. The evening was so warm that I could wear a dress, love San Diego!

Finished the day at Extraordinary Desserts, the place I adore because of their... extraordinary desserts!

Solo Female Traveling in San Diego - Day 4

I had a hike to Torrey Pines, a beautiful national preserve right on the ocean, planned today, but the group canceled. Luckily, I found another group later in the week doing a similar hike, so I would not miss it. Today I headed only 6 minutes away from my AirBnb to hike Cowles Mountain.

As I was parking on the side of the street, I saw a police officer writing tickets for not turning the wheels to or away from the curb to cars parked just like mine. I quickly got back to my car and turned the wheels. I later posted a review both on Google and Yelp warning people about that (while patting herself on the back :)

Listed as "heavily trafficked" on AllTrails, this trail was exactly that, especially during the holiday week. And it was hot, really hot! With no shade in sight, the trail has multiple switchbacks, slowly exposing the beauty of inland San Diego as you climb up.

The view at the beginning of the hike

Already sweating... Ugh...

The top (and still sweating...)

Awesome feeling of accomplishment

In the evening, I decided to join the local dive bar Meetup. I never knew dive bars had such following and culture. Regardless, had such a great time and met a few nice people.