San Diego, California Travel Guide: Beyond the Surface of America’s Finest City

San Diego is often painted in broad strokes—a sunny refuge of beaches and theme parks, a laid-back hotspot for tourists chasing the quintessential California dream. But to travel here with a mere checklist is to miss the city’s pulse. San Diego’s true character is an intricate tapestry of border influences, culinary defiance, and unvarnished local grit that’s waiting to be uncovered by those with curiosity and a taste for authenticity.