Best Of San Diego 2007

Out of respect for those folks whose lives were affected by October’s fires, we considered postponing this year’s Best of San Diego issue—because even if you weren’t directly impacted by the fires, the potential for a far greater catastrophe sure did a number on a lot of people’s nerves.

Ultimately, we decided to go ahead with the issue—what better way to get over a bad week than celebrating the good things in life? What follows is a by-no-means-comprehensive roundup of stuff we like. There’s no central theme; we simply directed our writers to write about what they like best in San Diego. It’s a good ol’ no-frills, back-to-basics Best of San Diego. The beaked guy on the cover, though, is a nod to the past few weeks. While the myth of the phoenix varies (there’s one version involving a burning cinnamon-stick nest), the foundation of the story is this: If it’s wounded, a phoenix renews itself in flames and then rises from the ashes, a better bird than it was before.

Some of our picks are below. Your picks—the readers poll—is here.

-Kelly Davis 

 
Best photo-op to make the snowbound jealous

Obviously picking just one gorgeous backdrop in San Diego is a fool’s errand. But with a full network of friends and family inexplicably dispersed throughout the colder climates of the world, I can say with some authority that nothing drives them quite as crazy as a great dead-of-winter picture capturing the sun, surf, sand and cliffs of Torrey Pines State Beach. The only Southern California cliché that’s missing is Marilyn Monroe.

—Lucas O’Connor

 Best place to dive for buried treasure

My first experience with snorkeling was at a murky, sandy Encinitas beach, where the heavy surf and poor visibility were almost enough to turn me off of the sport altogether. Fortunately, my second attempt was at the justifiably popular La Jolla Cove, where the diving was great enough to instantly make an addict out of me. Consistently clear water and a lack of annoying waves are what make this a good starting spot—but the variety of reefs, fish and aquatic plants is what keeps me coming back. There are even a handful of nearby caves, for those who want to play at searching for pirate treasure (and who don’t mind risking serious injury). According to legend, there is a motherlode of sunken golf balls somewhere in the cove, although the only person I know who’s seen them firsthand burst an eardrum trying.

—Ben Greenstein

 Best seashell sighting

Sure, there’s that whole school of “don’t take it unless you can replace it,” but we all know that picking up a purdy little seashell and taking it home is part of being a San Diegan. But seashells can be hard to come by these days unless you know where to look. Enter Fiesta Island. Make your way down the western bayside to the southwest tip of the island. Along that rocky edge, near where the dogs tend to walk and gather, is a stretch of beach covered in shells. Low tide reveals calico scallops, elegant dosinias and shiny coquina laid one on top of another. The shells are perfect for collecting and displaying, and you might even find a swirling conch, bubble or bonnet in the bunch. It’ll be hard not to take more than one.

—Caley Cook

Best place to strum an acoustic guitar besides your apartment

One of the best-kept secrets of Ocean Beach is the fantastic sandy cove at the west end of Santa Cruz Avenue. During the summer, the masses head to the end of Newport Avenue, but this lesser-known beach spot is quite the sandy treat. Grab your favorite acoustic guitar, head down the stairs at the end of Santa Cruz and choose a spot. I prefer to set up a low-riding beach chair on top of the rocks that occasionally host minimal-risk cliff jumpers during high tide. The breeze is cool and salty, the view is unsurpassed and, hopefully, your playing is a worthy soundtrack.

—Dryw Keltz

 Best view of downtown

San Diego’s skyline is hardly the best known in the country—but there is a good chance that it will be, once the current plan to build a new skyscraper on every downtown block is finished. The best place to watch this urban growth from a distance is Cabrillo National Monument, located on the very tip of Point Loma. From this point, the country’s eighth largest city, for once, almost looks the part. And thanks to the area’s high elevation, this view is panoramic, including a healthy chunk of the Pacific Ocean. In fact, Cabrillo would be an easy winner for “Best Makeout Spot” if it didn’t close at 5 p.m., much too early for a hot date. Those who prefer an up-close view of the city (one that can be enjoyed at night) should head to the waterfront Hyatt, and find an isolated patio near the fourth-floor swimming pool.

—Ben Greenstein