Trifter

As pretty much anyone who has ever visited San Diego knows, it is quite the tourist town. Lots to do here. But what about the locals? Where do we go to relax in our backyard? Quite a few places actually. Some locations we reluctantly share with the tourists because we admittedly don’t want them to get too crowded. But heck, the whole place is already bursting at the sides with people so why not share our local secrets? These are the places in the great outdoors where we locals go to take it easy and appreciate the breathtaking outdoors we are fortunate to call home.

Most tourists visiting the Zoo, Sea World, Legoland, Mission Beach, the museums and other spots on the typical ‘What to See in San Diego’ list will miss these extraordinary places. They are well worth visiting if you have the time or can forego seeing one of the other spots. If you want directions and further details, you can find them easily on the Net.

Torrey Pines Beach – Magnificent sandstone cliffs rise 300 feet overlooking walking paths along the Torrey Pines State Beach bluffs. Trails from the Torrey Pines Reserve lead down to a 4.5-mile stretch of beach considered one of the finest in the county for swimming, walking, or hanging out. If you’re up for a good walk, hiking trails venture through the reserve among the rare Torrey pines rewarding hikers with spectacular views from up top. Or you can park down below by the beach and forego the hike. Torrey Pines State Park and beach present a look back in time to how the natural environment along the southern California coast looked before development changed the county’s other beaches. Best of all it is the least crowded beach in the county.

Cabrillo National Monument Bayside Trail – If you like to hike but you’re not a fanatic about it this short hike will fit the bill. Alongside and under the Cabrillo National Monument lies the Bayside Trail, an easy 2.25 walk that reveals some of the most spectacular views you will see anywhere of the bay and ocean.

Cabrillo Tidepools – Because of their protected status, you will find several of the finest California tidepools below Cabrillo National Monument. On the western side is a rock-laden inter-tidal zone, a peek into the ocean ecosystem that lies along coastal San Diego. During low tide pools form along this shore, filling the rocky hollows. The depressions brim with ocean life such as star fish, sea cucumbers, urchins, sponges, sea anemones, an occasional octopus, crabs, and countless other creatures. It’s best to tidepool during the winter months, when those negative low tides happen during daylight hours when the park is open. During summer the negative low tides occur at night when you can’t see anything and the park is closed. You’ll need a vehicle to reach the lower area of the park where the tidepools are located. An internet search will provide you with low tide time tables.
Witnessing the Grunion Run – During summer nights in Southern California the infamous grunion begin their runs on local beaches. If this is a new term for you grunions are five — six inch long, small, slender fish with bluish green backs, silvery sides and bellies. Unlike other fish, during selected times of the summer they emerge completely from the water to lay their eggs on the wet sand during high tide in the wee hours of the night. To watch a grunion run is a pretty remarkable event. It doesn’t happen anywhere but Southern California. It’s spawning like you’ve never seen before.

The California Department of Fish and Game keeps a schedule of the “runs”; they say that the grunion make these excursions only on particular nights, but with such regularity that the time of their sandy arrival can be predicted a year in advance.
Many people flock to the beaches to watch the phenom but others come to fish the fish. However it isn’t “fishing” like you’ve ever seen; no pole is necessary. You don’t exactly catch them in the tradition sense. It’s much easier than that, sort of. The grunion wash up at your feet to lay their eggs and are briefly stranded until the next wave comes to take them back into the water. You can chase them down and grab them barehanded, yep with your hands, and dump them in a bucket. It’s pretty hilarious to watch people trying to scoop the slippery fish off the sand. If you want to try this uniquely Southern Californian experience you must have a valid State fishing license. Check the net for times and locations to purchase your “fishing” permit.
Kayak on the Bay or Ocean

There are a number of companies offering kayak tours should you not have your own boat. If you’ve never kayaked you might want to consider taking a commercial tour. The local kayak tour companies do an admirable job getting you into the mysterious La Jolla Sea Caves and the La Jolla Ecological Reserve where kayakers frequently see seals, sea lions, gentle leopard sharks and an occasional dolphin. Other tours explore the calm waters of Mission Bay, La Jolla Shores, South San Diego Bay, and the Coronado Islands. One of the most popular tours takes you to an area where you can witness California gray whales migrating from Alaska to their birthing grounds in Baja, Mexico and back again. Still other tours guide you during the early morning hours or evening when the water is calm and blissfully quiet. There are also a number of companies that will rent you a kayak, give you a map and steer you towards aquatic nirvana. Check the internet for kayaking companies in San Diego.