10 reasons to move to San Diego
Dec 06, 2018 - Sam Tollin
It’s December, which means that the majority of the country is covered in snow and/or freezing cold temperatures. But amidst the puddles, icy windshields, and polar vortex resides a little slice of paradise called San Diego. With most days being sunny and about 70 degrees (okay, sometimes it rains here), San Diego is home to some of the nicest and happiest people you’ll ever meet.
If you’re thinking about moving to San Diego, December is a great time to visit and start that process. Why? Because tourist season has wound down from the summer, and the weather is glorious for this time of year. Trust us – once you get here, you won’t want to leave. The weather isn’t the only thing San Diego has to offer. While many people just associate San Diego with the beach, there are plenty of other reasons why the rest of the world calls us “America’s Finest City.” Take a look below for 10 reasons why you should consider moving to San Diego.
The Weather
This is an obvious one, but you really can’t beat the consistent mild temperature and blue skies all year round. If the cold is your worst enemy, San Diego is your calling. While it may get below 50 degrees from time to time, you’ll rarely hear weather anchors say, “extreme cold temperatures” at any point in the year. In fact, most San Diegans rarely check their weather apps because more often than not, it’s going to be nice out.
The Innovation
San Diego has always been home to innovative companies, such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Dexcom. And over recent years, more companies have decided to call San Diego home as well (including Amazon and Apple). From tech and biotech startups to healthcare organizations to craft breweries, there is never a shortage of transformative companies in San Diego. Whatever industry you’re in, you can feel comforted knowing there will always be companies that suit your passions here. Check out our company directory for a comprehensive list of who’s here.
San Diego at Work: Carrie Sawyer, Qualcomm from San Diego on Vimeo.
The Arts
Whether you’re into performing arts, music concerts, museums, etc., the arts culture in San Diego is never dull. Venues such as House of Blues, Copley Symphony Hall, The Old Globe, San Diego Museum of Art (and the 17 other museums in Balboa Park), and La Jolla Playhouse are just a few of the places you can explore the arts.
The Craft Beer
San Diego is known as the craft beer capital–and for a good reason! There will never be a shortage of tasty, refreshing local brews here. Ballast Point, Stone Brewing, and Green Flash are just a few of the many craft breweries to visit. And they aren’t limited to any geographical location, so wherever you are in San Diego, you can discover a new craft beer nearby. Plus when you move here, you’ll be able to enjoy Made in San Diego beer (only sold locally).
The Mexican Food
Because San Diego is adjacent to the Mexico border, the Mexican cuisine here is UNREAL. You can pretty much go to any hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant or taco shop (such as Oscar’s Mexican Seafood and Tacos el Gordo), and have the best Mexican food you’ve ever had. Combine some tacos with a craft beer, and you’ll be living the San Diego dream.
The Beaches
Another obvious one, but there’s nothing quite like the beaches in San Diego. With 70 miles of coastline and breathtaking sunsets, the beaches are perfect go-to even in the wintertime. Check out this guide to learn about each beach’s unique characteristics and the best ones for the activities you’re into (i.e. surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, relaxing).
The “Small Big City” Vibe
Although San Diego is a relatively large city (1.42 million people), it encompasses the qualities of a tight-knit community. It’s easy to feel welcomed here, regardless of how long you’ve been a San Diegan. Whichever industry you’re in, it’s easy to find an upcoming networking event to make great connections, personally and professionally. Meetup.com is a great way to find local events pertaining to your specific interests.
The History
San Diego is enriched with historic monuments and communities, including the USS Midway, Chicano Park, Old Town, and Cabrillo National Monument, which preserve the foundation of the city and beautifully tell the story of San Diego’s deep roots.
The Location
San Diego is just a quick drive away from fun, popular destinations like Mexico, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Joshua Tree, and Disneyland. Pro tip: take the train for beautiful scenic views along the way.
The Universities
San Diego is home to a variety of renowned universities, such as UC San Diego, San Diego State University , Cal State San Marcos, Point Loma Nazarene, and University of San Diego, which have a variety of incredible undergrad and graduate programs. Finals don’t sound so bad when you can study in the beautiful outdoors or one of San Diego’s amazing coffee shops, right?
That’s all 10. But there’s plenty more where that came from. Make sure to follow @SDlifechanging on social media to stay up to date on all things San Diego. If you don’t already live here, we hope this list has at least persuaded you to consider it. We promise it will be the best decision you ever make.
Samantha (Sam) Tollin is a San Diego-transplant with a background in journalism and digital content creation. In her spare time, she volunteers for the Humane Society and the American Marketing Association, explores the San Diego food scene, and attends local concerts.