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A Zen Seeker’s Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego

July 23, 2015

A Zen Seeker's Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego // My SoCal'd LifeYou love yoga, vegetarian/vegan eats, prefer nature over city blocks, and are well-acquainted with Whole Foods’ holistic supplement shelves. Whatever you want to call yourself—Zen seeker, hippie, yogi—this guide’s for you:

Acai Bowl at Lazy Hummingbird in San Diego's Ocean Beach // My SoCal'd LifeBreakfast at Lazy Hummingbird: Ocean Beach’s Lazy Hummingbird offers coffee, tea, pastries, live music, and even Fair Trade Peruvian textiles, but what it’s most famous for are its acai bowls. (The large size is truly gargantuan.) I love the intimacy and why-don’t-you-stay-a-while vibe, even though it strangely shares a space with FedEx. (That said, it’s the most laid-back, non-corporate FedEx you’ll ever see!) Lazy Hummingbird also has a welcoming patio, where customers and their four-legged friends relax, a comfy working area with free wifi, and a sweet, fun staff to boot.


Often Wander at Noon shop  // My SoCal'd Life

Shopping in Ocean Beach: Head a half mile northeast to the Ocean Beach People’s Organic Market, a co-op grocery store and deli that’s a hallmark of this hippie, bohemian neighborhood. The prices are a bit steep—members who pay $15/year and first-timers get the reduced rate, while non-members pay a 10% surcharge—but the products are often organic, unique (i.e. pistachio butter), and sustainably minded. The deli upstairs is also a wonderful lunch option. Next door is the Blue Dot Refill, a mecca for eco-friendly bath and body products. Bring in an empty bottle (or grab one for free in the store) and fill with shampoos, conditioners, lotions, soaps, and more. Head back towards Lazy Hummingbird, and a few blocks away is Often Wander at Noon (above), a boutique of jewelry, furniture, prints, and beautiful, all-natural candles poured into vintage glass containers. (Photo via)


Meditation Gardens in Encinitas // My SoCal'd LifeTime out at the Meditation Gardens: Let’s head north to Encinitas, the epitome of all things Zen, yogi, and bohemian in San Diego. (Fun fact: Encinitas is said to be the American birthplace of Ashtanga yoga.) At the lush Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens perched above Moonlight Beach, touch base with the calmer side of nature by meditating on a bench, gazing out to the ocean from the garden’s many vantage points, or taking a stroll through the succulent patches and Koi fish pond. Even if you’re not one with your spiritual side, it’s a beautiful place for some R&R. It’s also affiliated with the Self-Realization Fellowship, but all are welcome. And though photography is allowed, silence is golden. (Photo by Found Creative Studio)


Haggo's Tacos in Encinitas // My SoCal'd Life Haggo's Tacos in Encinitas // My SoCal'd LifeLunch at Haggos Organic Tacos: Lunch time! And in Encinitas, a visit to Haggo’s Organic Taco is a must. Their menu includes tacos that use non-GMO corn tortillas and are served with jasmine brown rice and organic red beans, burritos and quesadillas made with whole wheat tortillas, meat, seafood, and veg options, and a 98% organic stamp of approval. Translation: fresh, fresh, fresh! The space itself is a cozy, unassuming garden with colorful furniture and a casual, surfer attitude. (Photo via here and here)


Beacon's Beach in Leucadia // My SoCal'd Life

Beacon’s Beach: Yes, Moonlight is family-friendly with its playground and restrooms, but it’s also often annoyingly packed. Instead, head over to Beacon’s on Neptune Avenue in nearby Leucadia for uninterrupted coastal beauty with hardly any crowds (and no bathrooms, FYI). There’s a fairly easy switchback path to get down to sand, and parking is split between a tiny lot and the residential area. (Photo by Taryn Kent)


Vegan food in San Diego // My SoCal'd Life

Raw/vegan eats at Peace Pies: This cafe specializes in raw-, vegan-, gluten-, and soy-free food. That means tomatoes stuffed with basil hemp pesto, zucchini noodle lasagna, nachos topped with walnut meat, and nori wraps (above). They also prescribe to a zero waste policy, which, among other things, means they compost everything. So you can have your pie, and be green, too. Just make sure to get here early! Both the Encinitas and Ocean Beach locations close at 8 p.m. (Image via)


Glow-in-the-dark stand-up paddleboarding // My SoCal'd Life

Glow-in-the-dark stand-up paddleboarding: Considering the clean dinner, you shouldn’t be too full for some exercise. Offered on Sunday evenings (7:45 pm) in the summer, this glow-in-the-dark SUP class at San Diego Paddle Yoga cruises around Mission Bay with LED lights strapped to the bottom of your paddleboard. With the light, you can see some marine life and fireworks from Sea World, not to mention get an amazing core workout while you’re at it. Though it’s not actually a SUP yoga class, feel free to get your three-legged dog on. (Image via)

Next week—another 24 hours guide!

OTHER MY SOCAL’D LIFE CITY GUIDES
A Design Lover’s Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego
An Urbanite’s Guide to 24 Hours in San Diego

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