This month’s cover story lists 165 things to do this summer—everything from oyster festivals to pool parties. To give it a more personal feel, I asked some of our staff to write about their favorite summer traditions—infusing some first-person narratives into the service piece, while still providing tips along the way. From road trips to the races to beach bonfires (yes, it’s still legal in some places!), there’s so much to tackle in the summer months. We hope it inspires and informs—even makes you feel glad your kids are out of school.
But not everyone is eager to take advantage of San Diego’s more obvious perks. Our second feature juxtaposes the first: It’s about San Diegans who go against the grain—they hate the beach, don’t do yoga, refuse to drive, and avoid all trail hikes no matter the social cost. Writer Claire Trageser pitched the idea for a roundup of anecdotes from local contrarians and outliers. At first it did not compute. Who hates the beach? Who can resist the uplifting effects of the negative ions? She told me she hadn’t been to the beach in two years because of the sandy mess and the windblown effects on her hair. It made me laugh.
Letter from the Editor: Who Hates the Beach?
Still, I sat on this story for months, but when we found the right mix—a Navy chief who can’t swim, a Tourism Authority employee who shuns the sun—I warmed up to the idea of antithetical San Diegans trying to live their own dream, sans seafood, yoga, etc. We’re always asking ourselves: What do readers like? What does it mean to be a San Diegan? Craft beer and tacos are common answers, but not the only ones. Whether you agree or not, you’ll enjoy reading about the little lifestyle dilemmas these “un-Diegans” encounter on a regular basis.
Whatever your reason for loving San Diego, we can all agree that summer is an ideal time to get away. Let this month’s travel section be your tour guide. We’ll show you highlights of the easy, doable places you can’t believe you haven’t been to—ahem, Santa Fe—plus, what’s new at the destinations you’ve visited multiple times and love so much you’ll even brave the triple-digit heat (Palm Springs, Todos Santos), as well as why you might embark on a far-flung trip to Africa.
Whatever your summer holds—beach or bar, mountain or museum—I hope you take advantage. Share your summer plans with us by tweeting, posting, or tagging #SDMSummer.
The Ultimate San Diego Summer Guide 2017
Letter from the Editor: Behind Our Magazine Redesign
Letter from the Editor: Who Hates the Beach?
