Featured articles
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Featured articles
Arts & Culture
Things to Do
Features
Featured articles
Things to Do
Things to Do
Everything SD
Featured articles
podcast-ep
podcast-ep
podcast-ep
Featured articles
Arts & Culture
Features
Features
Featured articles
Partner content
Arts & Culture
Food & Drink
Ready to know more about San Diego?
SubscribeReady to know more about San Diego?
Discover how to capture San Diego with SANDMARC lenses designed for iPhone photographers. We are SANDMARC, a San Diego-based brand that empowers photographers, travelers, and tech enthusiasts with premium gear designed to capture and carry what matters most. Here in America’s Finest City, every day feels like an opportunity to add something new to your […]
We are SANDMARC, a San Diego-based brand that empowers photographers, travelers, and tech enthusiasts with premium gear designed to capture and carry what matters most. Here in America’s Finest City, every day feels like an opportunity to add something new to your photo album, a beautiful sunset over the Pacific, the excitement of a new restaurant, or the thrill of live music.
Our lenses elevate your San Diego experience, helping you capture stunning images that become lasting memories. From the Sunset Fiend to the Foodie Connoisseur and the Live Music Lover, this is the iPhone Photographer’s Guide to San Diego.

Shot on iPhone + SANDMARC Wide Lens at Centennial Park, Coronado
First on our list is the Sunset Fiend, always pointing their iPhone skyward during golden hour. Sunsets can bring tricky lighting conditions, while the iPhone’s 0.5x lens often produces distortion, and the standard wide lens isn’t wide enough. For sunset shots, we recommend the SANDMARC Wide Lens, designed for low-light and built to deliver a wide, distortion-free view so you can capture more of the sky.

Shot on iPhone + SANDMARC Telephoto 6x Lens at San Diego Zoo
One of the best ways to discover San Diego’s charm is to play tourist and capture it along the way. Whether you’re strolling through the Gaslamp Quarter and spot a striking building in the distance or exploring the San Diego Zoo, the iPhone’s zoom can only go so far before images lose quality. That’s where the SANDMARC Telephoto 6x Lens comes in, delivering crisp optical 6x zoom that lets you capture distant subjects with stunning clarity.

Shot on iPhone + SANDMARC Star Filter at Sycuan Stage
Between Rady’s Shell, Gallagher Square’s Sycuan Stage, and the many annual festivals, it’s no surprise San Diego is filled with music lovers. Whether you’re deep in the crowd or up close to the stage, bringing the SANDMARC Star Filter to your next festival or concert will add an edgy starburst effect to your selfies and stage shots.

Shot on iPhone + SANDMARC Retro Filter at Quixote
Besides the perfect weather, one thing you can always count on in San Diego is finding a great place to eat. From hidden gems to the latest buzzing spots, foodies let their camera eat before they do. For detailed shots of every dish, the SANDMARC Macro Lens shines, while the Retro Filter and Telephoto 2x Lens will allow you to highlight the restaurant’s full aesthetic.

Shot on iPhone + SANDMARC Fisheye Lens in Little Italy
San Diego is full of discoveries, you can stumble upon a new spot at almost every turn, making it a dream for those who crave constant adventure. Whether you’re snapping selfies, hiking trails, or looking for a fresh perspective, the attachable SANDMARC Fisheye Lens helps you capture it all while providing a fun way to capture each memorable moment.
Shot on iPhone + SANDMARC Anamorphic Lens
This is the friend you can always count on to post an epic video, capturing beauty with ease and giving meaning to even the smallest moments. Cinematic storytelling on iPhone just got better with the SANDMARC Anamorphic Lens, which delivers the signature blue flares seen in J.J. Abrams’ films. With its ultra-wide aspect ratio, this lens will elevate your videos, and when paired with the SANDMARC Film Rig, you’ll add the stability needed for truly professional shots.
Wherever your San Diego story takes you, chasing sunsets, exploring new restaurants, or filming cinematic adventures, SANDMARC lenses are designed to help you capture what matters most. Now it’s your turn to capture America’s Finest City.
.
At Vi at La Jolla Village, residents don't have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
Today’s seniors are more connected than ever, with a renewed focus on retirement as a time of discovery and enriching experiences. The ultimate reward for a retirement well-earned is the wisdom to appreciate it all, and what better place to enjoy that unique perspective than Vi at La Jolla Village, in the heart of San Diego.
All-access pass to good living.
As a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Vi provides access to a connected and fulfilling community while making it easy to plan for future care, should the need ever arise. With a care plan in place, residents enjoy greater financial predictability and long-term value, freeing them to focus on making the most out of retirement.
Resort-style amenities at the epicenter of a cultural hub like San Diego offer a retirement experience unlike any other. Paired with exceptional dining, spacious accommodations and dedicated staff, the best of maintenance-free living is all around. And with the introduction of Vista 360 Well-Being, Vi’s panoramic approach to wellness, there are more ways than ever for residents to access it all.
The harmony of mind, body and community.

The key to longevity is striking the right balance in maintaining an active lifestyle with an active mind in a fulfilling community. With newly renovated community spaces and restaurants, Vista brings a variety of opportunities for residents to elevate their well-being through Vi-exclusive “Signature Experiences.”
Vista Enrich takes an evidence-based approach to brain vitality, keeping residents at the forefront of cognitive health through exergaming (exercising + gaming), nutritional plans and informative workshops. It is also home to The Brain Vitality Studio, an innovative facility dedicated to cognitive fitness that has garnered national recognition.
Vista Discover invites residents into stimulating educational experiences, from chef-led cooking demos and guided wine tastings to lectures at local universities and intimate lectures following cultural outings.
While Vista Enrich focuses on brain health and Vista Discover engages residents intellectually, Vista Explore cultivates a sense of adventure through curated travel and local excursions. But broadening one’s horizons doesn’t always require a plane ticket. One recent event brought a taste of the world right to the community: an onsite “jazz cruise” featuring live music and global cuisine served at a series of themed “ports” all within the community’s own ballroom.
“Location, location, location”

One of the biggest perks of life at Vi at La Jolla Village is its proximity to just about everything. With easy access to transportation and local attractions just steps away, residents can explore and engage with their community at their own pace.
“There are trolley and bus stops within a 5-minute walk that will get you to the beach, UCSD Campus, medical appointments, downtown La Jolla or San Diego, et cetera. We rarely use our car,” said resident Tom Yager.
With the best of San Diego just steps away, residents don’t just live in the city, they live within reach of everything that makes it special.
The best of all worlds.

At Vi at La Jolla Village, retirement isn’t a chapter to slow down; it’s an invitation to discover more. Tailored community experiences created by Vista, paired with the vibrant pulse of San Diego just outside the door, mean that residents don’t have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
This is what an all-access pass to good living looks like: the comforts of an elevated lifestyle, a community built for growth and a city made for discovery – all in one place.
To learn more about Vi at La Jolla Village or for details on available floor plans, visit ViatLaJollaVillage.com/SDM.
Laika Nur, MD, takes her love of volleyball from the court to the clinic as team physician for the San Diego Mojo
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
How local orthopedic specialists are pioneering the future of foot and ankle care
Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
A new program guides new moms through high-risk pregnancy and into the “fourth trimester”
Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Scripps Clinic’s Mohs surgery center is one of the most sophisticated in the country.
It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Scripps Cancer Center helps an endurance athlete overcome his greatest challenge yet and get back in the race
When endurance athlete Isaac Sanchez learned he had cancer, he felt blindsided. He was healthy, surfed often and was training for an Ironman triathlon. But he had to put that on hold to undergo treatment. His physicians at Scripps Cancer Center developed a plan to treat the cancer in his tonsil and lymph nodes that included six-and-a-half weeks of near-daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy. He also worked with a Scripps Cancer Center dietitian to enhance his nutrition to promote strength and healing. Today, Isaac’s back to doing what he loves. Read more of his story here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.