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Besides Hawaii, California is my favourite place in the United States. It is no secret that I love sand and surf. During a recent trip to Palm Springs, I found the cheapest return flight happened to be out of San Diego. Seeing it as a welcome opportunity to spend some time in San Diego, I rented a car to drive from Palm Springs to San Diego. After all, I also love driving and hitting the open road. The chance to drive through the Palm Desert was also a welcome addition to my trip. It also allowed me discover what has become my favorite San Diego attraction, though you won't find it any guide books.

My flight out of San Diego wasn't until around noon the next day. My final morning, I rose early, figuring I could get a glimpse of San Diego in the early, quiet hours of the morning. It is always enjoyable to view a place during the calm hours before the day has really begun. So, the first thing I did was look for a small coffee shop. I figured I could peruse a local map and figure out where to drive next while sipping my coffee. Small neighbourhood coffee shops are also a great window into a community.

As I looked over my map, I noticed the words "Sunset Cliffs Boulevard." This name caught my attention. It sounded incredible. On the map, the road seemed to literally wind along the edge of the water too. So, it seemed to be more than simply an arbitrary title. I instantly decided that Sunset Cliffs is where I needed to start my morning. I felt certain that it would be a great place to wander.

Arriving at Sunset Cliffs, I was not disappointed. There I found a beautiful residential community bordered by a jagged cliff. The view was incredible but what captivated my attention more than anything else were the steep steps leading down cliff to the water's edge. As I looked on, at least half a dozen surfers were descending into the water.

I had infiltrated one of San Diego's most dedicated surfing communities. These weren't your average Californian surfers. They weren't young, blond, and tan the type who practically live at the beach. Rather, the Sunset Cliff surfers are mostly middle-aged professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants) who start and end their work day with a dip in the ocean on their boards. One cannot help but respect their commitment to honour their love for the ocean and to maintaining such balance in their busy lives.

Still sipping my coffee and eating my breakfast muffin, I found a patch of grass at the edge of the cliff next to the steps. I sat and watched as countless surfers passed by me. Most went down for quick half hour surfs, while some stayed longer. There was a great sense of community among the surfers. Some of them even worked together, as I heard more than a few call out that they would see each other at the office as they got back into their cars. This steady stream of surfers continued until nearly nine o'clock. By the time I left for the airport, the day's heat intensifying, there were only a handful of surfers remaining in the water. I sensed that later, with the work day behind them, the surfers would return, the morning scene repeating itself in a sunset version.

Sitting on the edge of that cliff is exactly how I like to experience new places. I could have easily signed up for a morning tour San Diego. I also could have simply gone to any number of places recommended in the countless city guide books. However, none of that would have appealed to my need to find unique experiences of people and places. And besides, the edge of that cliff is a much truer window into San Diego.

Learn more about this author, Tracy Bee.
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