Sure, being a travel blogger can be fun, especially when you get to go the airport and give away United Airlines Club Passes, but it also means that people who don’t even know you get to have all kinds of opinions about you! A while ago, one person left this comment, “Shelli does not know a darn thing about West Coast foods.” And a second person agreed! At least they spelled my name right :) I’m not offended by these comments. They amuse me! The people who do know me, however, would say that I DO KNOW a thing or two about West Coast foods, and I’m going to prove it to you. I’ve got a few of my favorite places to eat right here in San Diego to share with you. You be the judge!

A few years ago, a place called Underbelly opened up. They have two locations, one in Little Italy and one in North Park. I’m partial to the North Park one, though if you’re a visitor to San Diego, it’s likely the Little Italy location would work better. The local brew pub scene is crazy intense in San Diego and for a long while, I thought this place was all about drinking beer. And in a sense it is, with its huge bar and lots of beer offerings. However, Underbelly is really about the ramen! I was suspicious at first because unless ramen is really fresh and homemade, I don’t eat it. I’ve had ramen in Japan and Hawaii, so my standards are pretty high. Not only is their ramen great, but their menu is super creative and I eat here on a regular basis. I’m stuck on the Belly of the Beast Ramen. Recently, a friend had the Chicken Confit Ramen and raved about it. I think I’ll have to try it! I’ve seen their appetizers go by, and they look tempting. I like to sit at the bar because it’s a good spot from which to people watch. If you go with a bigger crowd, there are plenty of tables. The lines can get long, but I’ve always gotten a seat. Everyone I’ve taken there has raved about Underbelly. If you like ramen, or even if you’ve never had it, this is the place… ENJOY!

Coronado is a gem, and one that I’ve been enjoying for many years now. Whether you stay at Hotel Del Coronado or use other lodging on Coronado, or just come for a day from San Diego, there’s a lot to explore. If you like to walk or bike, or just want to know more about what to see/do in Coronado, you’ll like Shelli’s Coronado Loop! The whole loop takes you by the ocean, through town, to the bay side, along the Coronado Golf Course and back to the ocean. The whole loop is just under 7 miles, but of course it can be done in parts, too. It can be enjoyed both riding a bike and walking. It works in either direction.

Part 1 takes you through what might be called downtown Coronado, from the beach side to the Bay side. Head south from the Hotel Del Coronado. Orange Ave is the main street and is considered downtown Coronado. Depending on where you’re from, this might either seem like a charming definition of a downtown, or you’ll walk the whole avenue and still wonder if you’ve seen downtown!