San Diego: America’s Finest City

When asked why I love San Diego, a lot of reasons come to mind. For one, it’s home and is where the people I love live. But there is so much more to this city that makes me proud to call it home. It is in a unique location where you are minutes away from the beach, the mountains, the desert and downtown. There is an endless amount of delicious restaurants including [truly] authentic Mexican and multiple In-n-Outs, plus just about anything in La Jolla (although you may need to bring a bigger wallet).

There is an emphasis on art, which you’re able to experience Balboa Park – home to multiple free museums and beautiful Spanish architecture as well as a number of cultural festivals where you can buy art from street vendors and eat delicious food. I highly recommend that, if you ever find yourself in San Diego, you walk along the bay at sunset or rent a fishing pole and fish off of Pacific Beach Pier. And before you leave, don’t forget to grab some delicious fish and chips.

One thing that I absolutely love about San Diego is that we’re so close to Mexico and have a huge Hispanic influence. From the delicious food to salsa dancing to the opportunity to use that Spanish you learned in High School, there is such a beautiful blend of culture and history adding to the beauty of what makes this city San Diego.

Why should you visit San Diego? From a tourist stand point, the list could go on and on… but one thing that isn’t talked about as often are the needs present in San Diego. There is a large homeless population slowly getting pushed out of the city limits and people struggling to make ends meet because of high living standards. Thankfully, there are great organizations who are making a difference, meeting needs daily and doing what they can to change statistics.

I love that there are people who travel to San Diego each summer to serve and love on the people in my home city.

After serving for two summers with YouthWorks in both Chicago and Washington D.C., Emilee joined the YouthWorks recruiting team in 2014. Originally from Southern California, she’s excited to discover new places in Minneapolis and the excitement that comes with moving to a new city. She is excited for the opportunity to share about her experiences with YouthWorks and to get to know college age students. When she isn’t working, you could probably find her at a new coffee shop or listening to music on her record player.