I had already written an extensive post about recommendations for visiting San Diego, but since then, I have frequently returned to visit family and speak at conferences. I will periodically share new images and tiny details from the trips with fresh recommendations.
Soak in the succulents & cacti. (Sep. 2023)
San Diego’s Mediterranean climate is characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Its consistently mild temperatures, ample sunlight, low humidity, and sandy soil are particularly suitable to cacti and succulents.
![Close up of a red-tipped agave macroacantha plant in San Diego](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/san-diego-nature-photography-kctrvlr-14.jpg)
![](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/san-diego-nature-photography-kctrvlr-06.jpg)
![](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/san-diego-nature-photography-kctrvlr-10.jpg)
![Closeup of aeonium arboreum succulent plant in San Diego](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/san-diego-nature-photography-kctrvlr-13.jpg)
![Four cactuses in multi-colored pots in San Diego](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/san-diego-nature-photography-kctrvlr-03.jpg)
On a recent visit, I stayed just over a mile from Balboa Park. Popular for morning walks, it’s a great place to catch golden light on the brugmansia trumpet flowers and the iconic aerial buttress roots of ornamental Moreton fig trees.
![Peach-colored brugmansia flowers dangling in dappled sunlight](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/san-diego-nature-photography-kctrvlr-15.jpg)
![](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/san-diego-nature-photography-kctrvlr-11.jpg)
In September the blooms were going strong throughout San Diego.
![](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/san-diego-nature-photography-kctrvlr-09.jpg)
![](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/san-diego-nature-photography-kctrvlr-05.jpg)
![](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/san-diego-nature-photography-kctrvlr-02.jpg)
Finally, I spent ages on a damp sidewalk in the rain to ogle this bright green hawk-moth caterpillar while it chomped on a red and orange colored Euhorbia tirucalli, or fire sticks plant.
![Bright green hawk-moth caterpillar chomps on a red and orange colored Euhorbia tirucalli fire sticks plant in San Diego](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/san-diego-nature-photography-kctrvlr-08.jpg)
Hike Blue Sky Reserve to Ramona Dam (Mar. 2019)
I wanted a hike, so I joined my friend Ben to hike the Blue Sky Reserve to Ramona Dam, about 45 minutes outside of San Diego proper. It’s an approximately 5.25-mile out-and-back trail that took us about an hour and a half to complete. The weather in San Diego had been uncharacteristically cool, damp, and rainy lately. While it meant a little mud on our shoes on the trail, we were also treated to a beautiful green landscape with a misty fog nestled over the tops of the rolling hills.
![](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/oak-tree-blue-sky-hike-san-diego-3.jpg)
![](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/black-cut-trunk-blue-sky-san-diego.jpg)
![Unseasonably cool, wet mist on the Blue Sky Reserve hike to Ramona Dam in San Diego](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/blue-sky-ramona-dam-hike-mist-hills-san-diego.jpg)
![](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/flowers-mist-blue-sky-hike-san-diego.jpg)
![Bracket fungi on a log on the Blue Sky Reserve hike to Ramona Dam in San Diego](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/bracket-fungus-log-san-diego.jpg)
![The misty, rainy view at the top of Ramona Dam on the Blue Sky Reserve hike](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/romona-dam-san-diego.jpg)
![Moisture captured in the moss on the Blue Sky Reserve hike to Ramona Dam](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/dewy-moss-2.jpg)
Little Italy (Mar. 2019)
Once again I found my way back to the Little Italy neighborhood. Just like last year, I went to Ironside Fish & Oyster for lunch at their bar (my god, the Phantom Creek oysters – still my favorite and this is the only place I’ve ever found them). I joined my friend Ben for brunch at Herb & Wood. We shopped at Atacama Surf Shop to pick him up a hat. We celebrated our friend Ryan’s birthday with drinks in the cabanas at the Kettner Exchange. The week in San Diego was unseasonably rainy – but most of my Little Italy time had wonderful, sunny, warm weather.
![Snail in a succulent in San Diego](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/snail-succulent-san-diego.jpg)
![Phantom Creek oysters from British Columbia at Ironside Fish & Oyster](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/phantom-creek-oysters-ironside-fish-san-diego-1024x683.jpg)
![Steampunk fence outside Ballast Point Brewing Company](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/brewery-san-diego.jpg)
Whale Watching (Mar. 2019)
I have wanted to go whale watching forever. Ben and I booked some seats with Adventure R.I.B. Rides for a super fun day on the water. We did manage to see several species of dolphins, some sea lions, and one whale tale, but sadly the whales were pretty quiet on this trip. It was still an absolute blast and would love to go again.
![San Diego skyline from the Pacific ocean](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/san-diego-skyline-ocean.jpg)
![Dorsal fins of a dolphin pod off the coast of San Diego](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/dolphins-adventure-rib-rides.jpg)
![Tall Ship Adventure on the schooner Californian in San Diego](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/sailing-san-diego.jpg)
![](https://kctrvlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/whale-watching-photography.jpg)
Heather, I love your photographs. Do you have a site where they can be purchased?
@Beth – you are so thoughtful! Prints of many images can be purchased at https://heatherphysioc.zenfoliosite.com/ as a way to raise money for environmental causes I care about. Half of all proceeds are donated to conservation nonprofits!