Face it, San Diego is where the desert meets the ocean. Everything else is planted, paved and built. Explaining it to East Coasters is easy, Norfolk Virginia on a hill side.
The airport (in the center of town) and the US Navy occupy all the best real estate and the rest is a web of interstate, freeways and cars. 3 million people driving everywhere they go, no mass transit to speak of really and if you want to ride a bike you're more than likely to get RTFO'ed
(Run The Fuck Over.)
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This is not to say there aren't beautiful places to see or hang out around.