Is San Diego Nice? It’s the Rust Belt!

Is San Diego nice?

After visiting the sun-soaked paradise for a conference, I thought I had the question answered.

Then, thanks to the almighty Wikipedia, I discovered that hiding beneath the California sunshine is everyone’s greatest fear—a dark side.

If it makes you feel better, you can go ahead and categorize this under jealousy.

I, on the other hand, know what it really is. Where I’m from, it has another name—the ugly truth.

If our disrespected cities are the urban answers to She’s All That, then San Diego is the metropolitan version of lipstick on a pig.

Let’s start with the lipstick.

America’s Finest City is home to 1.3 million San Diegans, a number that bloats to 3.2 million (and counting) when the entire metro area is taken into account.

It’s one of the sunniest cities in the US, and thanks to the moderating effect of the Pacific Ocean, the temperature is always pleasant.

That same ocean, of course, gives rise to plenty of attractive beaches. As such, there’s no reason to go to Mexico, though if inspiration strikes, Tijuana is just across the border.

In other words, the Mexican food in San Diego is legit.

Scratch that—all the food is legit. This place is known for its restaurants, nightlife, and craft beer. There’s a reason tourists flock here, and I haven’t even mentioned SeaWorld and the zoo.

The tech and biotech industries are thriving, meaning at least some locals are happy, too.

But as you know, lipstick can fade.

Ultraviolet radiation and breaking waves, after all, are not always as exotic as they seem. With the ocean comes the US Navy, and the bulk of people here have unglamorous jobs in the defense industry.

That simple dose of reality, however, is nothing compared to what has happened in the sports world.

A metro area this size could have four major professional sports teams—in fact, the smaller Denver does.

San Diego has but one.

That team, the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB), has never won a World Series. Lurking in the outfield of its stadium is the building of the now-defunct Western Metal Supply Company.

The Chargers of the National Football League (NFL) previously left for Los Angeles, and the franchise has still never won a Super Bowl. (Sorry, an AFL championship doesn’t count.)

The Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) also left for, yes, Los Angeles, and, no, they’ve never won a championship either.

Before that, the Rockets of the NBA left for Houston (mercifully winning a title or two since then).

To top it off, San Diego has had teams in leagues that barely even existed—the World Hockey Association, anyone?

Accounting for this demoralizing athletic portfolio, San Diego’s resume is in line with that of another metropolis.

This other city also hugs an international border and is known for its culinary and hops-centric delights, both complemented by a raucous nightlife.

It, too, is recognized for its dry and sunny summers, perfect for trips to the beach and admiring sunsets over the water.

Tourists enjoy the zoo and the nearby aquarium, and many locals are employed in the life sciences.

A naval and military park lines the waterfront, where reminders of a metal-based history make themselves apparent.

Here, there a two major professional sports teams, and neither has ever won a championship. (Sorry, AFL championships don’t count.)

The NBA team skipped town years ago for…San Diego, before the ultimate move to Los Angeles.

So all this gets me back to the question at hand.

Is San Diego nice?

While I initially said lipstick on a pig, perhaps I should have said lipstick on a Buffalo!

 

Disclaimers:

The Buffalo, New York, metro area is about one third the size of the San Diego metro area.

The local weather is slightly less consistent than the weather in southern California, and the beaches might not be quite as nice (no offense to Lake Erie).

The international border is not as culturally exotic (no offense to Canada), though compensation comes in the form of a small waterfall (aka Niagara Falls).

Finally, a vacation to Buffalo will not allow you to brag to your friends, but it will save a lot of money and require no compromise in terms of sporting success.