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Our whole team at Travel Off Path doesn’t just venture off every weekend to postcard destinations.

We’ve all grabbed life by the horns and moved to some of the world’s greatest cities, whether it be Paris, Mexico City, or my chosen hometown of San Diego.

But here’s the reality I don’t often discuss as a seasoned traveler: it’s easy to become jaded.

Say you’re a digital nomad who lives in Bangkok. It’s amazing at first, but one day the cheap street noodles are no longer that robust, the wild nightlife is just yet another night, and markets begin to blend together.

The same can be said for anywhere. So what about the place I’ve lived for 10+ years now?

Yeah, there are moments (like when my rent bill is due) that I start flirting with other cities, but the truth is San Diego is the one city worldwide I’m always happy to come back to — and it appears I’m not alone.

Word just broke from the San Diego Union Tribune that San Diego International Airport (SAN) welcomed more passengers than ever in 2025.

Why is this especially impressive?

Because a seemingly never-ending remodel made the airport was an absolute clusterf… well you get my drift.

Let me give you an insider’s perspective on why San Diego had a record-breaking year with no signs of slowing down.

San Diego Knows No Bounds

Wanna know what really sold me on moving to San Diego what seems like ages ago?

Sure, the salty breeze and endless sunshine were selling points, but it was actually how everything worthwhile was 15 minutes away, as you can only drive so far west without having to call the Coast Guard.

Sadly, that’s not the case anymore. Yes, many of those places still exist — Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, Coronado ‘Island’, and downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter.

But there’s no denying San Diego is rapidly expanding north, south, and east.

North County:

The former soccer-mom beach town of Carlsbad is earning name-brand recognition nowadays.

With its on-again, off-again airport finally deciding to become commercial long-term, major publications featuring them endlessly, and luxe resorts and LegoLand becoming more known for family getaways, many are flying into SAN and making the 40-minute drive or (train ride) north.

And that’s just one town of many. Neighboring Oceanside is making a name for itself too after a much-needed revamp.

South County:

Chula Vista isn’t just a pit stop on the way to Mexico anymore. It’s slowly becoming a vacation destination in its own right with the opening of the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, the city’s first-ever resort.

Not to mention Seven Mile Casino down the street and my favorite daily hangout, Third Avenue, lined with underrated breweries, nighttime food trucks, and San Diego’s best weekend farmers market if you ask me.

East County:

Most tourists skip the mountains in favor of the beach — and who can blame them when they’re as gorgeous as San Diego’s beautiful Pacific waters up and down the coast.

But SD’s East County is seeing a battle of J-towns: Julian and Jamul.

The rustic mountain town of Julian is no longer San Diegan’s worst-kept secret — it’s a summer hotspot for locals and tourists alike to dig into the best pies you’ll ever eat and a timeless townscape that’s hard to replicate.

Jamul, on the other hand, is still on the up-and-up. Off the typical tourist trail, Jamul is hoping to become San Diego’s slice of Vegas with its recently opened boutique hotel, along with its existing casino.

Both times I have visited, it’s been packed — rightfully so for the incredible seafood buffet alone.

More Trains, More Planes: San Diego Is More Connected Than Ever

Remember what I said about the airport remodel?

It may have been a pain to drive unnecessary figure-eights for airport drop-offs and pickups, but it turns out the much-needed facelift paid off, alleviating Harbor Drive headaches.

Whether it be Alaska or Southwest, San Diego’s route map is ever-changing.

Heck, I’ve lived here for over a decade and just took my first international flight from SAN last fall thanks to Lufthansa entering the chat.

Factor in Carlsbad’s growing flight options with United and American, and there’s no shortage of ways to get here.

That includes trains, too. Last year, it was reported that one of America’s most scenic rail journeys was expanding in more ways than one:

• Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner is doubling up with routes from Santa Fe Station to Los Angeles
• COASTER will soon depart from downtown with a brand new station

Sam Sears

Sam, our Senior Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 44 countries and written over 1500 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.