We started out driving east on I-8 from our hotel in San Diego. Our route quickly took us up into the mountains, where we shed the "marine layer" and got some springtime sunshine. We kept going up until we were at the top of some marginally tall mountains. As quickly as we rose, we descended, and our ear drums definitely took notice. The mountains in this area are very rocky and full of large boulders, making our descent very scenic. Before we knew it, we were at (and sometimes below) sea level and the temperature was 90°F (as opposed to the 65°F at our hotel).
We ate lunch at a roadside Subway, which along with a gas station, was the only thing in site. We figured we couldn't have been more than a few hundred yards from the Mexican border. We continued on until we reached the desert/border town of El Centro. A quick stop at the tourist office there netted us a great suggestion for a scenic route north and eventually back east to the San Diego area.
We drove north to the Salton Sea, which we discovered is not really worth the time, as seeing an inland body of water that was salty and below sea level was mildly interesting, at best.
The best part of our trip came when we turned west onto Highway 78 to start back towards San Diego. This road provided one of the greatest driving experiences that I have ever had. The road started out flat and straight as an arrow for 30 miles or so as we sped through the desert and sand dunes. In the distance, through the haze, we could see the Vallecito Mountains getting closer and closer. All of a sudden, the road became a twisting, turning course that would challenge any driver. At times we were winding our way between two mountains, with little room to spare on either side of the road.
Up and down we went for what seemed like an eternity, and we stopped a few times along the road to snap some pictures of the gorgeous scenery. Just like on the way out there, we climbed to the top of the mountain range, only this time, before descending, we stopped in the mountain-top town of Julian for a quick beer and rest. We made our way back down the mountain, and again, our ears were definitely aware of our elevation change. We got back to the northeastern part of the San Diego area just as rush hour started, so we made our way back to our hotel very carefully, using the "path less taken."
This was by far our favorite day out of the six we spent in the San Diego area that week. It was not our favorite because it was flashy or touristy, but because it was "our" route that we had chosen. This route is one that we will definitely seek out again on our next trip to San Diego.