I still remember the first time I came to San Diego in February 2003. Our plane flew low over the San Diego harbour, and a few minutes later we burst out of the terminal into the sweet sea air. "The most laid back town in America," my colleague hastened to point out. Young and old alike wandered around the airport in t-shirts and flip-flops. The typical harried atmosphere of the terminal was noticeably absent. I took my sweater off. But as good as my first trip to San Diego may have seemed at the time, it was not until the second, the third and the fourth that I began to realize: there's no place else quite like San Diego.

Now the memories of the city and its surroundings have become quite cherished. If you ever happen to be in San Diego, there are a few things you've got to do. Stretch out on the beach in Del Mar. Enjoy fresh fish at an open-air bistro in Coronado. Meander the bustling blocks of the Gaslamp District on Friday night. And, if you have time to spare, drive an hour up to Laguna Beach for a change of scene.

All this can be done without squeezing the wallet, of course. Fall and winter are usually inexpensive times to get to southern California. Don't expect to pay more than $200-$250 for your airline ticket. Hotels are equally inexpensive during this tourist dry season. When I was there in October, I bid and won the DoubleTree in Del Mar -- a recently renovated 3-star hotel -- for $38/night. They gave me a free cookie. When I'm there I rent a midsize from National (weekend rates hover around $18.95 per day). You can't beat the convenience of their Emerald Aisle service, nor the selection of mid-size cars that might include a late-model Volkswagen Jetta or Volvo S40. (If you're looking to cut a few more corners, then rental cars can be had on Priceline for around $15.)

Eats are not expensive either if you so choose. This is the land that invented fast food, afterall. You'll find a plethora of In-And-Out Burgers -- even the knock-offs are delicious -- and Wahoo's Fish Tacos.

So, what's not to like? Everytime I go back, a new facet of San Diego awaits to be discovered.