If you want a firsthand experience of San Diego's legendary laidback lifestyle, Mission Beach can't be beat. Cruise down the infamous Mission Boulevard until the road suddenly dead ends at the brink of the bay. Make sure to get there at sunrise to secure a parking spot in the always cramped lots. Don't forget your walking shoes as you begin your day with a brisk stroll down this two-block wide, two-mile strip overflowing with pure white sandcastles and the most desirable real estate on the Southern California coastline.