Leng Caloh
KPBS Senior Online Editor

Let me start by saying that I'm a working dyke mama who doesn't get out much. This came to me the other day when I went to get my hair cut in Hillcrest, and realized it was the first time in a month – since my previous haircut – that I'd left the house without either a laptop or a baby in tow. Most of my leisure time is spent with my partner and our toddler, so these are mostly family-friendly activities with a few left over from my pre-baby days (when, truth be told, I was also a bit of a homebody). Also, when we have friends visit from out of town, we usually take them on a culinary tour of our favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants, so I've included a few of those too. I've even geeked out and used the Google "My Maps" feature to create a custom map of these places for you. Enjoy!

San Diego Zoo Our daughter is just over a year old, so naturally we spend a lot of time at the San Diego Zoo. Lately we just head down the Monkey Trails and hang out with the monkeys. The Tiger River Trail is steeper but well worth the trip, as you're rewarded with the strangely graceful hippos at the bottom of the hill and Ituri Forest, where you'll find monkeys and otters scampering around together. You can head up yet another hill to the polar bears, and then hitch a ride on the Skyfari back to the entrance.

Japanese Friendship Garden If you're feeling contemplative, head to the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. It's small, but lovely with a koi pond and bamboo rustling in the breeze. We enjoy strolling through the grounds and taking photos of the plants, koi and lizards. We also hang out for hours on end at the Tea Pavilion, drinking Japanese teas and snacking on cold soba noodles.

Thai Grilled Chicken Picnic in Balboa Park's Rose Garden First, swing by Su Mei-Yu's Saffron Chicken to pick up one of their delicious Thai grilled chicken meals with rice, Cambodian cabbage salad and five kinds of sauces (don't miss the peanut sauce and mango chutney). You can even buy a fully stocked picnic basket for four for just under $30. Then, head up the Washington Street hill, veer to the right to University Avenue, and follow that through the heart of Hillcrest – San Diego's LGBT community. Turn right on Park Boulevard, and head down past the San Diego Zoo to the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, located across the street from the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. My partner and I have enjoyed many a romantic, aromatic picnic here.

Olympic Café, North Park 2340 University Avenue We used to live around the corner from this mom-and-pop Greek diner, just east of Hillcrest. The ambiance and décor are nothing to get excited about, but John serves the best – and most affordable – Greek food in town. The beef shishkabobs are grilled to perfection – slightly charred on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, flavorful all around. Be sure to save room for dessert, made by John's wife Donna. You can't go wrong, whether you order the homemade chocolate chip cookies or the honeylicious baklava. Oh, and don't be surprised if John pulls up a chair and starts talking philosophy, antiques or Greek modernity with you. It's that kind of place.

Soltan Banoo, University Heights 4645 Park Boulevard We first discovered Soltan Banoo when it was a hole-in-the-wall across the street, originally called Caspian Cafe. The tables were so close together that you literally could lean over and ask your neighbor, "Wow, that looks really good, what is it?" It's run by two sisters and their mom, and even though they've expanded and upgraded the restaurant, they still have that neighborhood feel. They serve fresh tasty Persian food with some California twists. Everything's good, but I can't stay away from the zereshk polo. The strawberry tabouli salad is also delish. And their dolmades are to die for. To top off the meal, enjoy a nice light piece of ghaz with some Persian tea.

Hash House a Go Go 3628 Fifth Avenue Hash House is the place to go when you've got a big appetite, some good friends and a bit of extra cash in the wallet. They serve astoundingly large platters of gourmet comfort food. You can easily split one entrée and still have leftovers. Think pork chops with a wild mushroom sauce served on a mound of bleu cheese mashed potatoes with fried leeks. Mmmmmm. We like to say that the décor is Urban Gay Farm Boy On Steroids (farm implements raised to the level of art as only gay men can do). If you don't get a reservation, be prepared to wait. A long time.

Spruce Street Bridge at Night The Spruce Street Bridge is a cozy little suspension bridge tucked away in a canyon in residential Banker's Hill, just south of Hillcrest. I suppose there isn't anything really unusual about it, but I just love how it's an oasis of calm in the middle of the city – a hidden surprise. Sitting on the bridge at night, the air around you feels different. The sounds of the city recede as the crickets take over, and anything seems possible. My partner and I went there after dinner on our first date, so it holds a special place in my heart.

Drive to the Mountains & Stay at the Cabin at Strawberry Hill We've only been up to the mountains once since the devastating 2003 cedar fires, so I'm not sure how well things have grown back. But in the past, a drive through the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park was always peaceful. One of my favorite getaways is the Cabin at Strawberry Hill, just outside of Julian. Built by hand by two artists, Chuck Kimball and Nanessence, the cabin exudes serenity and beauty. And the nearby William Heise County Park has nice hiking trails. The nearby town of Julian prides itself on being a "quaint" mining town, and although it's got its share of country-kitsch tourist trap shops, I've noticed some more alternative shops opening up in recent years. And we never leave without buying some aromatherapy soaps from the Julian Soap and Candle Company.