10. Shop at the La Mesa Certified Farmers Market
Once a week, Allison Avenue floods with neighbors from Grossmont, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, and El Cajon. The reason? La Mesa Certified Farmers Market. Spend hours walking past rows upon rows of vendors that sell everything from fruit to household ornaments. If you want to whip up homemade pesto, there’s a vendor from Jamul that sells deliciously fragrant basil plants. And if you want to take your love of Italian cuisine further, find the vendor whose fresh noodles perfectly complement all homemade sauces.
11. Indulge in Deliciousness at Antica Trattoria
Savor every bite at Antica Trattoria, an authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of La Mesa, San Diego. Since opening its doors in 2001, this dazzling location has displayed a unique approach to dining. Each dish is infused with the freshest ingredients. Antica Trattoria’s lunch and dinner menus include flavorsome appetizers.
Salads and main courses such as hand-cut pappardelle with roasted garlic, oven-roasted tomatoes, crispy brussels sprouts, and delicious eggplant parmigiana are all must-tries. Just one bite and you’ll be transported to the colorful streets of Italy, where cooking is a way of life.
12. Visit La Mesa Depot
Travel back in time to the Pacific Southwest, where California’s oldest building exists in its original form. Imagine Robert W. Waterman, California’s governor in 1894, strolling La Mesa Boulevard and thinking about the need for a railway station. Waterman’s brainchild was the iconic La Mesa Depot—the sole surviving Cuyamaca and San Diego Railway station in existence.
Explore the steam locomotive and a string of freight cars at this glorious La Mesa train museum. Experience a slice of Golden State history through fascinating exhibitions.