Let's Take a Day Trip

One of my favorite things about travel is finding experiences that make me feel completely out of my comfort zone. Sometimes that means boarding a plane to a new city. Other times, it means simply walking across an international border.

In May, while celebrating my son’s 15th birthday in San Diego, I had the opportunity to do something I had always thought sounded fascinating: walk from the United States into Mexico.

What made the experience even more interesting is that just one week later, I crossed another international border on foot—this time between Canada and the United States at Niagara Falls. While both crossings involved little more than walking, the experiences couldn’t have been more different.

This is the story of my unexpected adventure into Tijuana.

Leaving America on Foot

My son and my mother were busy shopping at Las Americas Premium Outlets, just steps from the border. Rather than carrying shopping bags from store to store, I decided to take advantage of our location and cross into Mexico.

Armed with my U.S. passport and NEXUS card, I made my way toward the pedestrian crossing at the San Ysidro Port of Entry’s PedWest facility.

At the time, I knew almost nothing about the crossing process. I assumed there was one way into Mexico and one way back into the United States. Simple enough, right?

Not exactly.

The walk toward Mexico felt surprisingly dramatic. The pathway funnels pedestrians through a series of tall steel barriers, fencing, and security gates. The further I walked, the more it felt like I was moving through a controlled corridor between two countries.

Looking back, it felt less like a sidewalk and more like a passageway between worlds.

Then, just like that, I was in Mexico.

No passport check. No customs officer. No questions.

One moment, I was in California. Next, I was standing in Tijuana.

The only people waiting for me were taxi drivers asking if I needed a ride.

My First Impressions of Tijuana

The first thing I noticed was the energy.

Cars filled the streets. Vendors sold goods along the roadside. Music drifted through the air. Palm trees lined the sidewalks under a cloudless Baja California sky.

From where I stood, I could actually see the massive border infrastructure separating the two countries. Thousands of vehicles flowed through inspection lanes while pedestrians moved back and forth between nations.

As someone who grew up in Arkansas and now lives in Illinois, it was fascinating to witness daily life in a place where crossing an international border is simply part of everyday routine.

I snapped a few photos, took in the scenery, and figured I should probably head back before my son noticed I had disappeared for too long.

That’s when things got interesting.

The Moment I Realized I Was Lost

I assumed I could simply turn around and walk back the same way I had entered Mexico.

I was wrong.

Very wrong.

When I attempted to retrace my steps, I was informed that the crossing I had used was not available for reentry into the United States.

Instead, I would need to walk to another pedestrian crossing known as PedEast.

The problem?

I had no idea where PedEast was.

To make matters worse, my cell phone kept dropping its connection. Google Maps would load for a few seconds and then disappear. Every time I thought I had directions, they vanished.

I began asking people for help.

Several people politely told me they didn’t speak English.

For the first time during the trip, I started feeling uneasy.

Not because I felt unsafe, but because I suddenly realized I was completely dependent on finding my way through a city I didn’t know, in a language I barely speak, without reliable navigation.

Searching for the Way Home

I followed sidewalks along busy roadways, trying to spot signs pointing toward the border crossing.

The traffic seemed endless.

At one point, I stopped at what appeared to be a convenience store or pharmacy and asked a security guard for assistance.

She was incredibly kind.

Using gestures and a few words, she pointed me toward a larger roadway and explained where I needed to go.

That simple act of kindness changed everything.

With renewed confidence, I kept walking.

And walking.

And walking.

Eventually, after what felt much longer than it probably was, I finally spotted a sign directing pedestrians toward the U.S. border crossing.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see a sign in my life.

What Is SENTRI?

As I approached the crossing, I was stunned.

The regular pedestrian line appeared enormous. Hundreds—possibly thousands—of people seemed to be waiting to enter the United States.

Then I noticed another sign.

SENTRI.

At the time, I assumed it was simply a Spanish word.

It isn’t.

SENTRI stands for Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection. It is a trusted traveler program operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to use expedited lanes when entering the United States.

What I didn’t realize was that my NEXUS membership included SENTRI privileges.

NEXUS is primarily known for expedited travel between the United States and Canada, but it also provides access to SENTRI lanes at many land border crossings with Mexico.

That little card in my wallet was about to save me hours.

The Fastest Border Crossing of My Life

I approached a border employee directing traffic and explained that I was trying to return to the United States.

With my NEXUS card in hand, he simply told me:

“Keep walking.”

So I did.

Past the long lines.

Past the crowds.

Straight into the SENTRI processing area.

Suddenly, there were only two people in front of me.

After all the stress, confusion, and uncertainty, the actual inspection lasted less than a minute.

The officer reviewed my documents, looked up, smiled, and said:

“Welcome back to America.”

I can’t remember another time when hearing those words felt quite so reassuring.

The Walk Back

Once I cleared customs, I crossed the pedestrian bridge leading back toward Las Americas Premium Outlets.

The entire experience had probably lasted less than two hours.

To me, it felt like a full-day adventure.

As I approached the Nike store, there stood my son and my mom, casually shopping and completely unaware that I had spent the previous hour convinced I might never figure out how to get back.

They were comparing shoes.

I was celebrating successfully navigating an international border.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, I laugh at how nervous I got.

But that’s one of the reasons I travel.

Travel has a way of reminding us that the world is both larger and smaller than we think. Larger because there are always unfamiliar places waiting beyond the next turn. Smaller because a helpful security guard, a border officer, or a stranger pointing you in the right direction can instantly make a foreign place feel welcoming.

Would I walk into Mexico again?

Absolutely.

The next time, though, I’ll know exactly where PedEast is located—and I’ll make sure my phone works before I leave America.