My trip to San Diego (7/27-8/4)
Aug 5th, 2010, 07:19 AM
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My trip to San Diego (7/27-8/4)
Main purpose of the trip was for work, but I managed to fit a lot of fun and down time in.
Flew from Hartford to San Diego via Minneapolis. Got upgraded to 1st Class on each flight thankfully. 2 non-eventful flights and got in 20 minutes early. However, it took forever for our baggage to come out at San Diego (not surprising as it always seems to take forever here). Got to Avis to pick up my rental car and ended up with a Mitsubishi Gallant as a full size? Thought about changing and probably should have...
Checked into the Hilton Bayfront. Got a great rate for it. Really enjoyed the hotel. Room was on the 29th floor overlooking Petco Park. My only complaints with the hotel were:
1) they had a massive convention going on and it was tough to get an elevator, waited up to 20 minutes at times. Not much the hotel can do but you should be aware of this.
2) All beers at the hotel bar were $8.00 except during Happy Hour. Little too expensive. Also, sodas from the machines were $3.50.
3) Parking was $25 for self parking (Typical for any downtown hotel). Garage is next door to the hotel. However, it is also used for game traffic and can get very busy before games. Just be aware of that,
But service at the hotel was very good and enjoyable. I got free buffet coupons for breakfast every morning which worked great.
Tuesday night, I met up with a friend of mine and we went to Tin Fish for dinner. Excellent choice before a game. We hung out here for a while and then went to the game. We had bought our tickets ahead of time given that it was the Dodgers. I was wearing my Red Sox hat while my friend wore his Yankees hats. Got a lot of comments thrown at us in good fun. Our seats were behind the Padres dugout. Great seats and a lot of fun being a great rivalry. Didn't care for the beer prices but typical park prices. I love the stadium and really enjoyed it. However, can people please get to the game earlier than during the 1st Inning. I was sick that people were pouring in during the game. The time on the tickets is when the game starts, not when the gates open...Still had a great time and then back to the hotel...
Wednesday, I went to the Fish Market for dinner. It was packed so I grabbed a seat at the bar. Had monkfish for dinner. Excellent meal as usual here. Its a must when I come to SD.
More later...
Flew from Hartford to San Diego via Minneapolis. Got upgraded to 1st Class on each flight thankfully. 2 non-eventful flights and got in 20 minutes early. However, it took forever for our baggage to come out at San Diego (not surprising as it always seems to take forever here). Got to Avis to pick up my rental car and ended up with a Mitsubishi Gallant as a full size? Thought about changing and probably should have...
Checked into the Hilton Bayfront. Got a great rate for it. Really enjoyed the hotel. Room was on the 29th floor overlooking Petco Park. My only complaints with the hotel were:
1) they had a massive convention going on and it was tough to get an elevator, waited up to 20 minutes at times. Not much the hotel can do but you should be aware of this.
2) All beers at the hotel bar were $8.00 except during Happy Hour. Little too expensive. Also, sodas from the machines were $3.50.
3) Parking was $25 for self parking (Typical for any downtown hotel). Garage is next door to the hotel. However, it is also used for game traffic and can get very busy before games. Just be aware of that,
But service at the hotel was very good and enjoyable. I got free buffet coupons for breakfast every morning which worked great.
Tuesday night, I met up with a friend of mine and we went to Tin Fish for dinner. Excellent choice before a game. We hung out here for a while and then went to the game. We had bought our tickets ahead of time given that it was the Dodgers. I was wearing my Red Sox hat while my friend wore his Yankees hats. Got a lot of comments thrown at us in good fun. Our seats were behind the Padres dugout. Great seats and a lot of fun being a great rivalry. Didn't care for the beer prices but typical park prices. I love the stadium and really enjoyed it. However, can people please get to the game earlier than during the 1st Inning. I was sick that people were pouring in during the game. The time on the tickets is when the game starts, not when the gates open...Still had a great time and then back to the hotel...
Wednesday, I went to the Fish Market for dinner. It was packed so I grabbed a seat at the bar. Had monkfish for dinner. Excellent meal as usual here. Its a must when I come to SD.
More later...
Aug 5th, 2010, 07:58 AM
#2
We watched all those Dodger games on teevee and I wondered if you were there. We should have asked you to wear something outrageous (more outrageous than a Red Sox cap, anyway) so we'd recognise you!
You'd better avoid Dodger Stadium, where most of the crowd arrives during the third inning!
Sounding good so far.
You'd better avoid Dodger Stadium, where most of the crowd arrives during the third inning!
Sounding good so far.
Aug 5th, 2010, 08:45 AM
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Thursday, I went to the Karl Strauss Brewery near the Gaslamp. Didn't know there was one there until I plugged it into my GPS (intending on going to the one I knew of in Mission Valley). Had a few good beers and excellent Chicken Wings for an app and then Tuna Ahi for dinner. It was a great choice.
Friday, got out of work earlier than expected and went to the Yardhouse for dinner. Cabbed it here from my hotel. Great selection of beer. Had the grilled Artichoke for an appetizer. About this time, I looked at my watch and saw that there was still time left before the Padres game. Finished my dinner and walked to Petco. Got a ticket in the RF stands for $18. Great seat. Another enjoyable game but the Marlins won...Went to a couple of bars after the game. Have I mentioned how much I love San Diego?
Saturday, got up and had breakfast. Did the SD Harbor Excursions Harbor Tour. I did the 2 hour version starting with the South Tour (down past the Navy Shipyards under the Coronado Bridge). Then you go up to Cabrillo Monument. It was a great tour with perfect weather. Saw a bunch of dolphins / seals. My only comment was that you do go back to the dock in between to let people off for the 1 hour tours. Some time wasted but it gives you time to change seats if desired. I really enjoyed this tour and it was a good price ($25) Having been coming to SD for 5 years now, this was the first time I got out on the Harbor. Perfect way to do it.
Went to another Padres game that night. Sat in almost the same seat as the previous night. Unfortunately, the Marlins won again. I should probably be banned from going to games. When the game ended, I went over to Dick's last Resort for dinner. Had fried gator for an appetizer and catfish for dinner. Really enjoyed it as there was a good band playing. Walked back to the hotel and crashed.
Got up Sunday morning and drive out to the Stone Brewery for the tour. was undecided about which breweries to go to but had been drinking a lot of the Stone IPA lately even in CT so it made sense to go to Stone.Great tour. Also had lunch there and really enjoyed it. Excellent food (had their pretzels for an app and then Mac n Cheese (cheese was made with beer in it). Great selection of beer. Left here and drove to La Jolla, hoping to stop in the Cove but it was mobbed. I have never seen so many people there. Still really enjoyed driving through. Drove down through Pacific and Mission Beaches. Went back to my hotel as I was feeling beat. Had dinner at the Fox Sports Grill at my hotel. Very good menu and beer selection.
Monday, ate at the Fish Market again as co-workers flew out to meet up with me and wanted to go there. didnt have to ask me twice. We got a table on the patio and really enjoyed it. I had the Hawaiian Tombo. Great meal.
Tuesday, we went to Tin Fish again. Another good meal as I had the Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos. Then over to the Tilted Kilt for a few drinks before heading back to the hotel.
Unfortunately, I had to fly home last night. Uneventful flights but got home at 2am this morning and into work at 7 so Im a little tired. But worth it after 8 days in SD...And I just got told to look for flights for next week to come back out...
Friday, got out of work earlier than expected and went to the Yardhouse for dinner. Cabbed it here from my hotel. Great selection of beer. Had the grilled Artichoke for an appetizer. About this time, I looked at my watch and saw that there was still time left before the Padres game. Finished my dinner and walked to Petco. Got a ticket in the RF stands for $18. Great seat. Another enjoyable game but the Marlins won...Went to a couple of bars after the game. Have I mentioned how much I love San Diego?
Saturday, got up and had breakfast. Did the SD Harbor Excursions Harbor Tour. I did the 2 hour version starting with the South Tour (down past the Navy Shipyards under the Coronado Bridge). Then you go up to Cabrillo Monument. It was a great tour with perfect weather. Saw a bunch of dolphins / seals. My only comment was that you do go back to the dock in between to let people off for the 1 hour tours. Some time wasted but it gives you time to change seats if desired. I really enjoyed this tour and it was a good price ($25) Having been coming to SD for 5 years now, this was the first time I got out on the Harbor. Perfect way to do it.
Went to another Padres game that night. Sat in almost the same seat as the previous night. Unfortunately, the Marlins won again. I should probably be banned from going to games. When the game ended, I went over to Dick's last Resort for dinner. Had fried gator for an appetizer and catfish for dinner. Really enjoyed it as there was a good band playing. Walked back to the hotel and crashed.
Got up Sunday morning and drive out to the Stone Brewery for the tour. was undecided about which breweries to go to but had been drinking a lot of the Stone IPA lately even in CT so it made sense to go to Stone.Great tour. Also had lunch there and really enjoyed it. Excellent food (had their pretzels for an app and then Mac n Cheese (cheese was made with beer in it). Great selection of beer. Left here and drove to La Jolla, hoping to stop in the Cove but it was mobbed. I have never seen so many people there. Still really enjoyed driving through. Drove down through Pacific and Mission Beaches. Went back to my hotel as I was feeling beat. Had dinner at the Fox Sports Grill at my hotel. Very good menu and beer selection.
Monday, ate at the Fish Market again as co-workers flew out to meet up with me and wanted to go there. didnt have to ask me twice. We got a table on the patio and really enjoyed it. I had the Hawaiian Tombo. Great meal.
Tuesday, we went to Tin Fish again. Another good meal as I had the Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos. Then over to the Tilted Kilt for a few drinks before heading back to the hotel.
Unfortunately, I had to fly home last night. Uneventful flights but got home at 2am this morning and into work at 7 so Im a little tired. But worth it after 8 days in SD...And I just got told to look for flights for next week to come back out...
Aug 5th, 2010, 10:18 AM
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Sounds like a great trip. Lots of baseball and nice dining. I love Stone Brewery and it's definitely worth the drive.
Barbara-Yes, the Dodger fans come in the 3rd inning and leave after the 7th inning stretch!! lol
Barbara-Yes, the Dodger fans come in the 3rd inning and leave after the 7th inning stretch!! lol
Aug 19th, 2010, 11:59 AM
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(Went to another Padres game that night. Sat in almost the same seat as the previous night. Unfortunately, the Marlins won again. I should probably be banned from going to games.)
LOL! You too? I can't remember the last 'win' I saw. Still, it sounds like you had a fun and full trip!
Glad to know Bayfront's service is back on track. And next time we head to San Diego, we'll have to give Tin Fish a try. It's always packed- guess that should of been a good indicator.
Thanks tchoiniere
LOL! You too? I can't remember the last 'win' I saw. Still, it sounds like you had a fun and full trip!
Glad to know Bayfront's service is back on track. And next time we head to San Diego, we'll have to give Tin Fish a try. It's always packed- guess that should of been a good indicator.
Thanks tchoiniere
