"When I look at San Diego, it feels like Miami did years ago, with the vitality and anticipation to take off," said Rande Gerber, famous bar and lounge designer responsible for both bars at the new Hard Rock San Diego. And he's right. This ain't just your family-friendly San Diego any more. Seen for years as the home of SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, the city's new class of boutique hotels is gaining attention from the hip jet-set crowd. Features like see-through showers at the Ivy, Sunday afternoon rehab pool parties at the Hard Rock Hotel, and the edgy Italian chic Pininfarina design at the Keating now mingling with kiddie pools and ho-hum chains. Facing this sexy hotel boom, classic hotels are upping the ante by adding sleek modern decor and such amenities as spas, flat-screen TVs, and wireless Internet service. More »
