san diego for a week
 

my wife and i are going to be in san diego for a week in mid january. looking for "out of the way" things to do, already have plans for zoo, la jolla, old town. day trips? neighborhoods to wander? street/farmers markets? local's restaurants?

thanks for your help.

Balboa Park if you are going to the zoo you'll already be in the area many museums and gardens. Coronado is another nice area the Hotel Del Coronado is a good place to tour. The Gaslamp area also the pier tour the Midway.

Don't miss going out to the end of Point Loma for fantastic views, and a rather interesting light house museum.
I liked the Hilltop area for wandering. (Or is it called "Hillview"?)

Take the drive over the bridge to Coronado Island. Miguel's is a nice little place to have a great Mexican meal with friendly service. Go over to the historic Hotel Del Coronado and look around. There is also a free museum in Coronado, a few doors down from the Rhinoceros Cafe that we enjoyed browsing through. Happy New Year! ***kim*** ((l))

Being an alumnus of that proud organization, I am duty-bound to urge a visit to the San Diego County Sheriff's museum on the edge of Old Town.

It's Hillview, which has any number of nice little shops and good restaurants.

Walk through the military cemetery on Point Loma! Great views.
Many good friends are there.
M

It's actually Hillcrest.

I agree that the Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma is a great place to visit. You'll drive through the National Cemetery to get to the Monument.

Mission San Diego de Alcala is interesting to visit. Just don't go on the day the Chargers have a playoff game at Qualcomm Stadium! If you're in town on playoff day, then stay away from the Stadium area (unless you have tickets!)

A nice day trip from San Diego is driving to Julian, an old gold miming town in the Cuyamaca mountains, for lunch.

thanks, this ideas give me a lot of things to research.

Where did you decide to stay in SD?
When in Old Town, go to the Whaley House..Little Italy and Hillcrest are great to wander as well as LJ, Del Mar and Coronado..
Us locals love Rubio's for fish tacos or any taco shop..Point Loma Seafood for a Calamari/Halibut/Sea Bass sandwich or chowder.
Love Cabrillo National Monument that others have suggested and whale watching will be in full force as well.
Torrey Pines State Reserve to hike along the gorgeous trails along the Pacific Ocean.

actually we are doing a timeshare exchange at the welk place in ESCONDIDO – 35 MILES FROM SAN DIEGO. we first visited california 3 years ago and come to love fish tacos. read about torry pines and it sounds great. thanks for ideas. send more if you think of any. day trips??

Best fish tacos I found during my year in SD.

Ocean Beach, closest to the pier off of Newport Ave, it's called South Beach Bar and Grill. They have varieties of fish to choose from and they are all delicious! Grilled not fried. You'll want 2 or 3 to fill you up. YUM! I miss San Diego just thinking about it!

Thee Bungalow in Ocean Beach may be the best bang for the buck in San Diego.
M

South Beach Bar & Grill is great. Very casual bar, with very good fish tacos.

George's at the Cove in La Jolla also has great fish tacos on the terrace and in the bar. IMO, they are THE best!

B, knew George in Dallas, and they are the best, but too expensive for many.
Maybe George's at the Cove is the best in the US?
We ate there many times in the 80' and '90's (and in '02 and '04 there) - always wonderful.
M

Mike, I agree that the main dining room is very expensive, but the terrace is very affordable. I think they have the prices on the web site.

I recommend you take a drive down the coast starting at Carlsbad and going through Leucadia, Encinitas, Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, to La Jolla. North County coastal communities have a laid back feel and each is distinctive. There are good restaurants, unique shopping experiences, and plenty of places to pull off the road and take in the beach. Solana Beach's Design District is fun to walk around - just one block east of the Coast Highway. Check out previous posts for restaurant ideas. This will keep you busy for a full day. Have fun.

Hike the Torrey Pines State Reserve, ask the Concierge if they don't know it's at the end of the Torrey Pines Golf Course. Very few people go there, it always surprises me how lfew people you run into especially in winter. Park either at the golf course by the driving range or down the hill at the State Park parking (fee of course). If you park at the golf course walk past the driving range and keep left you'll hit a bunch of trails down to the ocean with the most incredible views.

Wander around Hillcrest which is just north of Downtown, west of I-5 (go up Washington and turn right on 4rth-6th aves). Very cool place, plenty of quirky shops, bookstores and the best casual restaurants in SD (i't the "gay" section of SD so if that bothers you then don't go). Best dessert place in SD is Karen Krasne's on Fifth Ave.

any wineries in the area that are decent?

Dear ddreher:

Numerous wineries are located in Temecula, just north of Escondido. We visited Callaway & Wilson. The Temecula wine route is very laid back and charming.

The Wild Animal Park is also located in Escondido.

Have a great trip.

MY

There's also a winery and vineyard in Escondido on the way to the Wild Animal Park.

http://www.orfila.com/winery.html

A different day trip would be the Tecate Train, if it runs when you're in San Diego (and isn't full)

http://www.sdrm.org/events/tecate/

I miss San Diego! Ok, we live only an hour away but I loved it when we lived there. We got married at the Mission San Diego--its a nice piece of California history so you might find that interesting if you like history. The Old Town has good mexican food, and of course the margaritas! We lived in Hillcrest for 3 years, and my main complaint was we never ventured out because everything we needed was in Hillcrest (its a gay community). They have good restaurants. They have a good sushi place--Ono Sushi--its been years so I hope its still there. A mile or so away towards downtown area is the BEST dessert place called Extraordinary Desserts--a must! There's also a fusion restaurant (I forgot the name) and a wine bar in Hillcrest. Right by Hillcrest is the Balboa Park and the San Diego zoo, and just two miles away is Downtown San Diego that has the Gaslamp district. Gaslamp have some nice Italian restaurant. If you're feeling a bit adventurous, there's Cafe Sevilla, a Spanish restaurant, and Bandar a persian restaurant.

If you are up for it, I also recommend kayaking at the Mission Bay--always fun. But it could be a little cold for January.

We took a limousine to Temecula a few years back--they drive you to different wineries (my husband got a little drunk, I was tipsy so it was GOOD we did not have to drive ourselves). I especially recommend Wilson Creek winery. They have this nice almond champagne (which we used for our wedding), and the loveliest owners--a retired couple who will make you feel welcome.

Hi Barbara..
Just saw the PBS California's Gold with HH a couple of days ago on the Tecate Train and I made a note of the website and it looks like the perfect day trip for locals and tourist alike..
I love Tecate..very old Mex..and to get a tour of the Tecate Brewery and stroll the plaza and panderia too.its around $42 pp.
Orfila's is great too..
Thanks for sharing this!

TT, I saw that program too! I didn't know the train actually went anywhere until then. It looks like fun.

Depending on the actual days of your stay you might want to check out the San Diego Restaurant Week website. (Sorry I don't have the link). But its a great deal here in the city where many of our better restaurants offer a fix-priced meal between $30 and $40. Menus are posted on the website, but I recommend reservations since locals love restaurant week since it allows you to check out places and have great food at a reasonable price. If you are in Escondido, then I would try AsiaVou (my spelling may not be correct). Fabulous food. Also if you want a great San Diego unique experience, then go to Island Prime or its bar C level. Its across from the airport, but has a great view of San diego on Harbor Island and the food is very good.

For farmer's markets, there is a website that should turn up in a google search. The most interesting farmers market is held on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Hillcrest at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles parking lot on Normal street. It is the largest on in the city. A farmers' market is held each day in San Diego in a different part of the city. The website should be able to give you more specifics, but the Hillcrest one is considered the best one. You could do breakfast in Hillcrest at a place like HashHouse A Go Go on 5th ave. then wander over to the market. Portions are huge and everyone loves the place.

Also Extraordinary Desserts (which is owned by Karen Krasne as mentioned by other posters) has opened up a second location which I like much better than the Hillcrest location. It is downtown on Union Street between Beech and Cedar (take 5 north get off at Front, turn right on Cedar and then left on Union). That location serves both lunch and dinner as well as treats, is a ton bigger than the other location so no waiting and has a wine bar and appetizers. We love it plus check out the front door which is my daughter's favorite.

Also Old Town has undergone some changes which many locals don't like. The state gave the lease to a new company and changed the feel of the place. There is no longer Casa De Pico Restaurant or Bazar Del Mundo. I live right above it and foot traffic has gone done since it doesn't have the ambiance it used to have. The owners of Bazar Del Mundo have tried to replicate it with a much smaller plaza on the corner of Juan and Taylor st. near their restaurant Guadalajara Grill. I just wanted you to know in case you had been there before and where wondering where some of the places had gone.

One thing I do when I have out of town company is we take the ferry from downtown over to Coronado and eat at Peohe's, Il Forniao or some other place and walk around there.

Also fun is the area all around Petco Park. Lots of new shops and restaurants opening up all the time. We love the Red Pearl Kitchen, Oceanaire (I know its a chain but the food is just excellent) and JSix (its in the Solemar Hotel).

Many people enjoy the Thorton Winery in Temecula, its about 30 minutes away from your timeshare.

Hope this is helpful. Also you have to go to Point Loma Seafoods. A local institution that has been around about 50 years with the best seafood (take out counter and market).

wow! great posting. you should be a travel writer/guide. thanks a lot!!!!

itsy; i see that you said that you live near old town. on our last quick visit to san diego, we ate at berta's latin american in old town. it was great and it the only reason that we are going back to area. still there? you eaten there?

ddreher:

I don't know if Berta's is still there but it could be. Although I drive through Old town everyday, I haven't eaten there in awhile other than at Zocalo Grill. (Used to have a great happy hour deal, but less so these days). If Berta's isn't there, then I would try Old Town Mex (carnitas are their leading dish) or some place like El Agave (always gets great reviews and has something like 150 types of tequilas). Another Mexican place that is getting my attention these days is called "Ortegas". Its run by a family from Puerto Nuevo (below TJ) and they serve great mexican style lobster. I also love their mexican choc. cake. Its located on University near Front street.

By the way definitely stay out of the Extraordinary Desserts in Hillcrest. Last night two guys just out dining with their wives were shot by a nut inside the restaurant at 9 p.m. One guy was killed. No one knew the guy and it makes no sense. Police are still looking for him. Very sad.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. itsv.

I have always wanted to go to Berta's in Old Town and its still in business and here is their website..looks yummy.

www.bertasinoldtown.com

Itsy, I am shocked about the shooting. We lived in Hillcrest for about 3 years, and I always felt safe. I am so sorry to hear about the shooting. Hillcrest is a nice area with good restaurants and homeowners who take a lot of pride in the area. I suppose wherever one is, we just need to be more careful. I hope this does not discourage people from going to Hillcrest as it is so close to everything.

However, the shooting had nothing to do with the owners of shop, and there really is no reason at all not to visit if you want to.