Leaving for San Diego Thursday. We know the major sights. Any last minute must see, must do or must eat recommendations for a father and 10yo son? We love natural environment, watersports, ships, and seafood. Anybody want to weigh in on taking my son to Tiajuana; yes, no, maybe? Is Scripps worth a visit? Great short hikes? Anybody know the temperature this week vic. San Diego Wild Animal Park? Thanks!

I grew up in SD...and everytime I visit mom/friends/buddies, I like to go to the following to "re-charge" & re-connect with my SD roots:

1) Check out the view from Cabrillo National Monument. Neat view of the entire harbor, plus the Pacific Ocean. On a clear day you can see Tijuana and the Coronado Islands (look for "Mummy Island.")

2) Drive along North Torrey Pines Road...from La Jolla northward towards Del Mar. GREAT, GREAT drive along the beach.

3) The new Aquarium in La Jolla (above Scripps & right across from UC-San Diego). Check out the sunset from the patio area!!!

4) Rent a bike and ride up-and-down the boardwalk at Mission Beach.

5) Check out a San Diego Padre baseball game (they're actually in first-place this year, even!)

6) Yes...DEFINITELY cross the border into Tijuana. Parts of it are VERY touristy (close to the border), but if you have an adventurous spirit, check out the rest of the city. It's SO different from the U.S.

Have fun.

Don't just drive by Torrey Pines...go there and hike about, the scenery from dramatic cliffs to delicate desert-like trails to a 180 view of the ocean shouldn't be missed.
La Jolla is always something to see - very glitzy tourist village set on one of the most beautiful part of the coast. Have lunch at La Trattoria Aqua while there.
Temperature is kinda high for us - about 84 degrees. If going to Wild Animal Park, go first thing in the morning 'cause it's hotter in Escondido.
Go to Sea World, the show's are great. Go pet some bat fish and see the eels (real eerie)and catch Shamu.
Go to Seaport Village to walk around shops by the water.
I could go on, but if you take the advice given by everyone so far, ya can't go wrong.

Have Fun!!

Unless you have your heart set on it, I wouldn't recommend going to Tijuana. It's a very poor, dirty, faux-touristy city, with a lot of beggars. If you do go, walk across the border and catch a taxi, or use some other method of transportation. Don't drive yourself.

(Please note: I'm not condemning the Mexicans for their city, or their way of life, or anything else. My heart goes out to them. But I can't recommend TJ for a vacation experience.)

I live in San Diego ( native ) and visit Tijuana 2-3 times /wk. I own a business in Tijuana and have many relatives living there. I have also lived and worked in many other parts of Mexico. Yes, Tijuana is much different than San Diego or the US. It is very poor by our standards. However, it is actually the most prosperous city in Mexico with close to 2,000,000 habitants. Tijuana is also a very interesting place with some of the finest restaurants in Mexico. I travel all over and have found the best Chinese and Italian food in Tijuana as well as Mexican. I am not too sure how much interest a young person would have in visiting Tijuana. Some kids like it and others don't.

My suggestion would be to take a tour there. In fact, if time permits, take a tour that goes down to Ensenada. I definitely would not drive in Tijuana or Mexico. There are many tours that will take you there and ensure that you get to see most of the usual sights. I would definitely try to visit the shopping center in La Zona del Rio. It is not a tourist area but is quite modern and very nice. It will give you a much better picture of middle class Mexico and the shopping is pretty good. La Zona del Rio is about 5 minutes from the border and is a very nice area with many fine stores, restaurants etc.

You HAVE to go to the San Diego Zoo...it is very
impressive (and I wouldn't necessarily classify
myself as a "zoo-goer",generally speaking!-ok, so it's not a word, but you get my drift!)
have fun!