Our ten-year wedding anniversary is this fall and though we wanted to do Disneyland, we have come up with an alternate plan that will work. Excited.
What can you guys tell me about San Diego?
OH, you asked for it. SAN DIEGO = my dad’s childhood home and the only big city I would ever consider living in, if it weren’t so expensive. It’s California’s best city!
I’m more familiar with the Point Loma/Mission Beach area, so your mileage may vary. Here are some great places to visit:
Fun and free:
- The BEACHES, particularly on Coronado Island. There are also Ocean Beach and Dog Beach on the west side of Point Loma, if you prefer a more hippy, small beach town feel. Very crowded, though. Coronado is much more spacious. If you want to try surfing, go to Tourmaline (Pacific Beach) in the early morning. WEAR A WETSUIT OR YOU WILL WISH YOU WERE DEAD.
- Sunset Cliffs State Park (Point Loma) is a lovely place to take a walk in late afternoon, as it faces the sunset. Also, awesome tidepools.
- Balboa Park’s arboretum and rose gardens (Downtown)
- Old Town State Park, right near the intersection of I-5 and I-8 (also has the Mormon Battalion Visitor’s Center)
- Coronado Island also has the historic Hotel Del Coronado, which was in
the movie “Some Like It Hot”. It’s too expensive to stay in, but lovely
to visit and look around. It’s right on the beach!- The San Diego Temple (La Jolla). Truly one of a kind, it sits like a spectacular vision right on I-5. Definitely see it at night! 🙂
Fun but requires $$$:
- Balboa Park (Downtown) has a lot of GREAT museums, a replica of the Old Globe Theater, and one of the BEST ZOOS IN AMERICA. Visiting that zoo is a whole day in itself!
- Seaport Village (Downtown) is a cute shopping village on the water (fee for parking, they validate if you buy something)
- The Maritime Museum (Downtown) has several awesome boats you can tour, including the Star of India (which still sails!!!), a Russian nuclear sub, and the actual ship used in “Master & Commander”. There is also a flipping AIRCRAFT CARRIER down the street, for a separate fee.
- Sea World
- San Diego Safari Park, further inland in Escondido
- There’s something called Belmont Park (Mission Bay, west of Sea World) with an old-fashioned wooden roller coaster, but I’ve never been there myself.
- Westfield Horton Plaza in the Downtown area, and Westfield Mission Valley in Mission Hills (eastbound on I-8). LOTS of shopping.
- Birch Aquarium (La Jolla): SEAHORSES
- Cabrillo National Monument (Point Loma) has a great view of ALL of San
Diego, and the historic Point Loma lighthouse. You have to get on
Catalina Blvd. and drive south forever, right through the military base
until you get to the park entrance. A bit of a drive, and there is a
small park entrance fee, but it is WELL worth it.Good eats:
- POINT LOMA SEAFOOD (FOREVERRRRRR!!!!!!)
- A little Mexican restaurant called Nati’s in the Ocean Beach neighborhood (my grandparents’ favorite)
- Just about anything in Old Town
- Just about anything Mexican or seafood, really.
Tip: Have a REALLY good map and review it before you start. Driving in San Diego is a hazardous experience. There are twisty roads and crazy turnoffs and you could find yourself circling around and around without a clue as to how you get out!
Basically, San Diego is the best and I love it forever and I love you for going there. 😉
Thank you! ! ! ! This is so helpful!
