San Diego, California

Things To Do/Places To See

1. Visit Pacific Beach

Pacific Beach is one of the most beautiful sites that you will ever see. It was the most clean beach I have ever seen with a lot of great shops and restaraunts in the boardwalk area. The beach area wasn't empty, but it wasn't too crowded either which was a nice change from the beaches we are used to going to in New Jersey. Going to Pacific Beach may have been my favorite part of the trip because of the unbelievable cleanliness and the great dining options that were there.



2. Go to a Padres Game at Petco Park

Petco Park is one of the nicest baseball stadiums in the country which is the home to one of the worst baseball teams in the country. We went to Petco Park to see the Padres play the Mariners last summer. We had a great time and it was a fantastic atmosphere for a baseball game. I would strongly suggest sitting in the All You Can Eat seats for $29, it gives you the true baseball experience of watching a game with pretty good seats and all the nachos and hot dogs you could ever imagine. Because the Padres don't often sell out, they often have specials such as college nights and other nights with even cheaper tickets. A Padres game is a fairly inexpensive way to have a fun day or night in San Diego at a beautiful ballpark.



3. Visit The Gaslamp Quarter

The Gaslamp Quarter is really a one-of-a-kind type of place in the country. There are no shortage of things to do when you get there. Petco Park is just a short (5-10 min) walk away, there's a Hard Rock Cafe, a House of Blues, and a place called the Altitude Sky Lounge, which won the 2009 Lamplighter Award for Favorite Bar and Lounge. While we did not experience the incredible view and atmosphere of the Altitude Sky Lounge, it is something that I would rank very high, if not number one, on my "things to do" list for when I return to San Diego (and hopefully that will be soon!). During our time in the Gaslamp Quarter we ate at the Rock Bottom Brewery, which is a nice, dimly lit, microbrew place right there in the heart of it all. The food was great and the beer refreshing. Prices weren't bad at all considering the atmosphere of the area it's in. After Rock Bottom we headed over the The Double Deuce which is a large country/rock themed bar with a mechanical bull. The people in there definitely know how to have a great time! The music played was great and the bull is a nice addition that sets the Double Deuce apart from many of the other bars (It also gives you some good laughs when someone falls off!!). One often understated, but very important characteristic about the Gaslamp Quarter that I noticed was the lack of traffic along the streets. We got there, and got out of there with no problems whatsoever, even with the Padres game going on at the time. The total experience was an absolute blast. Overall, the nightlife in the Gaslamp Quarter is excellent and also, the streets/side walks are incredibly clean, which was a pleasant deviation from Philadelphia. This is a MUST SEE spot while visiting San Diego and should not be missed under any circumstances.



4.) Go To The San Diego County Fair

The San Diego County Fair was a completely unique experience for the both of us. It was absolutely gigantic and crowded to the brim. I have never seen any kind of fair with that many people. The food was overpriced but extremely tasty. The best part of the fair is all of the great music acts they have at the fair. We saw country Superstar Phil Vassar the night we went, and 90's rock band Eve 6 was playing on the other stage. They get a lot of big names and if you are there for a couple days in June, you are guaranteed to find at least one band you'll love. The fair was a great experience, but it took us about 3 hours to get out of the parking lot because of the traffic. Note to self: Don't ever go to the San Diego County Fair on half-price ticket night. Overall, it really was a phenomenal experience and something worth doing if you are in San Diego anytime over the month of June.

Where To Stay

Days Inn (Near SeaWorld)

We stayed at the Days Inn San Diego (Near sea World) on Rosecrans Street. This hotel was a little above average, it was about a 15 minute drive to the beach. The hotel had a pretty nice location, with a shopping center and most importantly an In 'N Out Burger within Walking distance. If we had to go again though, we would probably stay somewhere either on the beach or in the Gaslamp Quarter. We like to save money so here are a few of the more economical suggestions (under $130 a night) that have good reviews.

Gaslamp Quarter Area:

The Sofia Hotel

The luxurious Sofia Hotel is a beautiful hotel at a very reasonable price. The Sofia is known for their decor and atmosphere. The Sofia is within walking distance to the local shops and bars, which is nice if the traveler doesn't have a car with them. The Sofia Hotel actually won Expedia's Insider Select Award 2 years in a row, which is completely unheard of. Known for their great staff and bar, the Sofia Hotel offers travelers a great hotel at an extremely low price.



Park Manor Suites

Another beautiful hotel with a good location right near the Gaslamp Quarter. Located directly across the street from Balboa Park, Park Manor Suites is known as San Diego's friendliest hotel. Park Manor Suites has a great restaraunt and a fantastic piano bar, which won Best Piano Bar of 2009. Park Manor Suites is definitely an excellent hotel for the price.

Porto Vista Hotel

Located on Columbia Street right in the heart of Little Italy, the Porto Vista Hotel is not quite as upscale as the other 2 hotels, but it is very nice nonetheless. The Porto Vista is cheaper than the other two as well, so if you are looking to save a little money, this might be the place for you. This hotel has a beautiful view of the Harbor and also has a very courteous staff. 35 restaraunts are within walking distance of this boutique style hotel, so if you're looking to go to San Diego and have a good time without spending too much money, this is your hotel.

Pacific Beach Area:

Ocean Beach Hotel

The Ocean Beach Hotel is one of the nicest and cheapest hotels in Pacific Beach. This hotel is an absolute steal at somewhere between $70-$110 per night. The location of this hotel could literally not be any better, located right on Newport Avenue. There are also a lot of great eating places nearby, you cannot do better than the Ocean Beach Hotel.


Diamond Head Inn


The small Diamond Head Inn is another good value in the Pacific Beach area. The Diamond Head Inn seems like a great place for college students and people going to San Diego to have a good time. All the rooms have kitchens and the Diamond Head Inn is one of San Diego's only pet-friendly hotels. While not as nice as the Ocean Beach Hotel, the Diamond Head Inn is much more personalized and is a great value for the price.

Places to Eat

1. Sportsmen's Seafood

This little seafood shack off of Quivira Rd (off of Mission Bay Drive) has a delicious Fish and Chips. I don't even like seafood, but this meal was just unbelievable. It was actually so good I got two full meals. I've never tasted fish and chips anywhere else that are even in this league. Highly Recommended.


2. Lolita's Taco Shop

Lolita's Taco Shop located on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard is a favorite of the locals in San Diego. We did not actually eat there, but it has extremely cheap Mexican food. People really like the food in Lolita's and it seems to be real Mexican food, unlike chains such as Taco Bell and Del Taco (For the record, I love Taco Bell and Del Taco). Lolita's is a great way to get some tasty local flavor without spending a lot of money.


3. Bronx Pizza Inc

Located on Washington Street, Bronx Pizza is the best San Diego has to offer in pizza. With unbelievable reviews and great pricing, you can't do better than Bronx Pizza. The slices are really big and taste absolutely incredible. Just looking at the slices online really makes me crave pizza from the great establishment. If you visit San Diego, you have to make sure to stop at Bronx Pizza.

Things We Wish We Did

1. Altitude Sky Lounge

Named by Conde Nast Traveler "as one of the 25 best new bars in the world." It's a 22 story high open air bar/nightclub with a great view of the Petco Park baseball field, what more could you want? Next time we go to San Diego this is something that we must experience.


2. San Diego Zoo

Oh, you know, it's only one of the best zoos in the world. We really wanted to go here when we stayed in SD but there are just too many things to do there! When planning on going to the zoo, plan to stay the whole day, your going to need it to see everything. An absolute must see.





3. La Jolla

After reading the reviews on everything there is to do down at La Jolla, I can't believe that we didn't make time to go here during our stay. It's home to some of the best beaches in the country where you can go scuba diving (something I always wanted to try), kayaking, surfing, and biking. There's also a great shopping district with top-notch restaurants. It's safe to say that I will definitely be paying La Jolla a visit when I return.

~Overall Experience~

Mark
San Diego may have been my favorite city in the United States. The weather in San Diego is absolutely perfect and no matter what you are doing in San Diego, it feels like a vacation whenever you step outside. The beach was magnificent, and the bars were really great as well. There were a lot of pretty girls and a lot of beautiful sites in the city. I can't stress enough how amazing San Diego really is, I plan on going back as often as I can because it is such a great city. If you are looking for somewhere to plan a vacation for the summer, look no further than beautiful San Diego.

Mike
I completely agree with Mark. San Diego is now my favorite city in the United States. If you want to go to a place where you can be guaranteed excellent weather every single day, go to San Diego. Coming from someone who is used to going to the Jersey Shore as a beach vacation, I can confidently say that the beaches in San Diego are in a whole other league! I promise that you will never be stuck without anything to do here, there is too much to see! I hope I can find the time in my busy schedule to get back out there very soon. I had a great experience when I was there and I always recommend it to people when they ask me about going on a trip somewhere.

What are you waiting for? Book your trip there now!

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