Headed there today to see some friends, spending the weekend. Any suggestions on cool stuff? Friends have only been there 6 weeks so they are green too. Also renting a Jeep so there is that bit as well.
Headed there today to see some friends, spending the weekend. Any suggestions on cool stuff? Friends have only been there 6 weeks so they are green too. Also renting a Jeep so there is that bit as well.
Balboa Park
San Diego Air & Space museum
Aircraft carrier museum.
Tour of the bay by charter boat.
People watch in the gaslamp quarter.
Hike to Garnet Peak from Sunrise Hwy.
San Diego has one of the best zoos in the US, and the Zoo Safari Park up in Escondido is a totally different kind of zoo as well. I don't know what their status is during Covid-19 though.
Plus one for the Air & Space museum. It is in Balboa park. Get the extra tour of the working restoration area in the basement. The last time I was there, they had just finished a Ford Tri-motor assembly and let us crawl around in it and try out the wicker seats. Also they were building a running replica of the Wright Flyer engine that they planned to start up and run once per hour in the main lobby area.
If you're light on time, skip the Zoo and just do the Wild Animal park. The Zoo is very old-school. Chain-link cages, concrete enclosures. Makes my heart hurt for the animals.
Wild Animal park is a massive savannah with animals roaming "free". There is a train that takes you around it, and flatbed trucks that take you right inside where you can feed things. The Zoo part around it has walk-in bird enclosures, neat displays, and other more immersive interactions with the animals.
The aquarium is also lovely.
Gaslamp district for dinner.
A nice day drive to Anza-Borrego state park might be nice. Another hour or so and you can experience the Salton Sea. Super neat and unique area. It was an old WW2 training area that the military abandoned and it was designated as a squatters area. I think that part is on the south shore near Salton City. The landscape is dotted with hot springs that are undeveloped. People just show up, strip down, and get in. Look up Salvation Mountain near Salton Sea. Neat piece of Americana.
Be aware that San Diego is still in the "red" by the state COVID standards (one down from the highest restrictions). That means that most any indoor activity (museums ect) will be closed. Even restaurants will only have partial inside seating. I agree with the Animal Park being the better place than the zoo, but I am pretty certain both are currently closed. Heck, they are saying Disneyland is not likely to re-open until next summer!
https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/
Also of a minor note, the Salton Sea area is a big meth area, so probably best to avoid at night or the bad neighborhoods. It is a strange and interesting place though.
If you go to the wildlife animal park (which you should) make absolutely certian that you experience the Cheetah run. They have Cheetahs they have trained to work with dogs (The Cheetahs think they are part of the Dogs pack and will do what the dogs do. The dogs run the course first then the cheetah. The speed differential is insane). The Cheetahs are allowed to run off any restraints at full speed. There is no real separation just a low chain link fence. There are guys standing around with dart guns. It is apparently the only place in the western hemisphere where this happens. It is amazing how fast those animals can move. You don't appreciate it until you see it live.
Edit: Just checked. It's closed now. Leaving the recommendation for the Future but you'll have to find something else to do.
Surprised no one mentioned La Jolla.
Lived in SD 8 years.
Go to La Jolla - walk by Ferrari dealer - eat at the Cottage for breakfast - then go to La Jolla Cove... beach + bunnies + ferraris = heaven
mr2s2000elise said:Surprised no one mentioned La Jolla.
Lived in SD 8 years.
Go to La Jolla - walk by Ferrari dealer - eat at the Cottage for breakfast - then go to La Jolla Cove... beach + bunnies + ferraris = heaven
Ferrari has moved their dealership to off convoy.
O'Gara is still open and yeah I go there to drool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q93ArhRrA1Y&ab_channel=O%E2%80%99Gara
Back in early 2018, I wrote and entire itinerary for one day in San Diego for another GRM'er who was visiting.
My suggested itinerary was all outdoor activities and one restaurant (with lots of space.) In this new covid-world, those should all still be good suggestions.
Sad to say, that the ole Tall Ship at Dana Point that they used to give tours aboard, sank at its dock in June and will be demolished. So, that's off the list but the Dana Point Harbor is still beautiful.
wearymicrobe said:Ferrari has moved their dealership to off convoy.
O'Gara is still open and yeah I go there to drool.
I remember when Ogara used to be Symbolic. I bought two new cars at Symbolic. I used to service both cars there. However, their service facility was in Sorrento Valley. Got to sit in and drive a Veyron for 1 mile. Only time in life. What a feeling.
I live next to the other Ogara now...(much north of you)
Glamis sand dunes ,
Anza Borrego desert state park
Coranado Island ,
"The wall"
be outside as much as you can, thats my only thought
once you step off the plane you'll realize why so many people live there and you'll start to consider it yourself...
mr2s2000elise said:wearymicrobe said:Ferrari has moved their dealership to off convoy.
O'Gara is still open and yeah I go there to drool.
I remember when Ogara used to be Symbolic. I bought two new cars at Symbolic. I used to service both cars there. However, their service facility was in Sorrento Valley. Got to sit in and drive a Veyron for 1 mile. Only time in life. What a feeling.
I live next to the other Ogara now...(much north of you)
Yeah my last R8 came from them they were decent people at least the front end staff. They did a hell of a number crunch for me to get into a 570S but I just could not pull the trigger. I think in the future I am just going to use Jake's to track down anything I want, they took a few of the sales guys I think and they are fantastic.
Also I second the Wild Animal park as a a destination it really is one of the best in the entire world.
Fueled by Caffeine said:be outside as much as you can, thats my only thought
once you step off the plane you'll realize why so many people live there and you'll start to consider it yourself...
Weather is very nice here now (I am a few hours north). Should be very "San Diego" weather for the next few weeks. A low front recently rolled through which brought a bunch of coastal fog / clouds.
Coronado Island, boat tour around the bay, Balboa Park (great to watch planes fly over), watch boats and ships at Harbor Island.
Gaslight District for food. The Tin Roof is a good place if you like dive bars. I'll have to look up where I ate in Coronado Island (really good asian food). One of my favorite trips ever.
mr2s2000elise said:Surprised no one mentioned La Jolla.
Lived in SD 8 years.
Go to La Jolla - walk by Ferrari dealer - eat at the Cottage for breakfast - then go to La Jolla Cove... beach + bunnies + ferraris = heaven
Black's beach... :)
Oh, and definitely find a hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint named Roberto's or Alberto's or Royberto's or something like that (there are a bunch) and get some carne asada.
John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:Sad to say, that the ole Tall Ship at Dana Point that they used to give tours aboard, sank at its dock in June and will be demolished. So, that's off the list but the Dana Point Harbor is still beautiful.
I did not know this and now that I do, I'm sad...
In reply to APEowner :
I spend about 6-7 months a year in SD. I am currently out here now until just before Xmas (or later if I get extended).
Maritime museum is cool. Russian sub, the Dolphin, some tall ships. Also might want to hit the Midway Carrier.
Balboa park is a must see.
The zoo is full of a bunch of neurotic animals and I hate it for that reason.
Borrego Springs is a great drive and there are some cool sculptures there, especially the dragon https://www.desertusa.com/borrego/bs-art.html . If you do that trip get apple pie and ice cream in Julian. BS is a great drive that I do in my Cayman when I have it out here. The 8 to 79 to Julian, right onto 78 down a canyon, left onto S-3 (I think) into Borrego Springs, then back to 79 via Montezuma Hwy and up a great twisty road, left on 79 back to Julian.
Also up there is Mt. Laguna on the Sunrise Highway. Very cool pine trees up there.
Eat a lot and have a couple west coast IPAs. SD has fantastic food.
Caves in La Jolla you can kayak to.
So much to do here but definitely remember that it's a COVID hot spot.
Fueled by Caffeine said:and you'll start to consider it yourself...
Until you think about moving away from the ocean to save money on housing, like Lemon Grove. It looks pretty far inland.
Whoa. My Midwest $350,000 house sale isn't going far in SoCal.
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