Down by the Sea

Anthony's has it all: fried fish, grilled fish, broiled fish, boiled fish, out-of-this-world salads, freshly made chowder, pasta, and of course, lobster. This location is right on the bay and has a great view at sunset. It gets very busy at dinnertime and they only take reservations for big parties, so be prepared to wait.

My favorite salad is the avocado lobster salad. YUMMY! The crab cake appetizer was one of the best crab cakes I've ever had and you can't go wrong with the seared ahi appetizer. We eat here every time we come to San Diego. Our friends always want to take us elsewhere, but this is our favorite place.

Jim Croce was a legendary folk musician from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Ingrid, his widow, has found her own fame and fortune by running a great place to eat and hang out that has great music.

Croce's in downtown San Diego has a very eclectic menu, and everything I've tried I loved, especially the Shepard salad with herb-crusted goat cheese. Ingrid offers pasta and seafood entrées, as well as lamb, chicken, filet mignon, and meatloaf. Sunday brunch is also served.

Ingrid wrote her own cookbook titled Thyme in a bottle that has all the recipes from her restaurant and then some.

You won't be disappointed if you visit Croce's. It's right in the heart of the Gaslamp district, down the way from Horton Plaza.

Dr. Seuss meets the modern shopping mall at Horton Plaza. This is a twisted seven-level, 6.5-city-block shopping extravaganza, with 140 shops and restaurants lining downtown like a monstrosity. A very unique shopping experience awaits you. This is really something you’ve never seen. It’s unlike any other shopping center. It’s a crazy place, with checkered walkways, crazy murals, and street performers. Everything you desire is here: Macy's, Nordstrom, Mervyns, and my personal favorite, Bebe. They have everything from Abercrombie to Zales, literally. Stop in and have some ice cream at Ben and Jerry's and fish tacos at Rubios, try on new lingerie at Victoria’s Secret, get a quick tan at Platinum Tan, or even see a movie. There’s even a post office on site. There are plenty of restroom facilities, escalators, and elevators.

The Westin Hotel is adjacent to the mall, just in case you need a nap afterward. You could spend the entire day here, just wandering around and looking at the architecture, the colors, artwork, and specialty shops.

As an added bonus, around Christmastime, the Westin hotel offers stay-and-shop specials with a special room rate and coupons books to use at various stores inside the plaza. Take a day to stroll through this wonderland. It's so Cat in the Hat-ish.

Sea World in San Diego has SO much to do, with so little time. Let's start with the basics. The Shamu show can be very wet in the first 10 rows of the theater. Be warned. Kids love to sit down there and get soaked, and Shamu LOVES to get everyone wet. The same goes for the Shipwreck Rapids ride and Journey to Atlantis ride. You can get VERY wet.

The skyride has a great view of the park and attractions, but it’s very high over the park. It’s also an extra cost not included in the park ticket. Wild Arctic is a virtual ride that takes you on a mock helicopter ride through the arctic. It's my favorite ride, but it does move and jerk around a lot. The skytower ride takes you over 200 feet above the ground and slowly rotates. This ride also has an extra cost and is not included in a park ticket. On a clear day, you can see a hundred miles in any direction.

Now for the shows: Pets Rule is great for kids of all ages. Cats, dogs, birds, and even a pig dance and balance themselves on beams. Keeps kids entertained. Cirque De La Mer is Cirque De Soliel on water. VERY neat acrobatics. I think that people of all ages would enjoy it.

The Clyde and Seamore show uses live seal lions and is also great for all ages. Last but not least is the Haunted Lighthouse movie. It’s in 4-D and can be a little scary for real young ‘uns, because it’s about ghosts.

The manatee rescue and the penguin encounter were my favorites. Sea World has over 300 penguins, both cold-water species and Magellan penguins, which are from warmer locations like Argentina. The manatee rescue is one of only three such rescues in the U.S. where the mammals can be rehabilitated and returned to the ocean. These mammals are simply beautiful.

In the Wild Arctic exhibit, walruses, Beluga whales, seals, and polar bears are the main attraction. It’s like walking onto the North Pole with all the faux snow. VERY cool--literally--as you pass thru an ice tunnel. Bring a sweater. As far as food, there’s plenty of it, but of course, it’s a little pricey. I suggest bringing a water bottle in with you. Water is upwards of $5, so save yourself a little cash. Shipwreck Reef Café is set up like a cafeteria, and they have lots of choices. It’s in the rear of the park, across from the Shipwreck Rapids ride. Nice seating along the ride.

Dine with Shamu is a special menu for dinner or breakfast where you can have have your meal in the Shamu stadium, next to Shamu’s private pool. This attraction requires reservations and I believe is around $14.95/$11.95 for breakfast and $32/$18 for dinner.

Sea World also has special Shamu ice cream bars available all over the park: vanilla, whale-shaped ice cream covered in chocolate. YUM!