San Diego, CA

San Diego is a beautiful and fun city that has a tremendous amount to offer to a wide range of people. The city has dubbed itself as America’s Finest City for good reason. It is much different from the other large cities in North America., it is a big city with a laid back atmosphere. No where else captures the typical laid back California lifestyle more than San Diego.

No matter what your interests are, San Diego more than likely has something to offer you. Whether you are looking to go there for a weekend getaway or an extended vacation there is sure to be something. There are great beaches, historic sights, some of the best golf courses in the world, outstanding dining and night life, and great weather to enjoy it. There is far to much to do there to get into in the introductory section, but I will add plenty of details on some of my favorite spots as I add on to this journal.

Sorry for sounding so much like the chamber of commerce, but San Diego is my favorite city and a great place to visit.

Quick Tips:

Though there really is no bad time to visit I would recommend going in late August to Early October. That is when the weather is the best. It doesn’t rain very often in San Diego, but the wettest months are January and February and it almost never rains after June and before November.

In general the best way to describe the weather in San Diego is mild. The day time temperature is usually in the 60s during the winter and 70s-80s during the summer. No matter when you go it is probably a good idea to bring at least a light jacket, it can get a little chilly at night even in the summer time.

Best Way To Get Around:

When visiting San Diego it is a good idea to have a car. The city is very spread out and parking usually isn't a problem.

The trolley is a good alternative for getting around as well. The trolley does a good job of linking many of the top attractions in the San Diego area including: Downtown, Old Town, Qualaomm Stadium, and the Mexican Border.

If you are planning on visiting Tijuana the best bet is to take the trolley to the border and walk across. Once in Mexico you can take a cab to the center of Tijuana.

This is one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. Even if you don''t stay here it worth a visit to stop by and soak up the ambiance. The hotel was built in the late 19th century and still has all the charm of that era. The film "Some Like it Hot" with Marylyn Monroe and Jack Lemon was filmed here and has played host to a number of U.S. Presidents and foreign dignitaries.

The hotel is located on Coronado Island, which is about a ten minute drive from Downtown San Diego. The hotel is located right on the beach and there are lots of great shops and restaurants right outside of the hotel grounds.

Casa de Pico isn't the best Mexican food in San Diego and it is very tourisity, but it still has a lot to offer. If you are in Old Town it is worth stopping by. Be aware the wait for a table be very long on the weekends.

The food is good but not great. However, the real reason to visit Casa de Pico is the atmosphere. You go to sit on the patio and sip a margarita and listen to the mariachi band.

Georges actully consists of three different dining rooms that are all worhtwhile. The best thing about George's is the fantastic view of La Jolla Cove.

The three dining rooms are the Ocean view room, the terrace, and the bar. All are worthwhile to try depending on the occasion and all three have equally fantastic views.

The ocean view room is the most formal and most expensive. It is the ideal spot for a romantic evening. The menu is heavy on seafood but also offers other choices. Everything I've ever tried there has been excellent.

The terrace is more casual. It features outdoor seating with ocean views. I actually think the view in the terrace are better than the ocean view room, since it is up higher and outdoors. The menu at the terrace is a little less pricey than the ocean view room. It is the ideal spot to stop by for lunch if you are in La Jolla.

The bar is a great place to people watch and they also serve food there. The bar also has an incredible view. If possible try to plan you meal at George's to view the sunset, you won't be disapointed.

Rockin’ Baja Lobster has to be one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. There are actually several locations in the San Diego area. In addition the downtown location I’ve listed here, there are locations in Old Town, Bonita, Oceanside, and San Marcos. Not only do they all have great food, they all have a fun and lively atmosphere.

As the name would imply, the specialty of the house is lobster ‘Baja’ style. Though I would not consider it particularly authentic the food here is fantastic none-the-less. Make sure you come with a big appetite, because the serving sizes are extremely large. My favorite thing to order is the "Baja Buckets". These are large buckets filled your choice of lobster, shrimp, crab, lobster, carne asada, or chicken that you usually order for two people. However, a bucket for two can easily feed 3 or 4 people. The buckets along with most of the other entrée also come with all you can eat salad, rice, beans, and fresh made tortillas. The tortilla with butter and salsa are fantastic, and it is easy to get filled up on just the tortillas and salads.

Everything I’ve ever had on the menu has been excellent, but I would highly recommend ordering one of the buckets and make sure you include the lobster with it. As mentioned they are extremely large, so be prepared to eat a lot.

One of the more scenic beaches in San Diego is La Jolla cove. The cove offers a protected area that is perfect for swimming or snorkling.

The area tends to be very crowded on the weekends especially during the summer and parking is at a premium, but it is worth it.

San Diego has a great nightlife. Though not as extensive as New York, LA, or Miami, the city still has a lot to offer.

The main concentration of Nightlife is in what is known as the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. This section of downtown is between 4th and 6th Streets and Broadway on the North and K Streen on the south. There are a number of great dining spots, bars, and night clubs in this area. If planning an evening out, start off with having a late dinner on what of the numerous restaurants that offer Al Fresco (outdoor) dining. After dinner head to one of the numerous nightclubs or bars. The largest concentration of spots is located on 5th Street. Most of the night spots are more relaxed than what you find in Hollywood or South Beach, most do have dress codes.

Pacific Beach is another area that has a concentration of nightlife. PB as it is known locally, is much more relaxed than the Gaslamp Quarter. Most of the bars and clubs there have a very relaxed atmosphere. If your looking for a place to relax and soak up some SoCal atmosphere try one of the numerous bars in PB along Garnett Ave.