Jen and I in San Diego

My first impression of San Diego was that it really felt like a small town. I know it is the sixth largest city in the US, but it has this quaint and charming feel that spoke to me. Jen, my friend, has lived in San Diego for the last year and loves it. She says she will never move back to the midwest. The weather is wonderful - sunny all the time, she says. I, of course, didn't get to see that beautiful weather or the sunshine - it rained. Three of the four days I was there, it rained and the other was cool and cloudy. I was disappointed but I won't let that hamper my excitement and my sightseeing.
I would have to say don't miss Coronado Island and the Del Coronado Hotel. The hotel is spectacular and the beaches clean and quiet. The island has wonderful shopping and many places for dining.

Quick Tips:

California is expensive that is for sure, but if you look hard enough, you can find good deals at high end resturants or great food at great prices at local small resturants. Search the local papers or the city's website for deals.

My friend, Jen, recommended that I bring sunglasses and sunscreen (for all that sun, remember?) and my camera. I forgot the first two but was glad I had my camera. What I wished I did have was an umbrella. It just goes to show that you have to be prepared for anything in the world of travel.

Best Way To Get Around:

I asked Jen about public transportation in the city. According to her, it is there but most everyone drives their own car. That is probably very true because I only saw one bus, lots of taxi cabs, and lots and lots of cars.

Our stay at La Jolla Hyatt was relaxing and enjoyable. The staff was hospitable and always available and visible. The hotel’s accommodations were comparable to many other hotels I have stayed in the Hyatt family.

I had a double room but still had plenty of space. The bed was oversized and very fluffy. You felt as if you were in a feather bed. It was one of the best night's sleep I had had in weeks. There was a comfortable chair and a side table with lamp located near the window that became a cozy spot for reading or just gazing out over the town. One of my favorite aspects of the room was the opening window which allowed the breeze to filter across the many palm trees and in the room creating a tropical vacation atmosphere. My room also had a small desk and chair, TV, and mini bar. I loved the large bathroom with the dark granite counter tops and the oversized, deep tub. The room as extremely clean and well cared for, but I did have a sqeaky air conditioner that was annoying. The décor of the room, as well as the entire hotel, was whites and tans against dark woods. It created a clean, fresh look. The fresh flowers in the public areas gave a special touch again allowing a tropical atmosphere.

The La Jolla Hyatt’s extra accommodations were somewhat surprising and disappointing. Apparently if you want to use the spa or workout area you must either belong to the "Club" or pay $12.00 per day to use the facilities. There is a lovely pool surrounded by many lounge chairs and palm trees. What a wonderful place to spend a peaceful moment in sunny California. There is also tennis courts that are free (I believe), but I did not have time to take a look.

La Jolla Hyatt is located atop a hill overlooking the small area of La Jolla. Its location is near major highways so getting around the city was easy and actually pleasant. It is also located near shopping, numerous restaurants and some of the areas nearby attractions.

The cost of the hotel was approximately $300 per night. Overall I felt it was a nice hotel but was disappointed in the pay-for-use workout area.

Our first meal was at the Melting Pot. For two women who love cheese and chocolate, this was the ultimate eatery. Our meal started with a California salad which was made with baby greens, Roma tomatoes, walnuts and gorgonzola cheese topped with a Raspberry Black Walnut Vinaigrette dressing. It was fresh and unique. We chose the Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue that was mad with white wine, sherry and scallions. The sharp taste was a great compliment to the various breads, vegetables and fruits used for dipping. I love that they cook everything at your table. It creates an atmosphere of excitement that brings you in the center of the action.

Our entrée was the Fondue Feast which included beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, ravioli and vegetables. We chose Mojo cooking style after our wonder waiter recommended it due to its garlic and citrus undertones. It was wonderful and not overpowering at all. Most of the meats come out of the cooking broth tasting the same, so the 6-8 sauces are a necessity. My favorite was the cheese ravioli with the sun dried tomato pesto and the shrimp with the garlic seafood sauce.

The dessert we chose was the dark chocolate with raspberries. It was not my favorite choice, but my friend’s choice. I am not a dark chocolate gal and the seeds of the raspberry puree were bothersome. The dipping platter that is served with the chocolate fondue is worth the wait. You will get the creamiest cheesecake, fresh bananas, marshmallows, and brownies.

Although I love to visit the The Melting Pot, I do feel the price is over the top. For a four course meal you will easily pay $50-60 per person and that price goes up if you add specialty meats or seafood or cocktails. For a special occasion the dark, candlelight interior is very nice and even romantic. I would recommend anyone to visit The Melting Pot even if it’s just for the cheese and chocolate fondue.

During one of our afternoons we drove to the coves of La Jolla to walk the boardwalk and watch the seals sunbath. It was a lovely sunny afternoon and we found many tourists and locals enjoying the day. There were families riding bikes, men playing Frisbee, and even a bride and groom taking wedding photos.

The coves are a series of inlets lined with rocky shores, beaches and caves. There are always seals sunbathing on the rocks and that day we were not disappointed. Of course, the smell is horrific but watching the seals play is a lot of fun. There are condos and hotels, old and new, lined along the area. You can tell the area is good for surfing because of the boards hanging on the patios of the homes.

It was only a few miles from our hotel and very easy to reach. Just follow the signs. It is a nice walk if it is a warm day. Ours was a little cool because of the air blowing off the ocean. Take a jacket and you should be fine.

Balboa Park is located just minutes from downtown San Diego and is said to be a must-see. The park houses 15 museums, performing arts venues, and the San Diego Zoo. It also has 1200 acres of beautiful green gardens and has a Japanese Garden which, my friend, Jennifer said was really beautiful. We were at the park in the evening so we were not able to visit the museums but were able to walk the area where we saw the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ. My friend told me they have free concerts each Sunday. How I wished it was Sunday in the Park.

I did find the park nice but did not think it was much different from other city parks. There was a lovely bridge called the Cabrillo Bridge. It was lit with white lights which shone brightly and reflected on the creek below.

You can find out more about Balboa Park at www.balboapark.org or by visiting Balboa Park Visitors Center which is located in the House of Hospitality.

My excitement of visiting the award-winning Prada was short lived. I had researched Balboa Park and the restaurant and was excited to learn they specialized in California-Spanish fusion and found the menu to be unique and exciting. Quickly I made reservations.

The area of Balboa Park is lush and green with its beautiful gardens and outdoor entertainment areas. My friend and I enjoyed our walk through the area and arrived at the restaurant about 1 hour early. Being early and having already made reservations, we did not know if we would be able to be seated. The staff was very gracious and seated us immediately. I am not sure what I expected but was disappointed in the décor. What I thought would be a Spanish theme, was an orange, crowded, miss-match of items. The tables were placed very close to each other so I was always touching the man behind me. It was also very noisy, probably from the close quarters and the mass of people.

Our waiter was a young man in his 20s and was very knowledgeable about the menu and the wine list. However, he lacked in friendliness and graciousness. During our stay I truly felt as if he thought we did not belong there and he was doing us a favor by serving us. The manager was involved and stopped at our table twice.

My friend and I decided to try the Chef’s Special Dinner and Wine menu. We were informed it was supposed to be the best of the best. My appetizer was the Prada Caesar Salad and was definitely nothing special. The Caesar dressing was so light in taste, I felt I was eating a hunk of iceberg lettuce topped with parmesan cheese. Jennifer had the Chicken Tortilla Soup which was tasty but was thick in consistency as if someone had over estimated the tortillas.

For our entrees we both had the Pork Prime Rib. It was delicious! The pork was approximately one inch thick and was served medium well. I was a little afraid of the pinkness of the pork but it was so tender and juicy that I couldn’t stress over the fact that it was not well done. The pork dish was served on a bed of apple demi glaze that was wonderful and a great compliment to the pork. As a side dish, we had steamed mixed vegetables and a potato and cheese crocoquette which was tender and moist.

Our desserts were a big disappointment. I had the Cranberry Pear Streusel which I found to be very unappetizing. The cranberry streusel topping was heavy and too crunchy and the pear filling was grainy in texture. Jennifer had the vanilla ice cream drizzled with dark chocolate and topped with ginger cookies. She said it was plain and not very tasty.

The dinner was paired with a wine selection by the chef to accompany the meal. I’m not a coinsure of wine but I felt good matches were made. Being a little disappointed in the atmosphere and food I would have to rate it at a 6 out of 10, but I would be willing to try it again in hopes of having a better experience next time.

The prices on the menu were reasonable for the selection of food and the area. The appetizers ranged from $8-10, entrees $12-30, and desserts $5-10. Our pre-selected Chef’s Menu was priced at $32.95 with each of the three glasses of wine $2.33.

Jennifer wanted me to visit Coronado Island but I wasn’t sold on the idea. It had been raining the last few days and I didn’t want to walk the beach wet and cold. But the weather decided to turn around and our day turned out to be a warm and sunny wonder.

When you drive to Coronado Island from the mainland, you have to cross this huge bridge that is across the bay. Looking down you see these large cruise ships and naval ships as if they are small boats. You are so far up in elevation that when you approach the island you see the ocean ahead of you in large expanse, a very beautiful sight to behold.

Once on the island we drove through the picturesque neighborhoods enjoying the lovely and expensive homes. We decided to stop and walk along the beach at the Hotel Del Coronado so we parked along side the shopping area we would visit that afternoon. The hotel is marvelous in of itself. It is a 120 year old national landmark that has seen many a celebrity, a few royal members and countless others seeking its quality and beauty. There is even said to be a resident ghost of a young lady who checked into the hotel in 1892 but never checked out. The hotel is has lovely dark wood and original lighting and artwork.
We did a little window shopping in the shops downstairs from the hotel. I say window shopping because the prices were out of our ranges.

After our window shopping, we walked along the pier and beaches watching the children playing in the sand and just enjoying the quietness of the day. In the distance we could see cruise ships leaving port and oil rigs drilling for that precious oil.

The remaining of our day consisted of visiting the shops across the street from the Hotel Del Coronado. Just a lot of tourist shops with the same stuff. We did find an art shop that showed local artist’s paintings. Since Jennifer is also a painter, it was our favorite stop.

Coronado Island has many restaurants to choose from, but I wanted Mexican. Jen had told me about her favorite place in San Diego but we really didn't want to drive at that point, we wanted to eat. Walking and shopping we came across Miguel's Cocina - a sister to her Miguel's? We think so. The place is decorated as many Mexican restaurants are, with bright colors, heavy woods, and a fiesta music in the background. As soon as you sit at a colorful table you are blessed with salted, greasy chips, salsa and this wonderful white queso (cheese dip). That alone was worth the drive. It is so flavorful without being hot. We ordered drinks, she a sangria margarita and I a strawberry daiquiri. Both were very good and not that expensive being under $10 each. We decided to order the Sampler Platter and a side of guacamole. The guacamole was creamy and perfect. The platter was a large portion, enough for two dinners. It had cheese quesadillas, calamari, and a few other things I can't remember. I guess I so loved the seviche that I forgot the details of the dinner. If you don't know, seviche is raw fish soaked in lime juice which ferments the fish. It is served with pico de gallo and is eaten with chips. Simply wonderful! Our service was impeccable and the prices reasonable. The check for two drinks, the guacamole and the platter was around $35.

I can see why Miguel's Cocina is Jen's favorite Mexican restaurant, I will definitely eat there again and so should you.

I love history and I love visiting old downtowns with their unique shops and eateries. San Diego’s Old Town historic park was a pleasant surprise. It spans one mile in length and one half mile wide and has a great ambiance with its quaint sidewalk shops filled with Spanish and Indian goods and festive live music filling the air. We listened to a Mariachis band outside a Mexican restaurant and it was hard to believe we were in California and not in Mexico.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is considered the “birthplace” of California since it was settled by Spanish missionaries in the 1700 and 1800s. Today, the Spanish culture still rises strong in the historic buildings, people, shops and the 30 restaurants, many of which are Mexican. The park includes a main plaza that is decorated with bright and fragrant flowers and plants, original buildings, re-created homes, living history demonstrations as well as the shops, museums and restaurants. You will find the Mason Street School which is said to be San Diego’s first one room schoolhouse. The Old Adobe Chapel is one of two original churches.

If you are looking for a little something that is really unique, try the Whaley House. It is said to be the most haunted house in America. How about a ghost named Yankee Jim? He is said to haunt the rooms along with Mrs. Whaley herself and numerous pets.

Don’t get me wrong, the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is not just a history museum and old buildings. They have a Tequila Museum where you can sample some olf world cooking and aged Tequila. We also visited the San Diego House which was home to a shop full of tremendous selection of coffee and teas from around the world. My favorite store was Kousins Candy because of the homemade fudge and the large assortment of soft and hard candy. They also have many of the old penny candies from days past.

There are several types of tours that show the rich culture of San Diego. They have walking tours, haunted tours, heritage tours and trolley tours. We chose the walking style so we could maneuver wherever we wanted. Old Town is worth your time to see, smell and taste the wonders of the Spanish and American cultures.

For more information, visit www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com or take a drive, it is located near Pacific highway close to San Diego Ave.