Things to do in San Diego

jackieblack

Has anyone suggestions for things to do & see in San Diego?

We are finishing a trip with 3 1/2 days/4 nights there mid April next year (staying at Humphey's Half Moon on Shelter Island), I've heard people say 'Oh, it's lovely there' and 'you must visit the zoo' (which we probably won't, we have 3 excellent zoos/wildlife parks within an hour of where we live so it seems a shame to 'waste' a day going to the zoo). We plan to go to SeaWorld as we have been to the Orlando one, which we all love, but apart from that, I could use some good suggestions.

Also, has anyone done the 'border hop' over to Tijuana? Is it worth half a day, as we've only got a few days, is it worth doing? What is there actually there?

Any suggestions/recommendations appreciated.

Incapuppy

Have you checked the Trip Advisor destination info and forums?

jackieblack

I've had a look at a few different websites/forums.

I was hoping for some tips from someone on here who'd been.
(I've always found that the lovely people on this forum give excellent advice/views/tips!)

Incapuppy

A forum search is usually helpful ;0)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=908979&highlight=san+diego

debs66_2

Hi, we went just outside SD last year and are going again next month.

I wouldn't recommend Seaworld. It's very sugar-coated, and not like the Seaworld i remember in Florida (albeit that was a few years ago). There's no dolphin feeding, and whilst the marine shows are good, the performances are as sickly sweet as you can imagine. we won't be wasting another day there this year, but if you want to do it, i would say definitely don't go on a weekend, as you spend more time moviing within a massive swell of people in and out of everything.

We are going to try and do some different things this year, like the Wild Animal Park, which has good reviews. It all depends on what you enjoy, your ages, if you have kids with you, what nights you will be there, are you willing to travel outside the city etc.

For eg, we are definitely going to do the Cruisin Grand night again in Escondido (about 30-40 mins drive out of SD). This is a 4 hour meet every Friday (5pm - 9pm) of 400+ classic and custom american cars in a lovely old town, with 50s and 60s music played around the streets. the atmosphere is amazing and the cars are magnificent. http://www.downtownescondido.com/cruisin.html
http://www.azfamily.com/video/gmaz-index.html?nvid=154090&shu=1

for this year we have booked a desert jeep tour in Burrego Springs, which includes slot canyons. Having done some of these before in Arizona, they are stunning, so i can't wait for this day. This desert town is approx 85 miles outside of SD, and the company do different 2, 4 and 8 hour tours of the desert and indian settlements etc.

The harbour is beautiful, the naval base is reportedly good (but we haven't done it), La Jolla is classy, with some good art museums, Old Town San Diego is nice too and interesting in terms of the history, and you might want to consider a day at the races at Del Mar.

One thing you must do, though, is go to a San Diego Padres Baseball game at Petco Park. what a fantastic, fun atmosphere. check out their schedule for home games on the web. if they are playing at home while you are there, don't miss a chance for a proper piece of american life.

we never went to tijuana. we did consider it but had lots of advice against it. the impression we have been given is that it's not as cheap as it once was, and has become even tackier and slightly more dangerous. if you do decide to do it, look for an organised trip.

as someone else said, check out www.tripadvisor.com. it's a boon.;)

pulliptears

If you have kids, I highly recommend sea world. Its supposed to be "sickly sweet and sugar coated" as its an attraction. Its an excellent day out.

Also, San Diego zoo is world class

jackieblack

pulliptears wrote: »

If you have kids, I highly recommend sea world. Its supposed to be "sickly sweet and sugar coated" as its an attraction. Its an excellent day out.

Also, San Diego zoo is world class

Yes, we plan to go to Seaworld. But we won't be doing the zoo, for the reasons given in my original post.

jackieblack

debs66 wrote: »

Hi, we went just outside SD last year and are going again next month.

I wouldn't recommend Seaworld. It's very sugar-coated, and not like the Seaworld i remember in Florida (albeit that was a few years ago). There's no dolphin feeding, and whilst the marine shows are good, the performances are as sickly sweet as you can imagine. we won't be wasting another day there this year, but if you want to do it, i would say definitely don't go on a weekend, as you spend more time moviing within a massive swell of people in and out of everything.

We are going to try and do some different things this year, like the Wild Animal Park, which has good reviews. It all depends on what you enjoy, your ages, if you have kids with you, what nights you will be there, are you willing to travel outside the city etc.

For eg, we are definitely going to do the Cruisin Grand night again in Escondido (about 30-40 mins drive out of SD). This is a 4 hour meet every Friday (5pm - 9pm) of 400+ classic and custom american cars in a lovely old town, with 50s and 60s music played around the streets. the atmosphere is amazing and the cars are magnificent. http://www.downtownescondido.com/cruisin.html
http://www.azfamily.com/video/gmaz-index.html?nvid=154090&shu=1

for this year we have booked a desert jeep tour in Burrego Springs, which includes slot canyons. Having done some of these before in Arizona, they are stunning, so i can't wait for this day. This desert town is approx 85 miles outside of SD, and the company do different 2, 4 and 8 hour tours of the desert and indian settlements etc.

The harbour is beautiful, the naval base is reportedly good (but we haven't done it), La Jolla is classy, with some good art museums, Old Town San Diego is nice too and interesting in terms of the history, and you might want to consider a day at the races at Del Mar.

One thing you must do, though, is go to a San Diego Padres Baseball game at Petco Park. what a fantastic, fun atmosphere. check out their schedule for home games on the web. if they are playing at home while you are there, don't miss a chance for a proper piece of american life.

we never went to tijuana. we did consider it but had lots of advice against it. the impression we have been given is that it's not as cheap as it once was, and has become even tackier and slightly more dangerous. if you do decide to do it, look for an organised trip.

as someone else said, check out www.tripadvisor.com. it's a boon.;)

Thanks for that, I'll check out the cars thing in Escondido, DH would love that.
The 2009 schedule for the baseball doesn't seem to be on the website yet, but I think we'd have to be lucky for there to be a home game in the few days that we're there.

The Tijuana thing, I know people who did it a few years ago and said it was great, but I've read similar to what you've said on other forums.

debs66_2

hi, i think seaworld felt too young for us, as our kids are 16 and 18. they kept giving me the raised eyebrow look at some of the 'BELIEVE' parts of the show. i too had been to the Orlando one, about 9 years before, and loved it. there, we were able to buy little trays of fish to feed the dolphins, but there was none of this in San Diego. i'd really wanted to do that again.

i think the main thing though for us was the crowds!! just try and avoid a weekend as i think you get lots of the locals and their kids going. getting in and out of any attraction seemed a chore.

have a fab time :j

kevinyork

Can give a comment on the 'over the border' bit. Only worth doing really just to say you have done it. Its pretty tacky and scruffy and I didnt feel that safe to be honest. Approached by drug dealers and working girls within minutes of getting off the bus (must be the way I look or something).

jackieblack

debs66 wrote: »

hi, i think seaworld felt too young for us, as our kids are 16 and 18. they kept giving me the raised eyebrow look at some of the 'BELIEVE' parts of the show. i too had been to the Orlando one, about 9 years before, and loved it. there, we were able to buy little trays of fish to feed the dolphins, but there was none of this in San Diego. i'd really wanted to do that again.

i think the main thing though for us was the crowds!! just try and avoid a weekend as i think you get lots of the locals and their kids going. getting in and out of any attraction seemed a chore.

have a fab time :j

DD is 12 and has been Orca-crazy since she was 3. SeaWorld is one of the reasons for us going to San Diego. We will be there Tues-Sat so plan to go mid-week. We loved Believe when we saw it in Orlando (high cheese-factor and all!), and are really interested to see the differences between the two parks.