San Diego To Do?

[BLACKJACK]

Not sure if this is the right spot but couldn't find a Travel forum...

Heading to San Diego next week, will probably do the main events like the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal park, Sea World, Balboa Park but was wondering if anybody has been there recently and has any great ideas? The wife is going to be going to some seminars so I'll have some time to kill by myself, will have a rental car so I'll problably go cruise some of the beaches and some of my old haunts (I was stationed there 30+ years ago in the Navy) but looking for ideas??

Anybody ever went out charter fishing, is it worth the $$$?

[delcecchi]

Not sure if this is the right spot but couldn't find a Travel forum...

Heading to San Diego next week, will probably do the main events like the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal park, Sea World, Balboa Park but was wondering if anybody has been there recently and has any great ideas? The wife is going to be going to some seminars so I'll have some time to kill by myself, will have a rental car so I'll problably go cruise some of the beaches and some of my old haunts (I was stationed there 30+ years ago in the Navy) but looking for ideas??

Anybody ever went out charter fishing, is it worth the $$$?

From what I see it is pretty much their down season, although they are catching a few in various places. Most of the fishing is longer range trips that go to mexican waters at least at this time. But you can google for the latest fishing reports. It is winter in San Diego too and the fish seem to prefer warmer water.

You can rent a pole and bait at Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach.

There is nice hiking at Torrey Pines state reserve between La Jolla and Del Mar. Beautiful place. Also Cabrillo National monument is worth a visit for the view.

The harbor cruises are fun, see all the navy stuff.

Eat at In and Out burger. MMMM Double Double.

San Diego is a hot bed of craft brewing, so there are a number of Brewery tours. We enjoyed Stone brewery in Escondido, although it is a fair drive. There are a number of others, like Karl Strauss.

The Midway, a post ww2 aircraft carrier, is fun. We figured we would see it in a couple hours, wound up spending whole day. There are also a bunch of other ships to tour in the Maritime Museum.

Zoo and wild animal park are ok, but I'm not a big zoo guy. They do have a new baby panda.

That's about it, off the top of my head. What kind of stuff do you like to do?

[BLACKJACK]

Thanks delcecchi, sounds like you've spent some time in the area!!

You're right, it is winter time in San Diego, I'm sure I won't see much skin at the beaches. I do like to hike, like your ideas, about Torrey Pines and Cabrillo. Will be up in Poway checking out the old house, could take the drive up to Escondido. If the wife wants to go I suppose we could go check out the Midway - but I spent enough time on carriers (the Nimitz and Forrestal)!!!!!!!!!!!!! We'll be downtown in the 'gaslight district', downtown was a dump when I was there, guess they've fixed it up, so I'm sure we'll be doing lots of hiking around town.

The zoo is on the list because its one of the nicest ones in the world, lots of exotics, everybody that goes to San Diego should see it once.

Thanks!! Add any other ideas that come to mind!!

[delcecchi]

Yes, we (wife and I) have spent some time in the area. Green looks nice as a change from gray and white.

The zoo, and even the wild animal park, are both worth seeing. The zoo is surprisingly small by today's standards, but definitely worth the time.

Your wife might like the outlet mall in Carlsbad. And the meditation garden at the "self realization fellowship" together with the view from the adjacent beach access "swami's" in Encinitas are also worth the time. They are right on the PCH on south end of Encinitas.

We like the "fish market" restaurant. Also there is a "tin fish" that we also like next to the stadium downtown. The statue of "the kiss" is back, next to the Midway.

We also like "taco surf", sort of a grungy looking place in pacific beach.

The torrey pines glider port is fun on the right day. You can even go on a tandem paraglider ride. (not my thing)

If you time the tide right you can walk the beach from Torrey Pines state beach all the way to la jolla shores (or in the other direction). I am pretty sure there is a city bus that you can catch at the shores and ride back to torrey pines but not positive. (looks like a combo of the 30 and 101 buses would do it).

In fact you could get a pretty cool tour of the city on the bus for your two bucks or whatever the fare is.

http://www.sdmts.com/MTS/RegionalTransitMap.asp

8 to 30 to 101 bus

[bbfenatic]

drive north an hour to long beach and hop on the shuttle ship out to Catalina Island, absolutely awesome, will see whales, dolphins on the way and the island has a cool "garden", lots of neat shops, and great places to eat....we take that in every time out to SoCal and it never gets old

[delcecchi]

If you are in San Diego and want a ferry to Catalina you don't need to drive to long beach. You can catch a ferry to Catalina at Dana Point, which is much closer. (then you can go to San Juan Capistrano to the mission and see the swallows, if they have come back)

[BLACKJACK]

Catalina Island!!! Forgot about that!!! Was there years ago, wonder if the wife would like it??

Dana Point? Going to have to start doing some google searches to find this stuff!!

Wasn't planning on traveling with a laptop but kind of wondering now if I shouldn't hunt one down. I know the hotel will probably have one but would be nice to have one in the room...

[delcecchi]

Also tons of live music in San Diego and area.

[delcecchi]

Be sure to let us know how you liked stuff. Pretty nice there today.

[delcecchi]

Get back yet?

[BLACKJACK]

delchecci, Back from the land of warm sunshine and lots of people. Weather was good while we were there, 65-71 and sunny every day except one cloudy day, no rain, was even better reading about a snow storm back in MN while we were gone.

Spent one day at Balboa Park and the Zoo, amazing place, loved the aviaries with all the different colorful birds, nice landscaping and upkeep, ended up with sore feet from all the walking.

Made the drive up to San Juan Capistrano, amazing freeways, at one point was on 8 lanes heading north, set cruise at 70 and still got passed by everybody. Too early for swallows but the site was interesting, lots of history, took the audio tour, nice landscaping. It helped that it was a beautiful sunny day sat at a sidewalk cafe and had lobster tacos for lunch.

Did the Midway tour, brought back lots of memories, I think now my wife understands why I hate carriers, lots of history though. Spent lots of time downtown checking out the Gaslight district, sitting at the sidewalk cafes, people watching, drinking too many $8 beers. Place was interesting but expensive. Did eat at the Tin Fish one night.

Tip for you, if you like Irish clog dancing, every Sunday night from 6-7:30 there is a group that dances at a Irish pub called The Field, it’s on 5th Avenue. Was sitting outside having a beer and people watching, heard all this hooting and hollering and clapping, wandered in, it was pretty good.

Took one day and drove out to Poway and Borrego Springs, interesting seeing some countryside, small horse farms and ranches, some mountains, and getting down into the desert. On the way back went all the way to the coast and cruise the beaches, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, got out in several spots and walked the beaches, watched the surfers, brought back lots of memories as I watched the road signs, Mira Mesa, Pomerado Road, Miramar.

Trip was fun but glad to be home. Traveling is such a pain in the arse, waiting in line, packed into planes like sardines, waiting in line like cattle (reminded me of my Navy days!!!), very few destinations, unless there is a hunt at the end, are worth the hassle.

Thanks for the advice!!

[delcecchi]

Glad to hear you had a good time.

[BLACKJACK]

One thing I forgot to mention about the trip was our experience with Hertz rental car.

The wife already had a car rented when we got there but when we started talking to the counter person it was one big sales job, first he tried to get us into a bigger car, then it was we needed more insurance, then it was trying to sell us their 'special' gas deal, then it was onto trying to charge us for the GPS in the car. We kept saying no, but on the gas deal he wouldn't take no for an answer, and on the GPS, he eventually threw it in so "we wouldn't get lost".

Very distasteful experience, a '10 minute pick up the key' turned into a 35 minute sales pitch. Definately trying to take advantage of the rookie traveler, next time I'm not going to be Minnesota nice.

Do all car rental places do this?

[rundrave]

Do all car rental places do this?

yes, had a similar experience with enterprise when I wrecked my own vehicle and was getting a temp vehicle. It was not so much the upselling but more on them forcing me to take the insurance and required me to pay for some of the stuff out of pocket that my auto insurance was already covering.

[flyfisher03]

I had a different experience from Enterprise when my wife and I rented in Denver. We had booked a small SUV and they didn't have any in the lot. The sales guy took us into the lot and told us to pick a vehicle (any we wanted). We told them right off the bat we had insurance through our insurance company and didn't need it. No big deal. Great experience with them. This was a few years ago though so times have changed.

[delcecchi]

One thing I forgot to mention about the trip was our experience with Hertz rental car.

The wife already had a car rented when we got there but when we started talking to the counter person it was one big sales job, first he tried to get us into a bigger car, then it was we needed more insurance, then it was trying to sell us their 'special' gas deal, then it was onto trying to charge us for the GPS in the car. We kept saying no, but on the gas deal he wouldn't take no for an answer, and on the GPS, he eventually threw it in so "we wouldn't get lost".

Very distasteful experience, a '10 minute pick up the key' turned into a 35 minute sales pitch. Definately trying to take advantage of the rookie traveler, next time I'm not going to be Minnesota nice.

Do all car rental places do this?

I rent from Hertz but have number 1 gold. That gives you "gold choice" on top of having everything settled ahead of time. No going to the counter. No arguments or sales jobs. Free to join "gold plus rewards"