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San Diego ?'s

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ben

ben

not missing sand
pilot
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SPRING BREAK HAS ARRIVED!!!!!!!!!!


I'll be catching a plane from the great state of Texas over to sunny San Diego, California. I've never been anywhere in CA at all, and I was looking for some suggestions on cool places to eat/see/visit/whatever. I'm going with about 20 other people for what is supposed to be a surf trip, but I know that surfing will take too much energy to be able to do it all day every day.

What else should I check out while I'm there?

Thanks y'all.
 
ben said:
SPRING BREAK HAS ARRIVED!!!!!!!!!!


I'll be catching a plane from the great state of Texas over to sunny San Diego, California. I've never been anywhere in CA at all, and I was looking for some suggestions on cool places to eat/see/visit/whatever. I'm going with about 20 other people for what is supposed to be a surf trip, but I know that surfing will take too much energy to be able to do it all day every day.

What else should I check out while I'm there?

Thanks y'all.
Click to expand...

In n'Out, no question. Old town for some great Mexican food.
 
Dave and Buster's is a fun bar/restaurant/arcade. Check out Pacific Beach, it's kinda a fun college town by the beach littered with bars (you probably saw it on the real world). I'm assuming you guys are renting a car, so it's right up the 5. There's also Sea World if you're into that kind of thing, and don't forget, San Diego is home of the World Famous Screwbirds! :icon_smil
 
Alcatraz is in the San Francisco Bay Area. San Diego is in Southern California. The drive from San Diego to San Francisco is about 8 hours. Needless to say, Alcatraz is no where near San Diego.
 
World Famous Screwbirds? I checked into that (thanks to Google) - is checking out the NAS worth the trip? I'd love to go just to see the sights, but I doubt that the rest of the people going on the trip would have much interest... we'll see.
 
Ha! Alcatraz... That gets funnier every time I read it.

Anyhow, if you're in Old Town, go to Casa de Pico (sp?) and eat some of that good food while drinking margaritas from a fish bowl. It's nice...
 
FrogFly said:
Anyhow, if you're in Old Town, go to Casa de Pico (sp?) and eat some of that good food while drinking margaritas from a fish bowl. It's nice...
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From a college student's view hear are a few pointers.

1. If you are not 21 San Diego will get boring. Underage persons should go to Tijuana. Hickies and other wounds sustained in TJ will heal after a week so GF's will never know.

2. San Diego Zoo sucks, go to Wild Animal Park if those things interest you.

3. Restaurants
Downtown: Monsoon on 6th Indian, ask for Michelle, tell her John sent you, she hot and will take care of you. It would be fine Indian cuisine.

Old Town: Like above. Casa De Pico has the Best margaritas hands down, not those sissy TX margaritas. :) Better food at Casa de Bandini in the same area. Go to Pico for Drinks and Bandini for food.

PB: Lots of Clubs bars and what not. do not go to Plan B. It is plan b and it shows by looking at the people inside.

BEER:

I love BEER! If you are going to the beach area go to Mission Beach, the place is The Liar's Club it is on Mission Blvd. They have TONS of local brews which are fantastic. Ask for Lil' Devil by Alesmith.

Surfing:

Blacks Beach is Number ONE. Caution it is also a Nude Beach. Point Loma is where the Seasoned surfers also go, but Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach are decent as well.

Fast Food:

No Doubt you are not going to eat at nice places much if at all. so quick serve places to remember when wandering around.

Roberto's: Open 24 hours great for hang overs and recovery. Carne Asada fries or Chimichanga.

In 'n Out: Great Burger place but it was mentioned already. Ask for your burger Animal Style.

Kono's in Pacific Beach. Go all the way down on Garnet towards the beach. At the end of the street and on the right is Kono's open for lunch and breakfast only. Enjoy.

See if you can get a tour of BUD/S. It rocks. They'll let you do most of the O course. Have fun with "Dirty Word."

Cabrillo National Cemetary/park? is also open if you want some time to reflect. It is at the tip of point Loma.

I can't think of anything else. SD guys correct me if I missed anything.
John
 
Ben,

NAS North Island is hardly worth visiting. I was just kidding around and tooting my squadron's horn. The BUD/S thing sounds way cooler.
 
Thisguy said:
Ben,

NAS North Island is hardly worth visiting. I was just kidding around and tooting my squadron's horn. The BUD/S thing sounds way cooler.
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Yeah I picked up on that. I've never been on a military base (except a Boy Scout function at Ft. Hood many years ago) and didn't know what to expect. I'm sure that I'll be too busy trying not to drown in the ocean to worry about what I'm going to do in my free time.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys - no doubt my trip will be fun.
 
Ben,
I lived in SD a long time and loved it. Not sure where you're staying, but here's your to do list, you'll love SD:

Dinner in Old Town (I rec Rockin' Baja Lobster)
Take the trolley from Old Town to the Gaslamp district so you don't have to drive.
Gaslamp is fun if you're 21+, just walk up 5th. Shopping during the day.
Pacific Beach/Mission Beach day or night
TJ is dirty, which is good and bad. At night, go to Avenida Revolucion within walking from border, also check out a bull fight. Mexico during the day isn't bad when the sun is out if you just want some cheap beer. 50 cent coronas anyone?
Drive down the coast of baja, stop in Puerto Nuevo and Rosarito, watch out for Federales.
SD has great golf -- check out Torrey Pines for a fair price, PGA tour stop and 2 kickass 18's.
If you are military, MCAS Miramar has an outdoor aviation museum (old planes) plus F-18s, CH-46s, and CH-53s on the flightline. If you call ahead, you may be able to get a tour and some sim time. NAS North Island is mostly H-60s and S-3s, and sometimes the aircraft carriers are parked there.
McP's Pub in Coronado is a reknown SEAL hangout, owned by a retired SEAL.
The MCRD lets the public watch Marines graduate from boot, great ceremony
Harbor booze cruise, ship called the Hornblower I think.
Hyatt hotel downtown - top floor bar has a good view of the city
Wild animal park is better than the zoo, but it's a drive
Sea World
Girls love La Jolla for shopping, it's like Rodeo Dr by the beach. Stop and sea the sea lions at the "Children's Pool" in La Jolla, better than the zoo in my opinion.
Rent kayaks and kayak in the Pacific or Mission Bay. There are some bars you can almost paddle to. Sailboats also available for rent.
Balboa Park if you're into museums, peaceful crap, and flowers.
The USS Midway is parked in the harbor, but I don't think it's open to the public yet.
Torrey Pines State Park for hiking/beach. Cabrillo Nat'l Monument is a good view.
Hot air balloon rides up near Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe area. $$$
The Hillcrest area has lots of guys who will buy you drinks, or so I've heard.

If you're coming from Texas, then, by surfing you mean renting 11-foot foam boards and falling a lot??? No offense if I'm wrong, but for beginner surf go to La Jolla Shores or the Mission Beach area. Steer clear of Blacks unless you're decent, especially if there's any size and you can't ride left. Though if you're a beginner, I'm sure the walk down will discourage you. Watch out for Captain One-eyed Willie down there. And I'm not sure where there is surf in Pt. Loma, but perhaps he meant Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach. If you're really into surfing, then you already know the good breaks listed in the surf mags. If not, San Diego is great b/c you can just drive up the coast from Ocean Beach all the way to Orange Country and find any number of good spots. PCH is your friend. There are no secret spots in Socal.

I'll second the In 'n Out nomination for eating. A Texas friend of mine compared it to Whataburger... Whatacrockofs..t NOT EVEN CLOSE. Go to In 'n Out and decide for yourself. Fatburger is good too at the end of Garnet in PB.

If you really want the best burrito in SD, go to Papachito's. Dinky little place in a strip mall, but I'll defend their California Burrito against anything. Make sure you try the hot sauce. Their # is 858-452-9446, located on Governor Dr. I'm in Pensacola and I still have their number in my cell phone. Pathetic, really.

Any other questions, just ask. I'm jealous.

Edited to add that The Field in the Gaslamp on 5th is one of the best Irish pubs I've been to. Check the head on your pint of Guinness.
 
airgreg said:
Steer clear of Blacks unless you're decent, especially if there's any size and you can't ride left. Though if you're a beginner, I'm sure the walk down will discourage you. Watch out for Captain One-eyed Willie down there. And I'm not sure where there is surf in Pt. Loma, but perhaps he meant Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach. If you're really into surfing, then you already know the good breaks listed in the surf mags. If not, San Diego is great b/c you can just drive up the coast from Ocean Beach all the way to Orange Country and find any number of good spots. PCH is your friend. There are no secret spots in Socal.
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Yes, Sunset cliffs, which is the West Coast of Pt. Loma. Go to the end of the street. Rumor has it an Ex-Navy Surgeon lives not 100 yard from there (GF's Grandfather). There is a park to roam and places to park the surfers make their way down to the water some how, not sure.

San Onofre in NORTH County is good too but you don't want to drive 40 miles North. You'd be fine in SD.

I learned to Surf at la Jolla Shores. Since it is close to UCSD. Yeah Blacks is for experts and the hill is um fun.

Also, DZ Akins around College. And Phil's BBQ. I know you are from Texas, but this stuff is good.

Phil's B.B.Q.
4030 Goldfinch St.
San Diego, CA 92103-1821
Phone: 619/688-0559

Best.

John
I'll try that Burrito Place.
 
I grew up in Pacific Beach... and I can't remember anywhere really...
If you plan on going down to TJ pick up the Trolly somewhere(i.e. Rosecrans) and take it to the border... Do NOT drive across (border waits are really long)... even walking will take some time... You can then just walk over to Revolution street (that's where all the american's go) or you can take a cab. It's really close... There are better places to go in TJ though.
Pacific Beach is probably the best beach around... park over by the roller coaster and you can walk around the boardwalk...
If you're into Scuba Diving (check the local dive shops) there's a boat that goes to the Coronado Islands; that's an awesome dive(especially at night)
ok... that' my 2 cents
 
Thanks for all the great replies so far - I doubt I'll have time to check everything out. A buddy of mine said to check out Rubio's Baja Grill - yall heard of it, and is it good?
 
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