Visiting San Diego area next week, must sees?
 

My wife and I have been fully vaccinated so she booked a trip a trip to San Diego where we will be staying in La Jolla. This will be my first time in the area, so any must dos, except for the zoo?

We love the outdoors which is great during COVID times, so open to short 1-3 hour hikes. Any good restaurants we shouldn't miss? Also, what's the policy on masks in CA? I wear them all the time outside in public except when running. Do runners wear them?

Thanks and looking forward to seeing the ocean!

Neil

Take a look at this thread when I was planning our trip. Of course it included a couple kids but there were some good places to eat for sure...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/466384-my-way-san-diego.html

Balboa Park. Beautiful place that contains a ton of great museums. In particular the San Diego Air and Space Museum.

https://www.balboapark.org/explore/museums

Coronado Island is pretty neat as well

Beach on Coronado Island by the Hotel del Coronado.

Tijuana is not what it used to be....

+1..

Not worth checking out. Days of cheap upholstery, donkey shows and M80s are long gne.

See the USS Midway if you are into that stuff. Most restaurants are closed but outdoor dining is available. If you are from the colder climate, that's what you want to do anyway.

Beach on Coronado is a must. Rent a bike and ride along the beach, soak up some sun. Balboa park's museums are fun. That whole area is worth visiting. Go up to Point Loma light house and the Cabrillo National Monument and get the almost 360 view of the ocean or bay. Light hike around the area. Spend the morning there, it's quiet peaceful. Depending when you come, it may be a bit cold in the mornings or even during the day but nothing a light jacket wouldn't do. Drive down and walk around the tie pools.

Rent kayaks (may not be open due to covid) and paddle around Mission bay. Its the back bay so no waves or man eating sharks:D

If you like the mountains, drive up to Mt Paloma and take a hike on any one of their hiking trails. You are in the clouds depending if we have fog or not. You can see for miles on a clear windy sunny day. Stop by Julian and get a piece of apple pie. They are famous for that. But its just an old tourist town in the middle of the mountain. Sure you have lots of them in TX.

How long will you be in socal? If you like nature, drive up to Palm Springs, 140 miles and take the Gondola up into 10,000' and take a walk to Round Valley through small streams and pine trees. You can see Mexico from there on a clear day. That's a day trip. We have done San Diego to Palm Springs and back in one day.

Yeah, but the cheap hookers are still there. No, don't go into Mexico. I don't even think the borders are open yet?

https://seaportvillage.com/

Seaport village is nice to walk around and grab lunch of dinner. You maybe disappointed that its limited outdoor dinning only.

The Gaslamp district is fun to walk around and burn some time but I think there maybe a lot of buns hanging around now? Haven't been in SD in a couple years. That's downtown, and we normally stay away from downtown of most large cities in CA.

If planning on the zoo or wild animal park I recommend checking their web site to see if you need reservations now.
This time of year at the wild animal park would be great, not too hot not too cold. You can do a lot of walking there, get a balloon ride up high above and take a tram around the big enclosure to see animals in a more natural habitat than anywhere else except Africa.
The zoo is world famous for a reason so I hope you're going to see it.

I was blown away by the San Diego zoo. First by the admission price, but then by how worth it it was.

Plenty of good breweries in the area. Stone, Ballast Point, and others. If you want a dinner with a great view and strong (no juice) mai tai, check out Bali Hai on shelter island. +1 on Balboa Park and Midway. Great kayakin in La Jolla cove.

Pt Loma or maybe a drive on the Sunrise Highway to Mt Laguna and the desert overlook then on to Julian. Maybe the desert cacti are in bloom

He from TX, I think he had enough of that desert cacti in 20 min drive from his home. SmileWavy

Get Neilk some ocean and mountain air. Dinner by the ocean outdoor is always very nice. We still enjoy it even though we do it often

Scripts Aquarium is a good visit too along with everything above.

If you have a good rental the road from Julian SW on Banner Grade is a fun road.

Book whale watching, if they're still migrating, if not, do a harbor cruise. Ton of great seafood places, I like a seafood market/restaurant on shelter island...Point Loma Seafoods. Also, there's La Jolla cove, Scripps aquarium (great beach there too), Black's Beach (if you're into nude sun bathing). Take a drive up to the Palomar Observatory. And if your in to gambling, there's plenty of casinos within a short drive.

I did it too many years ago, but if they still offer it, the Zoo at night lets you see the many of the animals in their active period!

They have an SR71, and many other cool stuff, at the air museum in Balboa Park.

Actually, it is an A-12. Single seat, earlier version.

At the Wild Animal Park, you can pay to have a ride on the back of a truck to feel the animals. You must book in adv. My oldest boy did that when he was young. It was fun and not sure if you will enjoy that. Its like feeding the family dog. No big really

While in La Jolla go to:

Seal Beach
Walk around the tide pools just south of Seal Beach
eat at El Pescador, casual Great for lunch or dinner.
Ice cream at bobboi
Walk around the shops in La Jolla
eat breakfast or lunch at Sugar and Scribe

If you are interested in hikes (1 - 3 hrs. as you mentioned) There are a couple in the back country about an hour drive from La Jolla on the way to Julian (Hwy.79). The first is Oakzanita Pk. Parking is easy on the side of Hwy. 79, and the hike is about five miles R.T. with almost a thousand ft. in altitude change. Take a lunch & a liter of water. Great 360 view of the local mountains. Another one up the road another 15 minutes is Stonewall Pk. (popular) at Paso Picacho State campground. It's about 1.5 miles each way & has another 360 view. The top is a rock peak with stone steps near the top and pipe railing at the top. You can park in the parking lot ($10). Julian is a fairly normal, small, mountain town you may or may not enjoy. The place we eat a lot there is the Julian Cafe. Another is Miner's Diner, which has an old fashioned soda fountain that serves many old time milk shakes, fizzes, sundays, etc. along with standard lunch fare. The town is full of curio, sweets, and apple pie shops. Many times the sidewalks are so crowded it's hard to walk and the traffic si sometimes backed up two to four miles coming from the north and south. So take that into consideration.
(I know if Paul looks at this, he'll want to kill me for not having any paragraphs.)

Yes. Do they still do the outdoor piano concert on Sunday mornings? I used to ride my bike there and round the velodrome.

If your adventuresome, consider crossing the border.
No bad days in Baja.
Puerto Nuevo -Lobster, rice, beans & fresh tortillas with a Margie overlooking the ocean for $20.00 per person.
4 star food & wine in Guadalupe Valley if you want a high end experience.
A lesson in humanity too when you cross back over.

Can't (generally) take a Rental across the boarder.

Oh and if you find a Porsche to drive, Lyons Valley Road....