Trip to San Diego

[Speedster56]

I am thinking of taking a trip to San Diego with my wife the second week in November. This is a big anniversary, so we're more interested in a terrific holiday, than trying to do this cheaply. I am hoping some local Pelicans or pervious visitors can provide some comments.
Interested in all comments, but primarily about what area to stay, such as close to town or up the north coast, is the weather typically cool at that time, must see attractions, things to avoid, other helpful hints.
We are thinking of staying in a condo or similar at or near the ocean.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Speedster56

[TheMentat]

Stone Brewery in Escondido!

[Seahawk]

I lived in San Diego, Coronado specifically, for six years and return at least once a year. San Diego is an embarrassment of riches for visitors.

I am very partial to Coronado. The Hotel Del Coronado is still a great place to stay and you can walk to all the places to eat and drink on Orange Avenue. Can be pricey but they have specials all the time.

You can split the trip and stay a few nights in Coronado and then switch to downtown San Diego.

Have fun. I love the place.

[nostatic]

I was born and raised in SD, but left in '87. Still visited over the years but things have changed. That said, my favorite area was always La Jolla and then coastal north county (Del Mar, Cardiff, Solana Beach). The area around the La Jolla cove is spectacular. That said, north county has gotten crazy traffic over the last decade or two so you have to plan accordingly. People love the gaslamp district downtown (when I was a kid it was all sailors and hookers - not necessarily in that order), and as Paul says, Coronado is beautiful. If El Nino holds off, Nov is a nice time to visit. Not many tourists, and still warm enough to be near the beach without freezing.

[Hugh R]

There is an aircraft carrier you can visit that is very cool. The Zoo is one of the best in the World. Don't bother going to Mexico.

[dan88911]

I have been to SD a couple of times.
Stayed here, Downtown San Diego Hotels | Hotel Near San Diego Airport | Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
A room in the tower facing the marina was nice.
And it's near all the places downtown.

[scottmandue]

We just did SD but on the cheap... loved the Zoo, if you do that don't go on the weekend-catch the buss tour first thing-then take the aerial tram to the high point of the zoo and it is all downhill walk to the front of the zoo.

Zoo is just a part of the huge Balboa park with lots of museums and other stuff to see and do (but the zoo is 100 ache's so you will easily kill a whole day there).

Gaslamp is supposed to be nice.

Coranado is super nice (had dinner at the hotel).

Stayed at a huge high rise on the waterfront once (a loooong time ago) and as expected it was super nice, looking on a map it may have been the Marriot, there is a Hilton right on the waterfront too.

Because we were on a budget this time we stayed at a La Quinta... turned out to be party central... if you are looking for hip bars to hang out with the young crowd Garnet Ave. is where you want to be.

[porsche4life]

We spent some time in Mission Beach last time we were there. Fun area to play around in, rent paddleboards and play in the bay, etc. Of course the water will be a bit cold by now!

[icemann427]

Maybe stay at the Catamaran if you like the beach. It is on Mission Bay across the street from the ocean, so you get the best of both worlds.

Ride a beach cruiser on the Mission Beach/Pacific Beach boardwalk
Rent a variety of self propelled boards/crafts
Ride the roller coaster at Belmont Park
Watch the surfers on the man made wave maker at the Wave House at MB
Go on a half day fishing boat
Eat/drink at the PB Pub or upstairs at the Firehouse in Pacific Beach
Eat/drink on the top floor of one of the downtown San Diego hotels
with a great view of the bay
Eat at an Italian restaurant in Little Italy (near downtown SD)
Have a glass of wine (and maybe dinner) and take in the view at Cordiano Winery at sunset
Some great restaurants in downtown La Jolla
Dinner cruise
SD Zoo or Wild Animal Park
Charger's game if they are in town
Golf at any of a number of golf courses
Visit Balboa Park
Visit the Midway like Hugh said, as well as, maybe the Star of India
Park at the end of the runway at the SD airport and
watch planes land for a few minutes
Drive the Coast Highway from La Jolla to Oceanside.
When you get to O'side, eat/drink at Hello Betty
Run the cliffs in Del Mar from where Del Mar Heights Rd meets the ocean, north, to Seagrove Park and have a coffee at Starbucks

[Scott Douglas]

We stayed at the Catamaran for our 30th five years ago at this time. Nice if you can get an on the water room. Did the zoo, sea world, animal park triumvirate with the kids which was fun (they're adults).
Geoff has it all covered.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Speedster56

. I am hoping some (pervious visitors) can provide some comments.
.
Speedster56

I think we are all abunch of "pervs", but not so much since the "chest" thread was stopped.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by icemann427

Maybe stay at the Catamaran if you like the beach. It is on Mission Bay across the street from the ocean, so you get the best of both worlds.

Ride a beach cruiser on the Mission Beach/Pacific Beach boardwalk
Rent a variety of self propelled boards/crafts
Ride the roller coaster at Belmont Park
Watch the surfers on the man made wave maker at the Wave House at MB
Go on a half day fishing boat
Eat/drink at the PB Pub or upstairs at the Firehouse in Pacific Beach
Eat/drink on the top floor of one of the downtown San Diego hotels
with a great view of the bay
Eat at an Italian restaurant in Little Italy (near downtown SD)
Have a glass of wine (and maybe dinner) and take in the view at Cordiano Winery at sunset
Some great restaurants in downtown La Jolla
Dinner cruise
SD Zoo or Wild Animal Park
Charger's game if they are in town
Golf at any of a number of golf courses
Visit Balboa Park
Visit the Midway like Hugh said, as well as, maybe the Star of India
Park at the end of the runway at the SD airport and
watch planes land for a few minutes
Drive the Coast Highway from La Jolla to Oceanside.
When you get to O'side, eat/drink at Hello Betty
Run the cliffs in Del Mar from where Del Mar Heights Rd meets the ocean, north, to Seagrove Park and have a coffee at Starbucks

Hopefully weather is good - temperatures really start to drop.

Patriot Jet Boat ride (Flagship Cruises & Events) and near by SD Maritime Museum
Las Olas Mexican Food (2655 S. Coast Highway 101, Cardiff-by-the-Sea) right on the ocean, simple good food, outstanding margaritas (surprisingly difficult to come by in SD) go late afternoon for drinks and sunset views, post/pre meal walk on the beach
Jack & Giulio's in Old Town (really really good Italian food)
Gaslamp (4th and 5th Ave) for dinners and entertainment

AVOID

Old Town Mexican Cafe - everything is horrible.
Mexico - too many unknowns and hassles. Dangerous.

[david c.]

The water in pacific beach was 71 degrees this morning, which is highly, highly unusual and warm for this time of the year.

[david c.]

I'd suggest you rent a condo/house on South Mission Beach. It's the off season so you'll get a lot of house for the money right on the water. It's a central location making it fairly easy to see the rest of the City.

[SoCal911T]

November can be a crap shoot weather-wise but the odds that it will be nice are much greater than the odds of it being crappy. Last year on Thanksgiving it was 85 at the beach and the low was 55.

[Rodsrsr]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Hopefully weather is good - temperatures really start to drop.


AVOID

Old Town Mexican Cafe - everything is horrible.
Mexico - too many unknowns and hassles. Dangerous.

Old Town Mexican Cafe? That place used to be really good. My favorite is Miguels in Point Loma, but being up here in Nor Cal I would be happy to get some Old Town Mexican Cafe, lol. No one up here believes it when i tell them that they havent had any really good Mexican food until they've been to San Diego.

[Vipergrün]

Places to stay; Tower 23, Humphreys Half moon, hotels on the waterfront near down town

I always go to Bali Ha'i for a decent meal and no juice Mai Tai's. Stone Brewery is a must and they have a place off Rosecrans now in the old military buildings. Quite nice.

I love the Midway aircraft carrier and other ships along the waterfront. Kayak La Jolla cove, Pacific Beach boardwalk, San Diego zoo, cemetery at point loma, sunset beach cliffs, etc.

Should still be nice as we get some off shore/santa ana weather this time of year.

Have a great trip!!

[John Rogers]

I would suggest staying at the Hotel Del as noted above and try to get the "haunted room" which my wife and I stayed in for an Easter weekend about 10 years ago.

I would suggest burgers at Hodad's.

I would suggest a visit around "Old Town", while not the way it was for real, it is still interesting.

Finally the Children's Pool in La Jolla to see the high surf we have now and the critters that have a animal nut cases all in an uproar.

Unfortunately, Symbolic Motors which used to have their restoration shop open to the public is no more since the big money laundering/bribe scandal!

[rattlsnak]

I would recommend the Hotel Coronado as stated previously, but if you want a more of an in town feeling, stay in the gas lamp district.

[Cajundaddy]

These guys are good and covered most of the hot spots. When I go to SD I like to be close to the water so a few favorite activities:

Kayak tour of La Jolla Shores and cove
Midway tour
Air and Space Museum
Rent a 20' sailboat for the afternoon and sail the SD bay. Bring a picnic basket and wine.
Walk the boardwalk at nearly any beach.

Have a great time.