going to San Diego tomorrow - any "must see/do" things you recommend?

[purbeast0]

i've been there once before for a week, and this time we're going to be staying with friends at their house, but my wife and i are also going to rent a car for a day or two and do our own thing.

i was just curious if there are anything that people wouldn't miss if they were to go there. looking for some nice restaurant recommendations too. last time we were there we at ate Azul right in la jolla and it was awesome, so along those lines is what i'm looking for.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Enter Mexico illegally, tell us what happens.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

There's a real good taco place in La Jolla called Puesto. Street tacos style...they throw a bed of cheese on the grill, then take all the meat and fixins and throw it inside that bed and wrap it up in a taco with some sauce/salsa on top. Very delicious. Good lunch place.

If you're by Del Mar and want lunch, Urban Plates was a staple in my life.

I lived there for a couple years until just recently. I have more places but thats all I can think of right now.

Edit: Also, Del Mar is a great place to go to the beach, its usually less crowded there...you can get a whole area to yourself.

Um...there's some great disc golf places if you're into that.

 

[slatr]

i've been there once before for a week, and this time we're going to be staying with friends at their house, but my wife and i are also going to rent a car for a day or two and do our own thing.

i was just curious if there are anything that people wouldn't miss if they were to go there. looking for some nice restaurant recommendations too. last time we were there we at ate Azul right in la jolla and it was awesome, so along those lines is what i'm looking for.

I haven't got to go yet but the things I want to do there:

Sea kayak off the coast - apparently you can rent them for day trips
San Diego zoo
"gaslight" district/sight see

 

[olds]

Just got back from there.
I like the wild animal park.
Old Town and Gaslight are cool.
Zoo is supposed to be great.

 

[DesiPower]

There are some famous desert/ice cream place somewhere in downtown? I was told that was a must visit... Extraordinary Desserts iirc

 

[DesiPower]

Just got back from there.
I like the wild animal park.
Old Town and Gaslight are cool.
Zoo is supposed to be great.

If you have kids and zoo is on the agenda then Lego land is a good place too!

 

[Scarpozzi]

Seek out some fish tacos.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

The air and space museum at Balboa Park is incredible if you're into that kind of stuff. I thought it was way more impressive than the Smithsonian air & space museum in DC.

 

[doubledeluxe]

Zoo
Wild Animal Park
Balboa Park
Desert. Especially if it's blooming. Apple pie in Julian was pretty good.
Gas lamp and a game if you're there during the season.
There was a really messy and good burger joint with lots of license plates on the wall in Oceanbeach but I don´t remember the name.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Be sure to check out the whale's vagina.

 

[Oyeve]

Zoo, then leave SD.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Take me to lunch! :whiste:

The Brigantine is right down the street and they have the best fish tacos in town. :wub:

Weather is warm during the day, bring shorts. Cools off to the high 50s overnight though so bring pants and a light jacket or sweater.

 

[zerocool84]

I always like Del Mar Racetrack.

 

[mundane]

Drive on up to North County to enjoy the wide variety of breweries.

 

[Thebobo]

World Famous

Torrey Pines Gliderport

Hang Gliders, Paragliders, Full size Sailplanes, and RC Sailplanes.

 

[SSSnail]

Tijuana.

 

[Belegost]

Seek out some fish tacos.

This and a california burrito, because SD is the only place where those are made right.

My recommendation is El Azteca in La Mesa, but if you're in La Jolla, Don Carlos is good.

 

[palswim]

There was a really messy and good burger joint with lots of license plates on the wall in Oceanbeach but I don´t remember the name.

Hodad's

This and a california burrito, because SD is the only place where those are made right.

I think California Burritos only exist in SD. I've had "California Burritos" in other places, but they aren't just bad imitations of California Burritos, they are entirely different. I think outside of San Diego, shops just want to slap "California" on their burrito as a unique label, but they don't realize that a California Burrito is a specific type of burrito (essentially french fries and carne asada, with other fixings specific to the taco shop).

"Gaslamp" district/sight see

fixed that for you

People have mentioned the Zoo, but about 45 minutes North of the airport, the city of Escondido has the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly "the Wild Animal Park"). San Diego does have a good zoo, but the Safari Park isn't something you'll find hardly anywhere else.

 

[palswim]

a California Burrito is a specific type of burrito (essentially french fries and carne asada, with other fixings specific to the taco shop).

Depending on where you are, Vallarta Express in Mira Mesa (and I think Clairemont Mesa), Lolita's in Clairemont Mesa, Super Sergio's in Clairemont Mesa, and Sombrero (in Carmel Mountain, Scripps Ranch, and elsewhere) have good California Burritos.

Most of these places also have Carne Asada Fries, and, if you want to throw all dietary restraint to the wind, Vallarta Express also has "Christian Fries" (carne asada fries with eggs and bacon on top, if I remember correctly) and a Quesaburrito, which is a carne asada burrito with a quesadilla instead of a tortilla to wrap the thing.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

This and a california burrito, because SD is the only place where those are made right.

My recommendation is El Azteca in La Mesa

This man knows something

 

[Platypus]

was just there speaking at an info security con and had like only 48ish hours but I really liked Queenstown Pub, they had some good beer and mead. Also kind of a hike probably but Tacos Perla was awesome too.

did what we could of the zoo in 2 hours, took a bunch of pics

 

[Belegost]

This man knows something

Spent ten years living a mile from El Azteca, awesome food.

Now I'm in Colorado, I haven't had even mediocre carne asada in 10 months. I may not be quite sane any longer.

 

[purbeast0]

I haven't got to go yet but the things I want to do there:

Sea kayak off the coast - apparently you can rent them for day trips
San Diego zoo
"gaslight" district/sight see

did all of that except the zoo last time i was there. did a kayak tour in la jolla into the little "caves" by the cliff. was pretty neat.

also went to the gas light district one night to party. was a good time. it's nothing special though considering i live right near dc and it was similar in the party atmosphere and amount of bars/lounges.

the zoo is a good idea though, i actually wanted to do that last time but didnt. we did go to sea world though.

and yeah last time i was there, we hit up quite a few different little taco shops, they were good. we also hit up that one burrito place that was on man vs. food, forget the name of it. it was overrated though to be honest.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Spent ten years living a mile from El Azteca, awesome food.

Now I'm in Colorado, I haven't had even mediocre carne asada in 10 months. I may not be quite sane any longer.

I have a friend who moved to Texas last summer and she couldn't find anywhere that had decent Mexican food there. Said it's all Texmex... which just isn't the same.