When in San Diego, do as the locals do

When I heard AHP was coming to San Diego I had to share some insight that was once shared with me. I have been to all of these places and complied a little cheat sheet to use as your guide for your off-grid extravaganza to America’s Finest City!

Before you start your adventure, watch the weather report on any of the local news stations. Seeing the weathergirls make some fine distinctions between different shades of beautiful weather is pretty entertaining, especially if you are coming from an area of the country with drastic seasonal changes. Be aware that San Diego weather’s best feature is consistency.

This makes San Diegans complete wimps when traveling anywhere else!

Beyond the Old Town Trolley tours, here are a couple of other local getaways to consider.

Coronado Island: Just a bridge away, or a water ferry ride from downtown San Diego, is a beautiful little sun-kissed town called, Coronado. It has all the things tourists love to do and much more. Tourists adore the iconic Hotel del Coronado. Stroll around the grounds and the beach nearby or inquire at the front desk about a ghost tour to get acquainted with the famous spirit who supposedly haunts the resort. If ghost hunting isn’t your thing, you can pursue spirits of a different kind—grabbing a cocktail on “the Del”’s beautiful patio can be pricey but provides ample excuse to linger and enjoy an unobstructed view of the sunset. Other places not to miss: Coronado Central Beach and the Silver Strand. The bridge over the island is only accessible by car, but if you didn’t rent a car, you can easily rent a bike on the island and in downtown San Diego. Rental bike shops downtown offer maps to get to the water ferry (around $8 roundtrip).

La Jolla: La Jolla is one of those places that makes you feel like you are on vacation at all times. I recommend going to “The Cottage” for breakfast – but the crumb cake and coffee served as you bide your time in line makes it worth it! For lunch or even early evening drinks and appetizers, I highly recommend going to George's at the Cove and sitting on the Ocean Terrace for a great view of the La Jolla coastline (and more importantly some A-MAZ-ING fish tacos, a San Diego specialty). Afterwards, you can walk off your meal once again by strolling by the shops and galleries on Prospect Street. Part of La Jolla’s lively arts community, the Museum of Contemporary Art at 700 Prospect Street is a must-see. Park land stretches along the coastline where you can observe sunning seals, bobbing surfers, surfacing scuba divers, and even hang gliders from the nearby cliffs.

Hiking Torrey Pines: Torrey Pines is the perfect place for a hike in San Diego. There are numerous trails with sprawling cliffs that descend to the beach. Quick historical fact: the area is home to the world’s rarest pine tree -- the Torrey Pine. The perfect place for an email-hiatus; all you need is water, a decent camera and don’t forget sun block! Torrey pines aren’t terribly tall and don’t provide much sun coverage. Find some precious parking just off I-5 and follow the crowd up the hill of Torrey Pines National Reserve. On your way back, you can swing by the legendary (and public!) Torrey Pines Golf Course. The pro shop is open to the public most hours that the course is open.

Pacific Beach: "P.B.," as it is known as by local residents, is just north of Mission Bay. Walk along the three miles of boardwalk, officially called Ocean Front Walk/Ocean Boulevard, and soak up the California culture from the surfers, shops, eateries, and bars. The boardwalk ends at Law Street, where you can participate in my most favorite thing to do on the weekends: Oceanfront Pig Yoga (Saturday & Sunday from 10am-11:30am). Yes, I said pig. I never was really a yoga person until I went to this class on the beach. The instructor “Steve” (of NamaSteve Yoga) brings his pet pig for an all-levels class on a long stretch of grass overlooking the ocean! Regardless of your familiarity with yoga, you will feel welcome and you will dance way feeling like a million bucks. The class is a free (donations are gladly welcome, and they are donated to local charities).

Just a seagull swoop away from the yoga is a stylish and contemporary hotel/restaurant called Tower23. It derives its name from lifeguard tower 23 positioned on Pacific Beach near the hotel, and is one of the best spots to enjoy the sunset. If you are looking for an incredible burger, the battle who makes the best burger in town rages on between- Rocky's Crown Pub in Pacific Beach or Hodad's in Ocean Beach. I will let you be the judge;) Go big!

Gaslamp Quarter: No visit to San Diego should be attempted without visiting the charming Gaslamp Quarter. The city’s historic downtown neighborhood mixes architectural elements of the old and the new in its restaurants, shops, and clubs, many of which occupy former brothels, saloons, and warehouses. Most tourists start at the historic Gaslamp sign near the trolley line and work their way up Fifth Street, where the restaurants display their menus for your inspection, though some of the best fare can be found on the surrounding blocks. If you are up for a fancy night out, downtown is where to go. My top picks besides the array of solid choices on Fifth include J-six (located on the corner of…J and Sixth Streets—ask for the bread platter), Soilel at K (on K and Sixth Street across from the Hard Rock Hotel—prepare to be delighted with cotton candy on a pilsner glass if you have a sweet tooth), and El Vitral overlooking Petco Park for the best upscale Mexican food…great for anyone in your party who is “not into Mexican food” and a fun way to take in the energy of a Padres game if you can’t score tickets.

Old town: Get in touch with San Diego’s past in Old Town State Historic Park. There are tons of little shops to historical buildings to peruse. Even better is the incredible Mexican food at Old Town Mexican Cafe. YUM! A heaping plate of marvelous Mexican food in San Diego is essential. Indulge! This is near the central hub for public transportation, so if you didn’t rent a car for your trip, getting here is easy and getting everywhere else afterwards is as well.

Balboa Park: I was lucky to live blocks away from this gem for a couple years and there were always new and beautiful things to explore. Similar to New York’s Central Park, there are literally dozens of gardens, museums and outdoor curiosities to explore in Balboa Park (including the world-renowned San Diego Zoo). I highly recommend visiting the Marston House on the north side of the park off of Sixth Avenue. The original owners of this Craftsman home, George and Anna Marston are responsible for building Balboa Park and for many other historical San Diego landmarks. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to grab a book and kick up your feet next to the fire in the library where Mr. Marston housed his 18th century map collection. The nearby Botanical Building and its adjacent Lily Pond is one of the most photographed scenes in the park. I recommend packing some sandwiches and sprawling out on one of the lawns and taking it all in.

Little Italy: Once home to San Diego’s generations of Italian families who made their living on the sea, Little Italy is a now a lively neighborhood filled with cute little patio cafes, restaurants, pubs, art galleries, shops. Every Saturday, the neighborhood boasts one of the best farmer’s markets in the county, where you will find local fruits, vegetables, flowers, crafts, good food and music. Be sure to save room and head over to Filippi’s Pizza Grotto or Mona Lisa’s for a slice!

Some great restaurants next to the airport: C-Level next to the airport has a stunning view of the bay and excellent food so you don’t have to sacrifice a dining experience to Subway in the food court when you arrive or before you leave. In the same location, Island Prime serves the best steaks, ever. Happy hour goes from 3:30-5:30 pm. Beware that the mud pie will bring you to your knees, they serve you a slice from a small planet of chocolate and whipped cream—they usually bring extra spoons. The dress code is casual, though the mood is definitely upscale.

Happy Trails Beach Rides: If you are itching to get on a horse, Happy Trails, located in the South Bay of San Diego adjoins the only beach in San Diego County where you can ride a horse. Whether you feel like trail riding or taking a ride on the beach, they have a horse and trail for you-- even Seabiscuit stopped by in his time. Reserve a spot on the moonlight trail ride taking place June 18th at 7 pm. Read more here: http://www.happytrails-usa.com/beach.htm

I could go on and on, but I realize you have a short amount of time in San Diego and you have to get back to the real world, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email Kdern@troxelhelmets.com

Cheers,

Karisa
Posted by Karisa Dern, Marketing Manager, Troxel