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Post by craftmepink on Jun 15, 2016 22:59:12 GMT
My friend and I are visiting San Diego, CA in August. I'm so excited!! I've never been. We're going to stay for about 5 days. So far, we want to go to the beach and explore downtown San Diego. I've done some research and there are SO many beaches to choose from.
How's the weather like in August? I've been looking for hotels near the beach but it's quite pricey. Is downtown San Diego close to one of the beaches? As in a 15 minute drive or so?
Any must see attractions that we have to do while we're in San Diego?
Thanks in advance!
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Post by freecharlie on Jun 15, 2016 23:01:53 GMT
If you want to be near the beach, stay on the beach. Have you looked at vrbo or airbnb?
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Post by padresfan619 on Jun 15, 2016 23:06:28 GMT
The weather can be hot hot hot in August or it can randomly decide to rain or be gray for days. It really depends on storm systems coming from the south.
The closest beach to downtown San Diego is going to be Coronado. You have to cross a long, tall bridge to get to it but it is worth it. Parking can be difficult so if you can Uber or Lyft I would recommend that. If you go there I would suggest Coronado Brewing Co. for food.
You can also go to Mission and Pacific Beach, the crowd at PB is younger college aged and the crowds at MB are usually families. You should also check out Balboa Park and Sunset Cliffs. As long as you have a car or access to Uber you can get to just about anything.
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smginaz Suzy
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Jun 15, 2016 23:11:09 GMT
If you're willing to stay a bit north of San Diego, Hilton Garden Inn in Carlsbad is right across a 2-land street (with a traffic light) on the beach, and the rates are generally pretty decent. I also like Cape Rey but that tends to be more spendy. Close to a beach (5 min) is the Doubletree in Del Mar. We've stayed there a few times because of the breakfast buffet (mmm, bacon!!) and proximity to a dog beach. We liked to drive there from AZ with our dogs so they could go off leash at the beach. It's not off-leash all year round, IIRC, but we planned for the seasons when it was.
A favorite SD stop for me is Point Loma tide pools and Cabrillo National Monument.
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Post by deafpea on Jun 15, 2016 23:31:41 GMT
My family just went there 2 weeks ago! We visited the Mormon Battalion Historic site (free), and La Jolla Cove. We planned to go to Point Loma but it was closed for a Memorial Day event so that's why we went to La Jolla Cove instead. We ate lunch at Rubio's--which was founded in San Diego. On the recommendation of Peas here, we had planned to go to the Blue Water Fish Market but it was sooo crowded we didn't. Next time we go we'll go to those two places (Blue Water Fish Market and Point Loma).
Merilee
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jun 15, 2016 23:31:49 GMT
If you're a zoo person, the obvious answer is the San Diego Zoo. In north county there is the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly called the Wild Animal Park) that we used to go to when my sister lived in San Diego. I always loved going to La Jolla and Del Mar when we were visiting. If you want to see where I was born, go to the Balboa Naval Hospital!  |
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Grom Pea
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Post by Grom Pea on Jun 15, 2016 23:59:28 GMT
Personally as a downtown I don't think San Diego is all that great. Unless you're specifically going to go to bars and want to be able to walk back to your hotel, I don't recommend staying downtown. Staying by the beach can be expensive so many stay in hotel circle and drive everywhere. If you can swing it I recommend staying close to a beach and there's going to be a lot more local culture there than downtown. I may be biased because I lived in Beacon Hill in Boston before moving here, but Boston is a city to get excited about and San Diego is all about the beaches.
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seaexplore
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Post by seaexplore on Jun 16, 2016 0:01:20 GMT
If you like beer hit up Stone Brewery in Escondido and Ballast Point off Mira Loma and 15.
There are TONS of wineries to the east out towards Poway and Escondido.
We like to park at the Mission Bay parking lot and walk the path up to Garnet and then up Garnet to either Zen 5 sushi or Fred's (Taco Tuesday ROCKS there!).
Sushi on the Rock in La Jolla is also good. As is Karl Strauss.
Ocean Beach is nice. There is a breakfast place there called Shades.
We like to eat breakfast at The Broken Yolk. One is on Garnet and there are a few others.
Pizza at Oogi's (lots of local places) or Pizza Port (Carlsbad)
Hit up Sea Port Village and there is a decommissioned battleship (I can't remember, Midway?) you can check out.
I love Balboa Park. It's got an artist courtyard that is really neat to walk and check out peoples art/buy something to take home. There are LOTS of museums there too. The park itself is really a nice place to wander and check out.
There's TONS to do!
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TankTop
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Post by TankTop on Jun 16, 2016 0:08:25 GMT
My must do items...
Beach at Coronado with a walk through the hotel del for ice cream. We like to eat at McP's for a late lunch
Spend a morning at Point Loma exploring the tide pools and lighthouse. Hit the brown bag deli for sandwiches after
Old Town at night for tourist fun and a good walk about. Several good Mexican resteraunts here.
Visit Kansas City BBQ by the Coronado Bridge. It is the bar from Top Gun. Then walk through Seaport Village for souvenirs.
Fish Tacos on the pier at Imperial Beach at sunset to watch the surfers.
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Grom Pea
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Post by Grom Pea on Jun 16, 2016 0:15:16 GMT
My must do items... Beach at Coronado with a walk through the hotel del for ice cream. We like to eat at McP's for a late lunch Spend a morning at Point Loma exploring the tide pools and lighthouse. Hit the brown bag deli for sandwiches after Old Town at night for tourist fun and a good walk about. Several good Mexican resteraunts here. Visit Kansas City BBQ by the Coronado Bridge. It is the bar from Top Gun. Then walk through Seaport Village for souvenirs. Fish Tacos on the pier at Imperial Beach at sunset to watch the surfers. Isn't Kansas city bbq across from the convention center downtown? I don't know of a location in Coronado. I've never been there but the original burned down, looking at the web site they must have rebuilt. |
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Post by mikklynn on Jun 16, 2016 0:57:32 GMT
Eat at Croce's linkI don't know if you are old enough to remember musician Jim Croce - Bad, Bad, LeRoy Brown? His widow has a restaurant in the Gaslamp District that is wonderful. The food was delicious and the atmosphere great. Visit the USS Midway. DH & I really enjoyed the San Diego Zoo, too. The Maritime Museum is on the water with old sailing vessels and a Russian submarine. That was cool to go into. |
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Post by kernriver on Jun 16, 2016 1:33:05 GMT
There are 2 lovely art museums in Balboa Park.
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May 18, 2024 7:26:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2016 1:58:29 GMT
I wouldn't recommend staying in downtown. The airport is right there, as is the port, and it can get noisy.
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Post by zztop11 on Jun 16, 2016 2:14:59 GMT
Go to LaHoya. It's a beautiful town on the water. Definitely worth it!!!
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Post by bc2ca on Jun 16, 2016 2:50:17 GMT
I'd stay in La Jolla with the beach, shopping and great restaurants all within walking distance of a number of hotels. La Jolla Shores is right on the beach, but there are plenty of options. To be near the beach just make sure your hotel is west of the I5. Definitely check out AirBnB or HomeAway for apartment rentals.
Cornado beach was rated in the Top 5 of the US a couple of years ago (I haven't looked at current ratings and it is probably still at the top) and is gorgeous, but I think Cornado can be explored in a day so wouldn't want to base myself there because getting from there to anywhere else around San Diego can take time.
It can get hot in August and even a little humid if there are hurricanes off the Baja penisula, but the beach towns rarely get higher than the mid 80s.
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Post by imkat on Jun 16, 2016 5:14:45 GMT
USS Midway is interesting.
Definitely stop someplace for an Acai bowl.
Hodad's for hamburgers.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jun 16, 2016 23:05:30 GMT
Go to LaHoya. It's a beautiful town on the water. Definitely worth it!!! Also known as La Jolla!  |
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Post by 2peafaithful on Jun 16, 2016 23:13:40 GMT
Did you do a past search on here for San Diego? I know there have been some good ones. I have a great list but I seem to have misplaced it. I  San Diego. |
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Post by katlady on Jun 16, 2016 23:14:05 GMT
If you do decide to stay downtown, I would check the Padres schedule at Petco Park because that would cause some traffic issues that you would need to plan around. Overall, downtown can be convenient. The trolley can take you to Old Town or Fashion Valley/Mission Valley shopping areas. There are lots of restaurants in downtown San Diego. Little Italy is nice. And you are close to the bay. Just that traffic can be a bitch.
There are a few hotels in the Mission Bay/Point Loma areas that are pretty close to the water. The Hilton comes to mind, but I don't know if that is out of your price range.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jun 17, 2016 0:11:58 GMT
My must do items... Beach at Coronado with a walk through the hotel del for ice cream. We like to eat at McP's for a late lunch Spend a morning at Point Loma exploring the tide pools and lighthouse. Hit the brown bag deli for sandwiches after Old Town at night for tourist fun and a good walk about. Several good Mexican resteraunts here. Visit Kansas City BBQ by the Coronado Bridge. It is the bar from Top Gun. Then walk through Seaport Village for souvenirs. Fish Tacos on the pier at Imperial Beach at sunset to watch the surfers. Isn't Kansas city bbq across from the convention center downtown? I don't know of a location in Coronado. I've never been there but the original burned down, looking at the web site they must have rebuilt. I was wondering the same thing  I went to the original when I lived in SD 20+ yrs ago but had also heard it burnt down  |
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Grom Pea
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Post by Grom Pea on Jun 17, 2016 3:00:47 GMT
Isn't Kansas city bbq across from the convention center downtown? I don't know of a location in Coronado. I've never been there but the original burned down, looking at the web site they must have rebuilt. I was wondering the same thing I went to the original when I lived in SD 20+ yrs ago but had also heard it burnt down There's a story on their web page, apparently it burned down in 2008, but was rebuilt later that year. I am rarely over by the convention center so I didn't realize that all happened 8 years ago! How time flies, looks like it's back and still successful. |
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Post by craftmepink on Jun 17, 2016 23:57:00 GMT
Thanks so much everyone for the great ideas! We are definitely going to try to get a hotel by the beach based on your suggestions.
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leeny
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Post by leeny on Jun 18, 2016 1:32:32 GMT
We loved taking the hop on hop off trolley all day long. We were given a narrated tour, plus we didn't have to drive or find parking! It circles around the area all day into some of the most popular places. We had stayed in Carlsbad, went to Legoland, and the next day took the commuter train into San Diego and caught the trolley a block or two away in Old Town.
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raindancer
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Post by raindancer on Jun 18, 2016 2:51:57 GMT
I love Balboa park, the USS Midway, sailing, Coronado, and I never miss hitting up World of Curry in PB. Best little hole in the wall food ever.
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Post by houston249 on Jun 18, 2016 3:02:20 GMT
A great place to find information about San Diego is www.localwally.com written by a guy who lives in San Diego. If you are military or anyone in your party is, the North Island Lodge is on the beach and would be worth looking into. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2016 3:05:26 GMT
Unfortunately, Croce's has closed: [Croce's] ]http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/jan/26/croces-park-west-bankers-hill-closes/[/a]
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San Diego. 
I went to the original when I lived in SD 20+ yrs ago but had also heard it burnt down 
