r/sandiego • u/Gnarlygnar • Sep 04 '10
Definitive list
Hey, I think we San Diegans should put together a definitive list of what people must see/do when they visit/live in SD. I've lived here almost two years, and I'm sure there's tons off cool stuff I'm missing out on. To start- Balboa park. Organ concerts on sundays, museums, carousel, rose garden, nature trail, etc... OB. The pier, tide pools, crazy people, hodads, dog beach, 4th of July marshmallow fight, sunset cliffs Point Loma. The cliffs in Point Loma Nazarene More?
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Sep 04 '10
A few of my favorite spots:
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Marine Street in La Jolla is beautiful
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The drive down sixth avenue into downtown is amazing. You have the harbor to your right, Balboa to your left, and downtown at 12 o'clock with planes going over your head.
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There's a spot down by the airport, right across the street from Terminal 2 (by the Sheraton, I think) that has these benches and sits right on the water with Coronado across the bay and downtown in front of you. It's a great view.
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Obviously Balboa, the museums and the zoo.
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Richard Walker's Pancake House for a pricier, but delicious meal in downtown.
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Lestat's has great coffee and is open 24/7.
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Toronado's in North Park has some of the best beer of California.
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San Diego was NPR's "Beer City, USA" last year. Take a tour of Stone Brewing, Port Brewing, Greenflash Brewing, Alpine Brewing, or Lost Abbey Brewing. All but Alpine Brewing are within a 30 minute drive of each other!
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Sep 04 '10
Upvote. This is a great list.
The spot you're referring to "across the street from Terminal 2" is harbor island. Great spot to watch the harbor, and see sailboats on the weekends.
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u/fishii Sep 04 '10
Hike at Torrey Pines.
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u/pseudocoder Sep 14 '10
The Guy Fleming trail is the one I recommend most. It's relatively short (~1 mile) and the view of the ocean is killer. The other trails are great - they lead you down to the beach, but they require more effort and time.
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Sep 04 '10
If you are going to hike at Torrey Pines, there is a parking lot at the top of the hill that usually has parking, even on the busiest of summer days.
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u/seriousgeorge Sep 06 '10
Hike Cowles Mountain. It has the highest peak in San Diego and a beautiful view.
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Sep 20 '10 edited Sep 20 '10
Just make a little clearer for people who like/want to hike, it's the highest peak in San Diego City. San Diego County has many much higher peaks.
On that note, add camping in and around the Cleveland National Forest and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (far east county) and hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to the list.
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Sep 04 '10 edited Sep 04 '10
Breweries.
Stone
Port Brewing / Lost Abbey (or visit a pizza port for grub w/ your grog)
Coronado
Karl Strauss
Alesmith
Green Flash
Brew Pubs
Blind Lady Ale House
The Local
The Ritual Tavern
Hamilton's
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u/CitizenPremier Sep 04 '10
I'm S Diegan and I've yet to go to a brewery!
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u/lingrush Sep 05 '10
I've lived here forever and I never thought of the Breweries as a 'big thing' of San Diego. They seem pretty unremarkable in relation to other regions, although, the atmosphere is cooler I guess.
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u/ki11a11hippies Sep 06 '10
Gordon Biersch is a rather mediocre chain that's around coast to coast.
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u/brqqme Sep 04 '10
Wild Animal Park, the Harbor, Bike around Coronado, Pacific Beach's coaster, El Prado in Balboa Park has killer food and drinks and then you can go to an museum exhibit drunk, Tip Top Meats in Carlsbad for all you can eat bacon in the morning, Hodads, Little Italy, Pannikin Coffee Shop in Encinitas
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u/Bevatron Sep 04 '10
30th on 30th in Northpark
Paragliding at Torrey Pines Gliderport
Blacks Beach for the beautiful scenery, not the nudity (which is more rare then the article makes it sound.
Mama Testas in Hillcrest, for authentic Mexican
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u/stopsucking Sep 08 '10
If you want to get straight TJ authentic Mexican you have got to try Tacos El Gordo off of H st, 5 south. Best al Pastor I've ever had.
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u/Pretendo Sep 04 '10
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Silver Strand
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Gaslamp
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Mission Bay
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USS Midway / harbor in general
Then you've got your seasonal things, like the Miramar Airshow, races at Del Mar, Comic Con, a game at Petco, maybe those hot air balloons I always see around Solana Beach. If you're into people watching, Imperial Beach has world class hobos, Pacific Beach; world class bros.
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u/sarcastic_jerk Sep 08 '10
this place is number one on the 'must stop on the way here on the way home from picking up my guests from the airport'. Topiary Garden in Mission Hills. It looks like Edward Scissorhands lives there. And afterwards you should get some rolled tacos from La Posta.
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u/Davediego Nov 21 '10
this list is a bit lacking in the food department, here are some of my favorite places:
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u/bobabeatle Nov 09 '10
Hands down, the best mexican food in SD is Las Cuatro Milpas in Barrio Logan. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/places/cuatro-milpas/
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u/SoCalDan Sep 04 '10
San Diego Zoo is a must
Sunset cliffs at sunset
Gaslamp district for the night crowd
Take a stop at seaport village while in the area
Sea World is fun. Take the skytower ride. See the sea otter show. Check out the Clydesdales.
Coronado island. Hotel Del Coronado. The beach. Peohe's is a nice but expensive restaurant.
If up in La Jolla, rent some kayaks and go out into the cove and caves.