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Just wondered if San Diego was know for anything in particular or if there’s anything really worth doing there as will be landing there before heading off to Los Angeles. (Had to book San Diego as that was the only place could get an avios flight). Wondered if there’s anything there that say Los Angeles doesn’t have? Don’t have a huge amount of time for this trip overall so would only stay if there’s something well worth seeing?
If you like film locations there’s Hotel Del Coronado.
Great climate, better air quality than LA, nice Baseball stadium if you’re there May to September, Harbour tours. Decent walking city.
Balboa Park. Great for a wander and contains multiple museums where there should be at least one of interest.
Gas Lamp district if you want to party, especially noisy rooftop ones.
Excellent beer and food choices.
Agree about the hotel del coronado for maybe an afternoon tea but not to stay, worth the walk to the island.
San Diego is much like any other US city, just in a great setting and good climate. The gas lamp quarter is no different to the restaurant/club area of anywhere else. The coast north of SD from La Jolla to Encinitas has state parks like Torrey Pines and lots of smaller towns with comfortable places to stay and good restaurants, plus great coast walks. Coronado hotel is quite a schlep from the city…
@JDB, can you do a (short) post listing the places you haven’t visited?!
@JDB, can you do a (short) post listing the places you haven’t visited?!
My guesses
Skegness
Magaluf
Laganas
Playa Den Bossa
La Grande-Motte
Rimini
MaliaGenerally a bit cheaper than LA, with the added advantage of being a lot easier to get around. Although heard a few comments from uber drivers about ex-SF tech guys moving down and pushing prices up.
Went in March, it was lovely during the day but temps dropped noticeably at night. Also been in the summer and obviously a lot warmer but never felt too uncomfortable.
As above Balboa park was great and the zoo was well worth spending a day wandering around.
We enjoyed La Jolla, even if most people seemed about 70. The coastal part up to OC is lovely.
Also met a local who said his grandparents emigrated from Pontypridd and that we pronounced it wrong (my wife is from Pontypridd) – we still laugh about it .
Second Balboa Park and Museums and Torrey Pines. We enjoyed the zoo, a couple of days north staying near Del Ray and walking along the beaches. Even my daughter enjoyed an afternoon at the Intrepid Museum where we spoke to many knowledgeable Vets. The IC was right on the waterfront so didn’t need the car we had for wandering around town. The train from centre of town goes up the coast too.
San Diego has plenty to offer and well worth a couple USS Midway is a great tour, well worth a couple of days. Agree with everything said already – the zoo & USS Midway were particular highlights.
Ok let’s try that again in English.
San Diego has plenty to offer and well worth a couple of days. Agree with everything said so far. USS Midway and the zoo were our particular highlights (the zoo is generally considered to be an ethical one so a guilt-free visit).The Safari park, outside San Diego, is also part of the Zoo organistion, and known for it’s serious conservation efforts. Some of the area’s wineries are fairly nearby.
What time of year will you be visiting? What sort of things do you like about LA?
Intrepid Museum
That’s what happens when post quickly late at night – Wrong city! But still worth a visit too! But the Midway was very interesting.
I’m from San Diego 🙂 it’s a lovely city, as people have already mentioned places like Balboa Park, world famous Zoo and further out the Safari park, lots of beaches and coastal areas are fun to explore with restaurants, shops etc. Driving is easy, sometimes traffic but nowhere near as bad as LA. Most British tourists I’ve spoken to since agree that LA is a bit of a sh*thole – traffic is horrible and the sights aren’t as wonderful as you imagine them to be. SAN airport is also a lot nicer than LAX and right in the city, Little Italy with great restaurants and the marina are right there. Please try some Mexican food, I like Don Carlos taco shop in La Jolla, and Casa Guadalajara in Old Town for the full ambiance and margarita experience. Enjoy 🙂
@Richie, I would add:
Faliraki
Ayia Napa
San Antonio (possibly both in Ibiza and Texas)
@Froggee, you may be right, Butlins was always the high-end option in the 70s and 80s. Round our way you were lucky if you got a long weekend at Pontins in Prestatyn, when you checked in you had to buy a card for the leccy, which invariably ran out just when you were cooking tea or having a shower!I’m from San Diego 🙂 it’s a lovely city, as people have already mentioned places like Balboa Park, world famous Zoo and further out the Safari park, lots of beaches and coastal areas are fun to explore with restaurants, shops etc. Driving is easy, sometimes traffic but nowhere near as bad as LA. Most British tourists I’ve spoken to since agree that LA is a bit of a sh*thole – traffic is horrible and the sights aren’t as wonderful as you imagine them to be. SAN airport is also a lot nicer than LAX and right in the city, Little Italy with great restaurants and the marina are right there. Please try some Mexican food, I like Don Carlos taco shop in La Jolla, and Casa Guadalajara in Old Town for the full ambiance and margarita experience. Enjoy 🙂
I totally agree. Much nicer vibe than LA! I love James Coffee and there are some great sushi places in the downtown area.
Day trip to Tijuana! Another stamp in your passport!
Day trip to Tijuana! Another stamp in your passport!
Ughh no, especially if solo. One of the worst travel mistakes I’ve ever made.
Yes you can get the tram down to the border. But if you want to walk across it and get the bus back it’s at your own risk and will take hours.
Day trip to Tijuana! Another stamp in your passport!
Ughh no, especially if solo. One of the worst travel mistakes I’ve ever made.
Yes you can get the tram down to the border. But if you want to walk across it and get the bus back it’s at your own risk and will take hours.
My comment was tongue in cheek as I know it’s a bit of a hellhole now.
We did drive across in a Lincoln Towncar in 1986 when our oldest was a toddler. It wasn’t anywhere near as developed then of course – I remember signboards for ‘Instant Divorce’ and we had a lovely local lunch before driving back.
@QC whether it was or not I wanted to post a warning 🙂
The stench walking across the bridge over the river was incredible. Between there and town it was a mix of burned out buildings and billboards offering cheap prescription drugs and dentistry. When I got to town it felt sketchier than anywhere I’d ever been (wednesday morning at 11am). Waited for the bus back for nearly an hour, and then US immigration halted the bus with only 6 passengers on it for nearly 2 hours at the border and then let us walk off and across the border without a word.
Wow, thank you for all the replies everyone ☺️. This is amazing, definitely convinced me to stay in San Diego for a little bit then. Never thought I’d get so many responses so much appreciated and has given me plenty of inspiration on this.
I definitely like the sound of just exploring and seeing some of the sights like Bilbao park and maybe a museum. Thanks AllSpent a few days in SD with the family summer 2022. Stayed at the Indigo in the Gaslamp district which was nice and well maintained. Ate out for breakfast at the Mission https://themissionsd.com/ which I would recommend. Generally we found food to be better quality in SD than in comparison to elsewhere on our trip (SFO, LAS, LA). Lajolla was great, did a sea kayak tour and snorkeling safari. it’s a nice place to hang out with kids.
We then moved on to LA which traumatised my family with a variety of hellish experiences such as visiting the hollywood walk of fame and finding a used cockring unde rmy hotel bed (Not mine…) not eh plus side the hotel and a great service recovery so I won’t name them.
@Richie, I would add:
Faliraki
Ayia Napa
San Antonio (possibly both in Ibiza and Texas)Possibly been to Malia though – I thought of @JDB when I saw this review
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g616162-d619820-r496647066-Ilios_Malia_Apartments-Malia_Crete.html“With the Illinois Malia, Thomson have created a crucible of teenage debauchery.”
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