Guidebook for San Diego
Food Scene
Bike or rollerblade from your backyard. Eat overlooks the beach. Great breakfast, lunch and happy hour. Fish Tacos are yummy!
207 locals recommend
World Famous
711 Pacific Beach DrBike or rollerblade from your backyard. Eat overlooks the beach. Great breakfast, lunch and happy hour. Fish Tacos are yummy!
George's at the Cove
1250 Prospect StFine dining and great night life on La Jolla Cove.
A meat lover's paradise - casual place that you order at the window and hang out at cool tables on the back patio. The line gets long so be prepared to wait a bit to order.
162 locals recommend
Carnitas' Snack Shack - North Park
2632 University AvenueA meat lover's paradise - casual place that you order at the window and hang out at cool tables on the back patio. The line gets long so be prepared to wait a bit to order.
Great Seafood love the Tacos and Ceviche! Great value for all the food. 2 tacos, serving of ceviche & a real Mexican coke for less than $20! Portions are very generous with really fresh ingredients.
323 locals recommend
Oscars Mexican Seafood
703 Turquoise StGreat Seafood love the Tacos and Ceviche! Great value for all the food. 2 tacos, serving of ceviche & a real Mexican coke for less than $20! Portions are very generous with really fresh ingredients.
Amazing upscale southern comfort food, great cocktails, and a bluegrass brunch on Sundays. Don't skip the cheddar biscuits! Check out the local celebrity portrait above the bar.
139 locals recommend
Urban Solace & Bar Solace
3823 30th StAmazing upscale southern comfort food, great cocktails, and a bluegrass brunch on Sundays. Don't skip the cheddar biscuits! Check out the local celebrity portrait above the bar.
Wonderful Italian restaurant serving pizza from a traditional wood fired oven. Great outdoor patio. Gets busy, may have to wait, but worth it. Walk around the quaint charming 'hood while waiting.
317 locals recommend
Buona Forchetta - South Park
3001 Beech StWonderful Italian restaurant serving pizza from a traditional wood fired oven. Great outdoor patio. Gets busy, may have to wait, but worth it. Walk around the quaint charming 'hood while waiting.
Il Fornaio Coronado
1333 1st StFine dining and ocean views.
Excellent Mexican and great happy hour with FREE food that will fill you up! In the heart of Old Town. Watch them make fresh home-made tortillas. One of my favorites.
29 locals recommend
Casa Guadalajara
4105 Taylor StExcellent Mexican and great happy hour with FREE food that will fill you up! In the heart of Old Town. Watch them make fresh home-made tortillas. One of my favorites.
Awesome Mexican food in La Mesa East County. Another one of my favorite spots.
32 locals recommend
Casa De Pico
5500 Grossmont Center DrAwesome Mexican food in La Mesa East County. Another one of my favorite spots.
Several locations to include downtown, Del Mar and La Mesa. Great fish tacos.
100 locals recommend
Brigantine Seafood Restaurant
9350 Fuerte DrSeveral locations to include downtown, Del Mar and La Mesa. Great fish tacos.
When in the park visiting museums, taking in a concert at the organ pavilion or just wandering around, stop in for a drink, appetizer or a whole meal at this beautiful restaurant.
126 locals recommend
The Prado at Balboa Park
1549 El PradoWhen in the park visiting museums, taking in a concert at the organ pavilion or just wandering around, stop in for a drink, appetizer or a whole meal at this beautiful restaurant.
This rooftop restaurant is on the flight path to San Diego Airport, and has a great view of downtown. Grab a cocktail and appetizer and watch some planes land! (Dress code = no shorts.)
152 locals recommend
Mister A's
2550 Fifth AveThis rooftop restaurant is on the flight path to San Diego Airport, and has a great view of downtown. Grab a cocktail and appetizer and watch some planes land! (Dress code = no shorts.)
Parks & Nature
This is an awesome place to snorkel and swim around with sea lions and fish. Absolutely stunning views and they have free concerts in the park during the summer on Sunday afternoons. One of my favorite places in the world! It's also a good excuse to spend the day in iconic downtown La Jolla just above the Cove. Free Parking is tough to find so I usually park in a garage for $5-$10.
1327 locals recommend
La Jolla Cove
1100 Coast BlvdThis is an awesome place to snorkel and swim around with sea lions and fish. Absolutely stunning views and they have free concerts in the park during the summer on Sunday afternoons. One of my favorite places in the world! It's also a good excuse to spend the day in iconic downtown La Jolla just above the Cove. Free Parking is tough to find so I usually park in a garage for $5-$10.
One of the most popular beaches in San Diego with great opportunities for surfing, body boarding, kayaking the sea caves, snorkeling, and much more. Check out La Jolla Cove nearby & its downtown area.
184 locals recommend
La Jolla Shores
One of the most popular beaches in San Diego with great opportunities for surfing, body boarding, kayaking the sea caves, snorkeling, and much more. Check out La Jolla Cove nearby & its downtown area.
Great beach for San Diego newbies! Rent a bike and take a ride on the boardwalk. Be sure to stop at Belmont Park and ride the wooden roller coaster, get some frozen yogurt or do a little shopping!
554 locals recommend
Mission Beach
3000 Mission BoulevardGreat beach for San Diego newbies! Rent a bike and take a ride on the boardwalk. Be sure to stop at Belmont Park and ride the wooden roller coaster, get some frozen yogurt or do a little shopping!
Great beach for San Diego newbies! Rent a bike and take a ride on the boardwalk. Be sure to stop at Belmont Park and ride the wooden roller coaster, get some frozen yogurt or do a little shopping! Lots of sight-seeing and fun games and things going on all the time.
700 locals recommend
Pacific Beach
Great beach for San Diego newbies! Rent a bike and take a ride on the boardwalk. Be sure to stop at Belmont Park and ride the wooden roller coaster, get some frozen yogurt or do a little shopping! Lots of sight-seeing and fun games and things going on all the time.
Mission Bay Park is the largest aquatic park of its kind in the country. It consists of over 4,600 acres in roughly equal parts land and water. Mission Bay boasts 27 miles of shoreline, 19 of which are sandy beaches with eight locations designated as official swimming areas. At the west end is a network of channels and islands - a perfect spot for everyone from windsurfers to water- skiers. You can swim, enjoy the sun or rent a boat to explore the thousands of acres of waterways. Mission Bay Park offers boat docks and launching facilities, sailboat and motor rentals, bike and walk paths, basketball courts and playgrounds for children. Step out to the bay from the condo's back yard.
189 locals recommend
Mission Bay
Mission Bay Park is the largest aquatic park of its kind in the country. It consists of over 4,600 acres in roughly equal parts land and water. Mission Bay boasts 27 miles of shoreline, 19 of which are sandy beaches with eight locations designated as official swimming areas. At the west end is a network of channels and islands - a perfect spot for everyone from windsurfers to water- skiers. You can swim, enjoy the sun or rent a boat to explore the thousands of acres of waterways. Mission Bay Park offers boat docks and launching facilities, sailboat and motor rentals, bike and walk paths, basketball courts and playgrounds for children. Step out to the bay from the condo's back yard.
Drive over to Coronado for the day. Walk the beach, rent bikes and take a long trip down the Silver strand. Head to the Hotel del Coronado for a drink in the afternoon. Or just walk around the village and the surrounding residential areas - great old homes - more retired admirals per square mile than anywhere else!
297 locals recommend
Coronado Beach
Drive over to Coronado for the day. Walk the beach, rent bikes and take a long trip down the Silver strand. Head to the Hotel del Coronado for a drink in the afternoon. Or just walk around the village and the surrounding residential areas - great old homes - more retired admirals per square mile than anywhere else!
Nude beach, generally empty except for a few nude men. It is totally safe to walk from Torrey Pines south through Black's beach. Very, very few people.
144 locals recommend
Black's Beach
Nude beach, generally empty except for a few nude men. It is totally safe to walk from Torrey Pines south through Black's beach. Very, very few people.
After a hike up to Torrey Pines Reserves, cool off at the beach below! Nice beaches with lifeguards on duty. Free parking along the road or inside the park with a fee. Great day outing for the entire family.
268 locals recommend
Torrey Pines State Beach
After a hike up to Torrey Pines Reserves, cool off at the beach below! Nice beaches with lifeguards on duty. Free parking along the road or inside the park with a fee. Great day outing for the entire family.
Easiest, non-congested beach access and the historic surf vibe is alive and well here. Boogie board, surf, visit shops
66 locals recommend
Imperial Beach
Easiest, non-congested beach access and the historic surf vibe is alive and well here. Boogie board, surf, visit shops
This strip of land runs between Coronado and Imperial Beach, and is aptly named for its silvery-white sand. Enjoy surfing and jogging, or just a walk at sunset.
47 locals recommend
Silver Strand State Beach
5000 CA-75This strip of land runs between Coronado and Imperial Beach, and is aptly named for its silvery-white sand. Enjoy surfing and jogging, or just a walk at sunset.
Ocean Beach
1850 Ocean Front StAwesome beach to spend your day at!
Drinks & Nightlife
Craft Brewing in San Diego is BIG! Stone is the leader of San Diego craft beer on a national scale and their Bistro and Garden reflect their success.
175 locals recommend
Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station
2816 Historic Decatur RdCraft Brewing in San Diego is BIG! Stone is the leader of San Diego craft beer on a national scale and their Bistro and Garden reflect their success.
Entertainment & Activities
This is a must see and world famous! You can spend days at the San Diego Zoo. I have annual passes to the zoo. That is how much I love it! Don't miss it.
2510 locals recommend
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo DrThis is a must see and world famous! You can spend days at the San Diego Zoo. I have annual passes to the zoo. That is how much I love it! Don't miss it.
Sea World has changed and has become educational. I have not been to the new SeaWorld yet but looking forward to it. It is minutes from the condo. You can bike to Sea World.
1754 locals recommend
SeaWorld San Diego
500 Sea World Dr.Sea World has changed and has become educational. I have not been to the new SeaWorld yet but looking forward to it. It is minutes from the condo. You can bike to Sea World.
Amazing Aquariums and world famous. Educational and great for families, groups, couples, etc. Very close to get to from the condo.
366 locals recommend
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
2300 Expedition WayAmazing Aquariums and world famous. Educational and great for families, groups, couples, etc. Very close to get to from the condo.
Only about 30-45 minutes away in Carlsbad, this is a great educational amusement park for Lego lovers. Even if you are an adult Lego lover, you must see this park.
1249 locals recommend
LEGOLAND California
One Legoland DrOnly about 30-45 minutes away in Carlsbad, this is a great educational amusement park for Lego lovers. Even if you are an adult Lego lover, you must see this park.
A must go to if you are in California for the first time! World Famous and very close. 1.5 hours drive to Anaheim. You can take the train. Train stations leave from Old Town or Solana Beach.
3085 locals recommend
Disneyland Park
1313 Disneyland DrA must go to if you are in California for the first time! World Famous and very close. 1.5 hours drive to Anaheim. You can take the train. Train stations leave from Old Town or Solana Beach.
Shopping
Great Shopping Mall East La Jolla. Very close drive. Movie Theater and everything you need.
381 locals recommend
Westfield UTC
4545 La Jolla Village DrGreat Shopping Mall East La Jolla. Very close drive. Movie Theater and everything you need.
Very unique shopping Mall in the heart of downtown. Will remind you of Dr. Seuss. Very close and fun. Walk to Gaslamp downtown as well. Enjoy three hours of parking with free validation that you get right after you park.
241 locals recommend
Westfield Horton Plaza
324 Horton PlazaVery unique shopping Mall in the heart of downtown. Will remind you of Dr. Seuss. Very close and fun. Walk to Gaslamp downtown as well. Enjoy three hours of parking with free validation that you get right after you park.
Fashion Valley
7007 Friars RdGreat Mall in Hotel Circle.
Arts & Culture
Balboa Park is filled with amazing museums and beautiful scenery. You don't even need to go into a museum to enjoy this park. Museums are wonderful and the Old Globe is a theater with great plays/shows all year long. The Zoo is also located by the Park. Check the schedule.
3290 locals recommend
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is filled with amazing museums and beautiful scenery. You don't even need to go into a museum to enjoy this park. Museums are wonderful and the Old Globe is a theater with great plays/shows all year long. The Zoo is also located by the Park. Check the schedule.
Getting Around
The Trolley is wonderful. Nearest station is in Old Town or Downtown. Take the Surfliner (go up the coast all the way to LA) or Amtrak (further destinations). Trolley will go all the way to the border or East County.
32 locals recommend
Trolley / Bus-Transit Center
The Trolley is wonderful. Nearest station is in Old Town or Downtown. Take the Surfliner (go up the coast all the way to LA) or Amtrak (further destinations). Trolley will go all the way to the border or East County.