First time visiting California specifically San Diego area. What should I hit and miss!?

Question

I'll be there in November over veterans day. Not all that intrested in the zoo, I like architecture, fun and exciting tours, museums, etc. I love tasting local foods. Is LA worth the trip or is there enough do?

Answer 1

If you like architecture, Louis Kahn's Salk Institute, at La Jolla, California is a don't miss.

I agree, leave the zoo for the kiddies but experience Balboa park. Bring a sketch book, lots of vernacular details.

Don't forget the Fish Taco, and take in a west coast sunset. Amazing!

Answer 2

Instead of the zoo, go to the museums in Balboa Park "next door." There's an ongoing exhibit at the Natural History Museum that's featuring the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Go to Sea World, too. It's a theme park/marine life zoo. They've got a couple of rides but it's still fun (especially for the kids since there's a game/arcade area in the middle of the park).

Yes, taste the local foods. Our specialty is the fish taco. Go to www.rubios.com and look for local restaurants where you're going to. The fish tacos there are AWESOME....but they have too many calories so just eat one and have a salad on the side.

If you have kids, take em' to Legoland (haven't been there so I can't say what to do there).

It's totally worth the trip from L.A. Heck, I went to L.A. a couple of days ago to see the Huntington Library. If it's worth two hours to drive up to L.A., then it's worth two hours to drive down here to San Diego.

Whatever you do, avoid Tijuana, Mexico like the plague. Although the idea of visiting a foreign country is awesome, this isn't the place to do it. Go to Old Town instead. It has some historical significance (a small, 19th century villa in the middle of the park as well as San Diego's first schoolhouse) as well as good eats. If you're Catholic, there's a Catholic church there, too but I'm not sure what the Mass schedule is.

Answer 3

If you're into ships, there's the Midway museum. Architecture could be satisfied by Balboa Park (and there's a LOT of culture to be had there as well...beautiful museums!). Tour....well there's a fun one called the Old Town Trolley... a little orange bus that drives all over San Diego and gives a narrated tour of the area.

Contact the visitor and convention bureau. Depending upon what you REALLY want, there are literally HUNDREDS of things to do in San Diego...you'd be limited only by interests, money and time.

As for LA...well, that's a whole other ballgame. There is a LOT to do up there too, but usually LA is a destination spot for a specific site...Disneyland, Universal Studios, etc, etc, etc.

Enjoy your visit.

Answer 4

I started to answer this question, and then I realized that every single one of the answers given are true. As a native San Diegan, I can tell you that I could not have said it any better than the people who have already answered your question. The only thing I would add is that the temperatures along the coast in San Diego average the 60's-70's during the day in the summer and the upper 80's-90's and higher inland in the summer. Expect about a 20-degree drop in temperature at night, no matter what time of year you come here, and with that, you will want to bring a lightweight jacket or a warm shirt. We do get that occasional fog and gloom and even "rain" which ranges from light drizzle to heavy downpours. No need to bring an umbrella for the summer time, but do bring a light jacket for evenings. Welcome to San Diego when you get here and have a great time!! Oh one more thing - we have GREAT Mexican food here. Make sure you get some. Any Mexican food stand where there are lots of people standing around or cars is a safe bet, as well as places ending in "ertos" or "olpho's", such as Albertos, Rudolpho's etc. A moderately priced sit-down restaurant with pretty decent Mexican food is El Torito.

Answer 5

Balboa Park is one of my favorite places in San Diego and definitely worth exploring. I don't mean the ZOO here but all the museums, galleries and open spaces of this park. See story below with more details ... Prado Restaurant at the park is a good dining destination there. Get reservations in advance.

Answer 6

I think you'd love Balboa Park. It's full of museums and wonderful historic buildings. Park in any lot and take the free trolley around the park. For more info on all Balboa Park has to offer (including a great restaurant called Prado), visit this site:
http://www.sandiego-romantics.com/balboa-park.html

There is definitely enough to visit in San Diego to keep you busy.

Answer 7

the museum area called balboa park also has spanish style architecure --very nice & relaxing-- art museum, nat hist, etc

if you have time take the train to the la museum area -- la brea tar pits, fantastic art museums & unusual museums like the one w/ miniatures on museum row....

san diego has nice restaurants, when you arrive pick up one of the free restaurant books, but not really local foods -- best mexican food is in old town -- trolley from downtown san diego....best asian food is around kerney mesa area. there are several restaurants by mission bay that serve very fresh cheap seafood

you can go to julian wander around, take a tour of the old gold mine & eat fresh local apple pie. some wineries are in temecula area & hot air ballooning

if you do cross the border to mexico go down to ensenada unless you want the tijuana shopping experience

Answer 8

San Diego Zoo is a must see.

Answer 9

san diego zoo! they also have a couple amusement parks. but l.a is also great. if you go to downtown hollywood. you could spend 2 days there easily.

Answer 10

I think you'd like going to the shipyards