What to do in San Diego?
September 26, 2023 5:44 PM Subscribe
My parents and I are going to San Diego for a week in mid-November. What should we definitely not miss while we're there?
- We will have a car, but are not averse to walking
- We already have a zoo day planned
- We like museums, historical stuff, weird/spooky/quirky stuff, and interesting/tasty (though ideally not too expensive) food
- Bonus points for recommendations for good local donut shops (my dad's favorite thing to visit while traveling)
If you are at all into maritime/nautical stuff, and possibly even if you aren't, the Maritime Museum is tiptop. Several restored ships from different historical periods.
posted by bricoleur at 7:00 PM on September 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by bricoleur at 7:00 PM on September 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you like spooky stuff, the Whaley House is good.
posted by corey flood at 7:08 PM on September 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by corey flood at 7:08 PM on September 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
I came here to say the Maritime Museum! Very nice collection of ships, and the gift store has fun stuff. Then while you're in the area, The Fish Market has nice casual seafood on the water and really excellent smoked fish - when we used to live in L.A. we'd bring a cooler to pack up and take home.
posted by LadyOscar at 7:58 PM on September 26, 2023
posted by LadyOscar at 7:58 PM on September 26, 2023
The Birch aquarium in La Jolla is excellent. Hodad's Burgers are delicious, and not just because we were jetlagged.
Touring the USS Midway (aircraft carrier) was also amazing, but I did happen to be touring it with an actual naval historian, so it may have been a more intense tour than most people get. Still pretty damn awesome and we were there the whole day.
posted by jb at 8:43 PM on September 26, 2023
Touring the USS Midway (aircraft carrier) was also amazing, but I did happen to be touring it with an actual naval historian, so it may have been a more intense tour than most people get. Still pretty damn awesome and we were there the whole day.
posted by jb at 8:43 PM on September 26, 2023
We already have a zoo day planned
Take a stroll a bit south to main part of Balboa Park once you're done, if you have the energy. I don't know that any of the museums that occupy the buildings are truly must-see, and the botanical shade structure is probably still going to be under construction at that point (maybe a little more on the must-see side and free), but just walking around that bit is interesting. Personally I like the model railroad museum, but I understand that not pushing everybody's buttons. Spanish Village, just south of the main zoo entrance, has a bunch of local artist spaces. If you go a bit further south to the international houses near the Air and Space Museum, they may have some cultural stuff going on, but that's more likely on a weekend.
posted by LionIndex at 8:52 PM on September 26, 2023
Take a stroll a bit south to main part of Balboa Park once you're done, if you have the energy. I don't know that any of the museums that occupy the buildings are truly must-see, and the botanical shade structure is probably still going to be under construction at that point (maybe a little more on the must-see side and free), but just walking around that bit is interesting. Personally I like the model railroad museum, but I understand that not pushing everybody's buttons. Spanish Village, just south of the main zoo entrance, has a bunch of local artist spaces. If you go a bit further south to the international houses near the Air and Space Museum, they may have some cultural stuff going on, but that's more likely on a weekend.
posted by LionIndex at 8:52 PM on September 26, 2023
If you go up the hill from Old Town, there's Pioneer Park, which doesn't really seem all that spooky until you see the cluster of gravestones and the bronze plaque listing all the people buried there, since it used to be a Catholic graveyard. The headstones were moved at some point (without moving the bodies) and dumped in a ditch by another graveyard to allow it to turn into a park. Years later, the trolley line to the eastern suburbs was routed through the ditch and people wondered what all the gravestones were doing there.
posted by LionIndex at 9:02 PM on September 26, 2023
posted by LionIndex at 9:02 PM on September 26, 2023
The J A Cooley Museum is worth a weird visit. Ten bucks to see a small museum of Model T era cars, several different cameras, typewriters, and home appliances across the 20th century, and other random weird stuff. It's a good place to spend an hour or so, though kids might only find it entertaining for 15 minutes.
Fletcher Cove Beach Park is a nice beach if you're in the area, and it has plenty of food options within walking distance.
posted by AlSweigart at 9:27 PM on September 26, 2023
Fletcher Cove Beach Park is a nice beach if you're in the area, and it has plenty of food options within walking distance.
posted by AlSweigart at 9:27 PM on September 26, 2023
Torrey Pines state beach - both the beach and the state (?) park above it. Super gorgeous. This will be a bit of a drive but IMHO worth it. You can keep going and hit up Del Mar which is a rich person beach and nice.
Ocean Beach - doesnt have the full flavor anymore, but it was the "funky hippy" beach. There's a Hodad's there too! This will also be a drive, but not as bad as TP.
The "hip" areas are North Park (biggest), South Park (best) - these will be adjacent-ish to Downtown but not walkable.
La Jolla overall - another rich people beach/town but IMHO better than Del Mar because of the beaches/cliffs/view. There's a beach just for seals (at least it should be, but humans are dumb). The art museum there is nice, it has a great book store.
God I miss Mexican food. There's so much good Mexican food and so many different types/styles. Pokez, El Zarape (on Adams), Santanas on Morena Blvd, JV's on Morena Blvd, TJ Oyster Bar, fish tacos at Mitch's Seafood, Casa Guadalajara for touristy fun food, I even miss dang Rubios which is a fish taco chain, Ponces, the list goes on. Enjoy!
posted by fillsthepews at 11:56 AM on September 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Ocean Beach - doesnt have the full flavor anymore, but it was the "funky hippy" beach. There's a Hodad's there too! This will also be a drive, but not as bad as TP.
The "hip" areas are North Park (biggest), South Park (best) - these will be adjacent-ish to Downtown but not walkable.
La Jolla overall - another rich people beach/town but IMHO better than Del Mar because of the beaches/cliffs/view. There's a beach just for seals (at least it should be, but humans are dumb). The art museum there is nice, it has a great book store.
God I miss Mexican food. There's so much good Mexican food and so many different types/styles. Pokez, El Zarape (on Adams), Santanas on Morena Blvd, JV's on Morena Blvd, TJ Oyster Bar, fish tacos at Mitch's Seafood, Casa Guadalajara for touristy fun food, I even miss dang Rubios which is a fish taco chain, Ponces, the list goes on. Enjoy!
posted by fillsthepews at 11:56 AM on September 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
I came to say KOREAN FOOD in SD and la jolla public beaches. Also, when going to or leaving la jolla, drive to the top of Torrey Pines state park and walk down to the beach - id suggest a little before sunset - it's lovely!
Have fun!
posted by esoteric things at 6:46 PM on September 27, 2023
Have fun!
posted by esoteric things at 6:46 PM on September 27, 2023
November will be a bit chilly and I sense you would appreciate a walkthrough of the Hotel Del Coronado, which has been renovated and derenovated and rerenovated many times but has plenty of historical cred. And when you walk out it has a backyard which is the lovely wide beach at Coronado. You can pay big bucks to park there but easy enough to pay a meter or even free a few blocks away. You can walk through the hotel which is lovely and has plenty of shops.
In the past few years I’ve become a fan of Verbatim Books in North Park which is a lovely quirky fun space and bookstore and is around the block from Artelexia. There are some food places nearby but none that I would consider must-eat, though I love Lucha Libre Tacos. Last time I was there they were selling delicious paletas, which were great. A bit cold for ice cream treats in November though.
San Diego and the beach are inextricable. You can walk on the OB pier (it was recently reopened but needs to be replaced) and Crystal Pier but not Scripps Pier, but walking adjacent to all are great and free during the day.
In terms of donuts I have some recommends but can take or leave. Donut Bar is great and downtown but limited hours. Barrio Donas in Clairemont makes great and creative donuts but their location is in a nondescript area I can’t strongly recommend. As much of SoCal does though, there are donut places everywhere.
Liberty Station combines a lot of what you’re looking for, the Public Market has good food, there are some small museums, and there’s nice walking all around. LS was the former Navy training center repurposed to public use and it is great.
If you have more specific questions about cuisine or the area you’re staying in please do feel free to ask!
posted by artlung at 4:58 PM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
In the past few years I’ve become a fan of Verbatim Books in North Park which is a lovely quirky fun space and bookstore and is around the block from Artelexia. There are some food places nearby but none that I would consider must-eat, though I love Lucha Libre Tacos. Last time I was there they were selling delicious paletas, which were great. A bit cold for ice cream treats in November though.
San Diego and the beach are inextricable. You can walk on the OB pier (it was recently reopened but needs to be replaced) and Crystal Pier but not Scripps Pier, but walking adjacent to all are great and free during the day.
In terms of donuts I have some recommends but can take or leave. Donut Bar is great and downtown but limited hours. Barrio Donas in Clairemont makes great and creative donuts but their location is in a nondescript area I can’t strongly recommend. As much of SoCal does though, there are donut places everywhere.
Liberty Station combines a lot of what you’re looking for, the Public Market has good food, there are some small museums, and there’s nice walking all around. LS was the former Navy training center repurposed to public use and it is great.
If you have more specific questions about cuisine or the area you’re staying in please do feel free to ask!
posted by artlung at 4:58 PM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Tasty - Old Town Mexican Cafe (homemade tortillas…)
Donuts - good use of the car is to visit VGs in Cardiff by the Sea. The cinnamon twist and buttermilk are two faves. (Closed Mondays).
What area are you staying in? San Diego is very very big and not really considered walkable.
posted by gryphonlover at 6:56 PM on September 26, 2023 [3 favorites]