Californvacation
January 18, 2011 11:42 AM Subscribe
I'm planning a weekend in California, and I need advice.
Basically, I just want to be somewhere warm for a few days (Jan 28-30) and relax. I don't have any agenda beyond that, but I want to make sure I don't get bored.
My basic requirements are: easy access to beach, bars, restaurants, clothes shopping [not Old Navy], meaning walking distance or good mass transit.
So, I haven't even picked a city, but I'm thinking San Diego. Ideally, I'd also like to get in a sky dive, so recommendations for that are greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your help!
Basically, I just want to be somewhere warm for a few days (Jan 28-30) and relax. I don't have any agenda beyond that, but I want to make sure I don't get bored.
My basic requirements are: easy access to beach, bars, restaurants, clothes shopping [not Old Navy], meaning walking distance or good mass transit.
So, I haven't even picked a city, but I'm thinking San Diego. Ideally, I'd also like to get in a sky dive, so recommendations for that are greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your help!
Response by poster: Nice... I'm planning on spending less than $750 for flight + hotel
posted by mpls2 at 11:49 AM on January 18, 2011
posted by mpls2 at 11:49 AM on January 18, 2011
Can you mention where you're coming from? The impact of a plane ticket on your budget is going to change a lot depending on whether you're coming from, say, Seattle vs Buffalo.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:51 AM on January 18, 2011
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:51 AM on January 18, 2011
As a more-or-less San Diego native, I second the suggestion of the Hotel Del as a place to stay if you've got the money.
As for activities, the San Diego Zoo is (in my biased opinion) the world's finest. There's also a more nature-preserve-y Wild Animal Park up in northern San Diego County (I live up near there, it's about a 45-minute drive from Coronado). Also nearby to the Zoo is Balboa Park, which has a lot of really awesome museums.
I don't know much about skydiving, but there is a pretty robust hot-air balloon scene in San Diego, so that might also be an interesting option.
posted by Tknophobia at 11:53 AM on January 18, 2011
As for activities, the San Diego Zoo is (in my biased opinion) the world's finest. There's also a more nature-preserve-y Wild Animal Park up in northern San Diego County (I live up near there, it's about a 45-minute drive from Coronado). Also nearby to the Zoo is Balboa Park, which has a lot of really awesome museums.
I don't know much about skydiving, but there is a pretty robust hot-air balloon scene in San Diego, so that might also be an interesting option.
posted by Tknophobia at 11:53 AM on January 18, 2011
Yes, the Hotel Del Coronado is a nice if you have the means and is right on one of SD's better beaches. There's some shopping (not Old Navy) nearby, but it is a decent walk to the ferry landing to catch the ferry to San Diego proper. In downtown/gaslamp areas there's better shopping (and even an Old Navy I think) and access to the Trolley for more more shopping (definitely a few Old Navy stores on the Green Line).
La Jolla has some nice hotels close to the beach and has some tony shopping areas within walking distance. The Trolley doesn't go to any beaches so you have to taxi/bus around or do like the natives and get a car.
Skydiving is nearby but not via mass transit. You may wish to have a car for some or all of the time you're here.
I cannot guarantee the weather will be warm. Yesterday it was 80ºF, only the mid 70s today. Usually this time of year is an arctic mid-60s with lows in the high 50s.
posted by birdherder at 11:55 AM on January 18, 2011
La Jolla has some nice hotels close to the beach and has some tony shopping areas within walking distance. The Trolley doesn't go to any beaches so you have to taxi/bus around or do like the natives and get a car.
Skydiving is nearby but not via mass transit. You may wish to have a car for some or all of the time you're here.
I cannot guarantee the weather will be warm. Yesterday it was 80ºF, only the mid 70s today. Usually this time of year is an arctic mid-60s with lows in the high 50s.
posted by birdherder at 11:55 AM on January 18, 2011
Response by poster: I cannot guarantee the weather will be warm.
I'm coming from Minneapolis, so...
posted by mpls2 at 11:57 AM on January 18, 2011
I'm coming from Minneapolis, so...
posted by mpls2 at 11:57 AM on January 18, 2011
Nice... I'm planning on spending less than $750 for flight + hotel
Depending on where you're from, once you buy the ticket, you're not going to have much for the hotel. Even dumpy hotels far from the beach will be expensive this time of year.
posted by birdherder at 12:00 PM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Depending on where you're from, once you buy the ticket, you're not going to have much for the hotel. Even dumpy hotels far from the beach will be expensive this time of year.
posted by birdherder at 12:00 PM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I've priced out some flight+hotel packages on Orbitz any many come in around $700, so that's where my number come sfrom
posted by mpls2 at 12:02 PM on January 18, 2011
posted by mpls2 at 12:02 PM on January 18, 2011
With that budget coming from Minneapolis, you might want to consider Couch Surfing.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:02 PM on January 18, 2011
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:02 PM on January 18, 2011
Not quite as warm as San Diego but the Santa Cruz/Monterey area is experiencing a fantastic winter warm spell right now. I spent most of the weekend in shorts, went for a long mountain bike ride and didn't freeze at all.
There's also plenty of sky diving in the area and our beaches are lovely too (though the water is, uhhh, brisk).
And it is our off season so your dollar will probably go a bit further up here than down in San Diego.
posted by fenriq at 12:05 PM on January 18, 2011
There's also plenty of sky diving in the area and our beaches are lovely too (though the water is, uhhh, brisk).
And it is our off season so your dollar will probably go a bit further up here than down in San Diego.
posted by fenriq at 12:05 PM on January 18, 2011
(though the water is, uhhh, brisk)
Fair warning, this is true pretty much everywhere in California. Even the water in the San Diego area will be brisk.
posted by Tknophobia at 12:14 PM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Fair warning, this is true pretty much everywhere in California. Even the water in the San Diego area will be brisk.
posted by Tknophobia at 12:14 PM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I cannot guarantee the weather will be warm. Yesterday it was 80ºF, only the mid 70s today. Usually this time of year is an arctic mid-60s with lows in the high 50s.
Heh. I think we're a bit spoiled. Even a couple of weeks ago when it was "freezing" here I went to the beach and there were lots of people there (probably tourists, I just went there to snap some photos). No one was laying out in a bikini or anything, but it was still pleasant.
Most of the folks I know who skydive drive up to Temecula or even Riverside County. Not sure why, though. It's probably cheaper.
posted by Thoughtcrime at 12:43 PM on January 18, 2011
Heh. I think we're a bit spoiled. Even a couple of weeks ago when it was "freezing" here I went to the beach and there were lots of people there (probably tourists, I just went there to snap some photos). No one was laying out in a bikini or anything, but it was still pleasant.
Most of the folks I know who skydive drive up to Temecula or even Riverside County. Not sure why, though. It's probably cheaper.
posted by Thoughtcrime at 12:43 PM on January 18, 2011
Most of the folks I know who skydive drive up to Temecula or even Riverside County. Not sure why, though. It's probably cheaper.
It's also probably partly that Temecula and parts north/east (towards Hemet and such) are the few remaining "open spaces" areas in the San Diego/Riverside area. Used to be that Temecula was what Hemet is now - very out of the way, rural, etc. But things keep expanding out that direction.
posted by Tknophobia at 12:49 PM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's also probably partly that Temecula and parts north/east (towards Hemet and such) are the few remaining "open spaces" areas in the San Diego/Riverside area. Used to be that Temecula was what Hemet is now - very out of the way, rural, etc. But things keep expanding out that direction.
posted by Tknophobia at 12:49 PM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've priced out some flight+hotel packages on Orbitz any many come in around $700, so that's where my number comes from
Scanning the list of hotels Orbitz offers from MSP to SAN during that time period, most tend to be in Mission Bay, which technically, isn't the ocean itself. But some of the hotels are nice and right on the bay (that is, no waves -- but the water might be a few degrees warmer -- and no direct view of sunsets over the water unless you're on a high floor room... some places are bayfront and face east so you have delightful views of the distant mountains and 5 freeway). From those places, it isn't easy to get to places like the Zoo, the beaches, shopping areas and skydiving off in Jamul on mass transit. So a car would be necessary (be careful some of the hotels charge a shitload to park your car, especially the major chains and the ones located downtown). Or plan on spending time here planning your trips on the bus. The bus can take you to the Zoo and beaches and whatnots, but not directly. Some of the hotels will offer not-free transport to major attractions as well which would be cheaper than a taxi or rental car.
posted by birdherder at 12:53 PM on January 18, 2011
Scanning the list of hotels Orbitz offers from MSP to SAN during that time period, most tend to be in Mission Bay, which technically, isn't the ocean itself. But some of the hotels are nice and right on the bay (that is, no waves -- but the water might be a few degrees warmer -- and no direct view of sunsets over the water unless you're on a high floor room... some places are bayfront and face east so you have delightful views of the distant mountains and 5 freeway). From those places, it isn't easy to get to places like the Zoo, the beaches, shopping areas and skydiving off in Jamul on mass transit. So a car would be necessary (be careful some of the hotels charge a shitload to park your car, especially the major chains and the ones located downtown). Or plan on spending time here planning your trips on the bus. The bus can take you to the Zoo and beaches and whatnots, but not directly. Some of the hotels will offer not-free transport to major attractions as well which would be cheaper than a taxi or rental car.
posted by birdherder at 12:53 PM on January 18, 2011
As pretty much a San Diego native, I'll say that Coronado has some of my favorite beaches. However, it is VERY touristy. You might want to spend some money on a rental car or a cab to get you off the island and over to some nearby areas. Feel free to meta-mail me with any specific questions.
posted by fillsthepews at 1:28 PM on January 18, 2011
posted by fillsthepews at 1:28 PM on January 18, 2011
I'm from Norcal, and have to say we don't fit your needs, the further south you go the better a chance of having good beach weather. As a bit of a more adventuresome alternative to hotels (which might be pricy) you can try AirBnb and rent someones house. This may be cheaper considering you're in an "off" season.
posted by bitdamaged at 1:53 PM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by bitdamaged at 1:53 PM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just did a quick search on AirBnb and found this for $80 a night and This for $65per night
posted by bitdamaged at 1:56 PM on January 18, 2011
posted by bitdamaged at 1:56 PM on January 18, 2011
Not the Bay Area. It's not cold here, but if you're going to get on a plane and everything I'd head further south.
posted by madcaptenor at 2:40 PM on January 18, 2011
posted by madcaptenor at 2:40 PM on January 18, 2011
Right now it's 80 degrees and sunny in LA. No guarantee that will hold till then, though, as this is also the time of year when cold and rain come.
But the beaches were full of people sunbathing, biking, etc yesterday (specifically in the South Bay: Manhattan/Hermosa/Redondo Beach).
posted by wildcrdj at 2:48 PM on January 18, 2011
But the beaches were full of people sunbathing, biking, etc yesterday (specifically in the South Bay: Manhattan/Hermosa/Redondo Beach).
posted by wildcrdj at 2:48 PM on January 18, 2011
San Diego. Take the caravan tour through the Wild Animal park that will allow you to hand feed the rhinos and giraffes up close, as you see how they live up close.
posted by The ____ of Justice at 2:49 PM on January 18, 2011
posted by The ____ of Justice at 2:49 PM on January 18, 2011
Bah, I should have previewed after I edited. You know what I'm saying though, right?
posted by The ____ of Justice at 2:50 PM on January 18, 2011
posted by The ____ of Justice at 2:50 PM on January 18, 2011
I'm an LA native. I've skydived. I've been up and down the coast a few times.
So I would like to point out that close to the beach and skydiving are very far apart. Most of the skydiving in Southern California at least, is very inland. So Temecula, Riverside, are all cities that are at least 50 miles east of the coast. There is not going to be any easy or non-expensive way to get there unless you have access to a car. Like if you happened to have a friend in the area drive you there or you rent a car. Otherwise, there are virtually no options of any transportation to get to where you want.
For the record, I skydived at Skydive Elsinore. I've known many people skydive there and loved it, including myself. However I knew someone which photographer that jumped with her had passed away (no foul play, for some reason he didn't release a parachute and they did not fail). So yeah, FYI.
While the Elsinore skydive is nice, there are even prettier and nicer places to skydive, but they are nowhere close to the other things you desire -- a combination of great weather/beach/bars/restaurants/shopping.
posted by xtine at 5:40 PM on January 18, 2011
So I would like to point out that close to the beach and skydiving are very far apart. Most of the skydiving in Southern California at least, is very inland. So Temecula, Riverside, are all cities that are at least 50 miles east of the coast. There is not going to be any easy or non-expensive way to get there unless you have access to a car. Like if you happened to have a friend in the area drive you there or you rent a car. Otherwise, there are virtually no options of any transportation to get to where you want.
For the record, I skydived at Skydive Elsinore. I've known many people skydive there and loved it, including myself. However I knew someone which photographer that jumped with her had passed away (no foul play, for some reason he didn't release a parachute and they did not fail). So yeah, FYI.
While the Elsinore skydive is nice, there are even prettier and nicer places to skydive, but they are nowhere close to the other things you desire -- a combination of great weather/beach/bars/restaurants/shopping.
posted by xtine at 5:40 PM on January 18, 2011
Most of the skydiving in Southern California at least, is very inland.
This I can't comment on, but for a skydiving-like (-ish) experience, there's the Torrey Pines Gliderport, where you can paraglide right over the La Jolla coast (it's beautiful) for about $150.
That said, if you're looking for a cheap getaway, be advised that San Diego is s p r e a d o u t and you'll either have to shell out for a rental car or be confined to a smallish area. And if you want somewhere warm, your best bet is either Hawaii or South Florida.
posted by kittyprecious at 6:50 PM on January 18, 2011
This I can't comment on, but for a skydiving-like (-ish) experience, there's the Torrey Pines Gliderport, where you can paraglide right over the La Jolla coast (it's beautiful) for about $150.
That said, if you're looking for a cheap getaway, be advised that San Diego is s p r e a d o u t and you'll either have to shell out for a rental car or be confined to a smallish area. And if you want somewhere warm, your best bet is either Hawaii or South Florida.
posted by kittyprecious at 6:50 PM on January 18, 2011
Some place warm -- we spent Christmas at Palm Springs. $50/night for a 3 star Hilton. It's not the beach or skydiving, but you get everything else. Can't say about the Public Transit but downtown was very walkable.
posted by notned at 9:21 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by notned at 9:21 AM on January 19, 2011
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posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:44 AM on January 18, 2011