San Diego Places to Go

 

Antiquing		Especially these past few years, Antiquing has become very popular. People search all over for collectible items and antique furnishings alike. Perhaps the younger generation has learned to appreciate what their ancestors had. On Adams Avenue in the Kensington area, Ocean Beach, Carlsbad, Leucadia, and Ramona, one can find numerous small, privately-owned shops. But aside from the family antique shops, San Diego is home to many antique malls each hosting at least 85 vendors! From glassware to furniture, estate to vintage jewelry, anything and everything can be found in these malls. A few popular antique malls include ones in Old Town, Ocean Beach, Lemon Grove, El Cajon, San Marcos and Oceanside.
Baja California	(800) 522-1516 www.bajatravel.com	Baja California, just south of San Diego, consists of many popular tourist spots across the border. To name a few: Tijuana, Ensenada, Pureto Nuevo and Rosarito Beach all possess multiple attractions including the Jai alai games, sightseeing, shopping, gulf and ocean fishing as well as a wide selection of restaurants and nightclubs. If you’d prefer to not drive and have to get Mexican insurance, San Diego’s Trolley stops just north of the border creating easy walking access to Tijuana.
Cabrillo National Monument	1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr., San Diego (619) 557-5469	The Cabrillo National Monument sits at the end of Point Loma and overlooks the entrance to San Diego Bay. In 1542, Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriques Cabrillo landed in California, marking the initial European discovery of the state. The visitor’s center and monument border the harbor and coastline spanning from the Mexican border to La Jolla. The area consists of tide-pools, Coastal Defense (a former army radio station), a historic lighthouse, and standard programs exhibiting the marine life (such as the California gray whale), as well as the history of the area.
Gardening	Quail Botanical Gardens: (760) 436-3036 San Diego Master Gardener Association: (858) 694-2860	Green thumbs aching, fruits and vegetables that San Diego’s climate can offer, there are a variety of spring and summer shows for their productions of flora and fauna. One popular show is the Del Mar Fair Show where gardeners display their larger flowers.
Gaslamp Quarter	Fifth Ave. between Market St. and Harbor Dr. San Diego (619) 223-4692	Victorian style buildings and 16 blocks of historic gas lamps create the Gaslamp Quarter. The area has over 40 unique restaurants, often including live music and entertainment, as well as a wide variety of shopping channels open late into the night, creating a very exciting nightspot. In September, the quarter’s focal point, the Horton Grand Hotel, becomes home to the three-day San Diego Street Scene festival. Bystanders can view over 100 performing acts on outdoor stages as well as enjoy food and live entertainment.
Harbor Tours	California Cruisin’: (619) 296-8000; (800) 44-YACHT (9-2248) Hornblower Cruises & Events: (619) 686-8700; (619) 686-8715 - Reservations	If a unique way to view the city, bay, and harbor activities is what you are searching for, Harbor Tours can help you do just that! Along with your tour, you can chose from a variety of events such as dinner dance cruises, special event cruises, and even winter whale watching!
Hotel del Coronado	1500 Orange Ave., Coronado (619) 435-6611	The Hotel del Coronado, one of the area’s oldest and most photographed attractions, has been historically labelled the “castle by the sea.” The hotel, built in 1888, has been featured in famous Hollywood films such as, “Some Like it Hot.” The “Hotel Del”, as it is also commonly referred to, has lured many interesting guests including presidents, royalty and many other rich and famous people to it’s five star resort, and houses many shops as well as 10 elegant restaurants.
La Jolla	From I-5 Ardath Ave. to Torrey Pines Rd.	Contrary to its current state, in the past, La Jolla was a quiet beach area. Now the little seaside town is booming with lavish multi-million dollar seaside homes, trendy art galleries, fine cuisine restaurants, as well as hotels and quaint boutiques. It is a perfect area for tourists and sightseers.
Little Italy		What was once home to San Diego’s growning tuna fishing industry and the Italian immigrants who manned its boats, is now downtown’s Little Italy, complete with inviting European charm. Down India Street and Kettner Boulevard, the neighborhood’s main thoroughfares, tourists and locals alike encounter a wide variety of restaurants, cafes deli markets, bakeries, shops and art galleries that make a visit here an Old-World encounter. Little Italy is complete with some of the city’s finest traditional Italian restaurants, delis and bakeries. Other culinary attractions include the artful “American Native” cuisine of Indigo Grill; the fun classic fisherman’s dive, The Waterfront; and the British Princess pub, perfect for a pint of ale and an order of traditional fish and chips. Little Italy also is a haven for local artists and their work. All around this exciting neighborhood visitors can walk through gallery showrooms, art supply stores, photography shops and unique home furnishing establishments. Popular annual culture events include the Art Wak in April, where guests can take self-guided tours through the work environments of local artists, the Sicilian Street Festival in May and the 13th annual Little Italy Precious Fiesta in October, with its exciting street painting festival, Italian food and craft booths and three stages of live entertainment among other activities. For more information on Little Italy, visit www.littleitalysd.com -- San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau
Military	U.S. Naval Surface Shop, Public Information Office: (619) 437-2735	Coming from a naval family or not, the U.S. Navy officers still offer naval surface ship tours of guided missile cruisers, guided missile destroyers, guided missile frigates, destroyers, amphibious assault ships and amphibious landing ships.
San Diego Area Missions	Junipero Serra Museum 2727 Presidio Dr., San Diego (619) 297-3258 Mission San Antonio de Pala Pala Mission Rd., Pala (760) 742-1600 Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala 10818 San Diego Mission Rd., San Diego (619) 281-8449 Mission San Juan Capistrano Two blocks west of Hwy. 74 and I-5, San Juan Capistrano (714) 248-2048 Mission San Luis Rey de Francia 4050 Mission Ave., Oceanside (760) 757-3651 Mission Santa Ysabel 23013 Highway 79, Santa Ysabel (760) 765-0810	San Diego's Spanish heritage is far from lost; the area’s beautiful missions serve as a preservation of the culture. Mission San Diego de Alcala provides services daily in the original chapel of Father Junipero Serra. The biggest of 21 California locations, Mission San luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside frequently holds weekend affairs. Close to Palomar Mountain is Mission San Antonia de Pala which, along with Mission Santa Ysabel near Julian, even today still serves as a place of worship for local Native Americans.
S.D. Military Towns		As one of the largest military complexes in the free world, San Diego has 11 navy, Marine and Coast Guard installations, including Camp Pendleton Marine Base, Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, and Naval Station San Diego, which accomplished Navy Times’ top honor as the 2004 Best Base in the US. Two aircraft carriers-- the USS Ronald Reagan and USS Nimitz-- 50 surface warfare ships and six submarines are also home ported in San Diego’s gorgeous, native dock. Furthermore, the USS Midway, a custom-built aircraft carrier, now calls San Diego home and is the location of the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum. San Diego’s notable military presence and success have awed visitors and residents alike for years, from the U.S. Navy’s distinguished aviation successes in Coronado in the early 1900’s, including the very first successful sea-plane flight in 1911, to the founding of Top Gun, the amazing elite Navy Fighter training school formerly located at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar.
Seaport Village	849 W. Harbor Dr., San Diego (619) 235-4013, 235-4014	This is a gorgeous area of San Diego providing waterfront dining and shopping complexes that depict the century-old harborside. The area includes more than 75 unique and individual shops and boutiques, galleries, 12 eateries and four major restaurants. Another interesting side attraction is the horse-drawn carriage rides that are available around the area. Located near the downtown area and many major hotels, Seaport Village is a wonderful choice for most tourists.

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