San Diego for three short days... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

tropicdiver · 09-29-2004, 07:25 PM

I'm going to be bayside downtown San Diego from late Wednesday nite to early Sunday morning in mid November (daughter's boyfriend is graduating from Marine boot camp and I'm going off on my own from time to time, I'm sure). I'm not going to rent a car, but I'd like to make sure to see some of the sites that I can catch a trolley or whatever the local mass transit system provides.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

amonkie · 09-29-2004, 11:29 PM

Mission Bay always caught my eye, or anything by UCSan Diego. I'm sure there's a public transit running to both those areas.

jackroberts · 09-29-2004, 11:32 PM

1. SD Zoo. Beautiful botanical collection, it is like a walk in a huge garden, with some canyons and hills if you like exercise. Plus there are animals there. It is very easily accesible from downtown. You will like it much better if you go on a weekday, then it won't be so crowded with tourists (this is the perspective of a local). You could spend more than one day there, but you won't want to. You will get tired of walking. I would recommend you try to get there when they open in the morning. The animals tend to be livelier, and the blacktop that you will be walking on and next too will not be so hot.

2. Presidio Park and the Serra museum, overlooking Old Town. Easily accesible from downtown. Old Town itself is quite touristy IMHO, therefore I would skip that if I were you. The park meanders and there are two seperate hills and a canyon, you can do some nice exploring/walking in a smallish area.

3. Cabrillo Nat'l Monument, on Point Loma. One of the best views in
SD. It is significantly further than the other two places but it should not be too hard to get out there. You definitely want to use public transportation. You can do some walking there as well, if you like. There are tide pools in the lower section of the park, the walk down that road involves quite a steep and long hill however and you might want to take a pass on that. They close earlyish, you can check the internet probably and find out a time. So you need to allow for that when planning your intinerary.

4. Here is another spectacular view: Atop the Hyatt which is near the convention center and next to "Seaport Village", another tourist trap. There is a lounge at the top--you can go up and look without buying anything, no problem. You will be able to walk there easily.

5. If you are the touristy type and are really not interested in much activity, you can get that type of experience at Seaport Village (lots of cutesy shops and some restaurants, absolutely no historic value whatsoever), many restaurants in Old Town (kind of touristy), the Gaslamp District (swinging hot spots and restaurants, a short walk from your place, OK if you want to dine out somewhere but mostly pricey).

6. Sea World is nearby, but do you really want to knock yourself out trudging around that place all day long? It is interesting, a little touristy, and I think you would find you will be worn out at the end of the day. (I mean that in a bad way.) It is sort of "fake scientific", ie. they try to promote it as a serious learning experience but most of all it is just for amusement.

7. Leave yourself some time to cruise around the MCRD, it is a beautiful place.

That ought to be way more than enough to keep you occupied.

Good luck!!

-Ever- · 09-30-2004, 07:39 PM

Go surfing!

jackroberts · 10-09-2004, 02:44 PM

You're welcome.

zeeznutz · 10-09-2004, 10:12 PM

6. Sea World is nearby, but do you really want to knock yourself out trudging around that place all day long? It is interesting, a little touristy, and I think you would find you will be worn out at the end of the day. (I mean that in a bad way.) It is sort of "fake scientific", ie. they try to promote it as a serious learning experience but most of all it is just for amusement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

But SEA WORLD has beer school along with free samples and if thats not enough you can buy beer in 20 oz cups . Nothing like a nice buzz before you go stick your fingers in the sea lion tank

jackroberts · 10-12-2004, 09:13 AM

saigon1965 · 10-16-2004, 10:33 PM

Tijuana...

jenjen · 10-19-2004, 11:27 PM

Take a trip 20 minutes north to La Jolla - check out the downtown area on the beach, lots of cool shops and old town feel. Also check out the convention center area. The convention center is huge and is on the waterfront - great view of the bridge over the bay.

09-29-2004, 07:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
tropicdiver Amazed Location: Austin, Texas	San Diego for three short days... I'm going to be bayside downtown San Diego from late Wednesday nite to early Sunday morning in mid November (daughter's boyfriend is graduating from Marine boot camp and I'm going off on my own from time to time, I'm sure). I'm not going to rent a car, but I'd like to make sure to see some of the sites that I can catch a trolley or whatever the local mass transit system provides. Any suggestions would be appreciated. __________________ Bob Life is short. Break some rules.

09-29-2004, 11:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	Mission Bay always caught my eye, or anything by UCSan Diego. I'm sure there's a public transit running to both those areas. __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

09-29-2004, 11:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
jackroberts Upright	1. SD Zoo. Beautiful botanical collection, it is like a walk in a huge garden, with some canyons and hills if you like exercise. Plus there are animals there. It is very easily accesible from downtown. You will like it much better if you go on a weekday, then it won't be so crowded with tourists (this is the perspective of a local). You could spend more than one day there, but you won't want to. You will get tired of walking. I would recommend you try to get there when they open in the morning. The animals tend to be livelier, and the blacktop that you will be walking on and next too will not be so hot. 2. Presidio Park and the Serra museum, overlooking Old Town. Easily accesible from downtown. Old Town itself is quite touristy IMHO, therefore I would skip that if I were you. The park meanders and there are two seperate hills and a canyon, you can do some nice exploring/walking in a smallish area. 3. Cabrillo Nat'l Monument, on Point Loma. One of the best views in SD. It is significantly further than the other two places but it should not be too hard to get out there. You definitely want to use public transportation. You can do some walking there as well, if you like. There are tide pools in the lower section of the park, the walk down that road involves quite a steep and long hill however and you might want to take a pass on that. They close earlyish, you can check the internet probably and find out a time. So you need to allow for that when planning your intinerary. 4. Here is another spectacular view: Atop the Hyatt which is near the convention center and next to "Seaport Village", another tourist trap. There is a lounge at the top--you can go up and look without buying anything, no problem. You will be able to walk there easily. 5. If you are the touristy type and are really not interested in much activity, you can get that type of experience at Seaport Village (lots of cutesy shops and some restaurants, absolutely no historic value whatsoever), many restaurants in Old Town (kind of touristy), the Gaslamp District (swinging hot spots and restaurants, a short walk from your place, OK if you want to dine out somewhere but mostly pricey). 6. Sea World is nearby, but do you really want to knock yourself out trudging around that place all day long? It is interesting, a little touristy, and I think you would find you will be worn out at the end of the day. (I mean that in a bad way.) It is sort of "fake scientific", ie. they try to promote it as a serious learning experience but most of all it is just for amusement. 7. Leave yourself some time to cruise around the MCRD, it is a beautiful place. That ought to be way more than enough to keep you occupied. Good luck!! Last edited by jackroberts; 09-29-2004 at 11:37 PM..

09-30-2004, 07:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Go surfing! __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

10-09-2004, 02:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
jackroberts Upright	You're welcome.

10-09-2004, 10:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
zeeznutz Upright	6. Sea World is nearby, but do you really want to knock yourself out trudging around that place all day long? It is interesting, a little touristy, and I think you would find you will be worn out at the end of the day. (I mean that in a bad way.) It is sort of "fake scientific", ie. they try to promote it as a serious learning experience but most of all it is just for amusement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ But SEA WORLD has beer school along with free samples and if thats not enough you can buy beer in 20 oz cups . Nothing like a nice buzz before you go stick your fingers in the sea lion tank

10-16-2004, 10:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
saigon1965 Upright Location: Kalifornia	Tijuana...

10-19-2004, 11:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
jenjen Tilted Location: Oregon	Take a trip 20 minutes north to La Jolla - check out the downtown area on the beach, lots of cool shops and old town feel. Also check out the convention center area. The convention center is huge and is on the waterfront - great view of the bridge over the bay.