Having moved here from Virginia almost 7 years ago I’ve been discovering San Diego each year and here’s a list I’ve put together of my favorite things to do:
1. San Diego Harbor Yacht Club – Charter a yacht for a private 4 hour sail around the San Diego bay. This is our favorite thing to do when we have visitors in town. It’s pricey but costs about the same as a day at the Zoo, Sea World, etc. and you can bring your own cooler of food and drinks. www.harboryc.com/
2. Coronado – Visit the Hotel Del Coronado or wait until winter time and ice skate by the ocean amidst palm trees w/ the hotel as your backdrop. We did this our first winter here & really enjoyed it. www.coronado.ca.us/
3. Temecula Winery tour – Tour the wineries and enjoy great wines at Wiens (my personal favorite), Ponte, South Coast and Lioness Wineries and many others. South Coast and Ponte have excellent restaurants too. www.temeculawines.org/
4. San Diego Zoo – Spend a day at the world famous zoo but be prepared there’s lots of walking involved so if you have young kids take a stroller and if you bring elderly folks you will want to tour on the bus. www.sandiegozoo.org/
5. San Diego Zoo Safari Park – Located in Escondido it’s a great companion to the Zoo and I personally think it’s better for young kids and elderly folks because you can do the whole tour on a Tram. www.sdzsafaripark.org/
6. Seaport Village – Enjoy a day strolling by the water, shopping and having a nice meal. www.seaportvillage.com/
7. Sea World – Spend the day touring the park, riding the rides (yes, there are a few) and watching the shows. My favorite shows are “Pets Rule” and “Shamu”. www.seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-sandiego/
8. Balboa Park – Love, love, love it! Balboa Park is a cultural Mecca with museums, an excellent restaurant, the Prado, and the absolutely amazing Spanish Village. For San Diego residents, Balboa Park has Museum Month where they offer free entry each month into different museums so be sure to check the schedule. www.balboapark.org/
9. Spanish Village – I could spend a whole day just touring the village but then again, I’m an artsy girl. The Spanish Village is a village of art studios with fine art, jewelry, handmade clothing, you name it if it’s creatively made, it’s here. Love, love, love it…have I said this before?
www.spanishvillageart.com/
10. Ruben H. Fleet Science Museum – A wonderful venue for kids with science exhibits and the IMAX Theatre. It’s located in Balboa Park. www.rhfleet.org/
11. Farmer’s Markets – There are several around San Diego each week offered on different days but the two I frequent because they’re close to home are:
• Farmer’s market at the Bernardo Winery: Fridays from 9am-noon. This is an excellent venue set among village shops and Café Merlot, which is one of my favorite San Diego restaurants for lunch (they’re not open for dinner). The market has fresh cut flowers, clothing & jewelry vendors, fresh veggies, etc. www.bernardowinery.com/
• Escondido farmer’s market: Tuesdays from 3-6pm. Stroll along Grand Avenue, visit local shops then hit the farmer’s market for a bite of food from local vendors, fresh cut flowers, fresh veggies, etc. www.localharvest.org/escondido-farmers-market-M4629
12. Take a hike at Torrey Pines State Reserve in La Jolla – Absolutely breathtaking. This is one of my favorite all time spots in San Diego! www.torreypine.org/activities/hiking-trails.html
13. The Aubrey Rose Tea Room – Visit La Mesa and enjoy lunch…this is a very girly thing to do so be prepared because the Tea Room is lacy and flowery but oh so much fun! They even have hats and boas you can wear while dining. www.theaubreyrosetearoom.com/
This is my list for now but I may have to compile a Part II as I discover more adventures in San Diego. If you have a favorite thing to share or a favorite place to eat, email me with the details so I can check it out katieholmes@san.rr.com
