SAN DIEGO

CALIFORNIA’S FAVORITE PLAYGROUND

By Jenny Peters

Come for the sun. Stay for the fun! There’s a reason that San Diego often turns up as one of the top five USA vacation destinations that Americans and foreign visitors count as a bucket list desire, for this famed Southern California city indeed does have it all. Let’s start with the sun, as San Diego’s climate is truly outstanding, with little rain, perhaps a bit of fog, but mostly sunny and mild all year round. Mix in its beautiful harbor, pretty beaches, top-notch restaurants, and lively cultural scene for a place that never disappoints travelers.

There are definite must-see stops on any visit to San Diego, beginning with Balboa Park. This 1,200-acre park has a bit of everything, but our favorite place to start is in the gardens. And this being sunny SoCal, you’ll find 130 varieties of roses blooming in January (and most of the rest of the year) in the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, giant cacti and other succulents in the Kate O. Sessions Cactus Garden, and butterflies galore in the Zoro Garden. Also, be sure to search out the lovely Palm Canyon, with 58 species of palms, and don’t miss the photo op at the Botanical Building and Lily Pond, a truly gorgeous spot.

There are so many museums in the park you may need a few days to see them all, ranging from the San Diego Museum of Art to the Natural History Museum, the Air and Space Museum, Centro Cultural de la Raza, and even the Comic-Con Museum (and many others). The Old Globe Theater and Starlight Bowl are also in Balboa Park, where theater and concerts enthrall and even the famed Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater.

Special Places

Next is Old Town, where the indigenous Kumeyaay had a settlement, which they retreated from when the Spanish (and Mexicans) arrived; Old Town represents those Spanish/Mexican settlements. With many buildings constructed in the early 1800s, it’s a fascinating link to the city’s origins. Plus, some of the best Mexican restaurants you’ll ever try are found here, including Café Coyote, which has been in business for over 30 years and consistently rated as one of San Diego’s best.

Then there are the beaches, from OB (Ocean Beach) to Coronado Island, the home of the famed Hotel del Coronado, a special place to vacation since 1888. Check those out for fun in the sand and on land, too, and don’t miss Black’s Beach if you’re inclined to ride the waves or wander about in your birthday suit, as a section of Black’s is a nude beach. Remember to use sunscreen all over any SD beach!

A classic since 1937 is Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the horse track Bing Crosby co-owned and drew his famous Hollywood pals down the coast in droves to enjoy the spectacle. July marks the season’s opening, and everyone dresses up and struts their stuff until late September when it ends. We love the trackside tables with excellent views, good food, and comfortable seating, and we plan to see the Breeders Cup 2024 here, to be run here November 1-2.

More Discoveries

While the San Diego harbor has been part of this place forever—and the reason that the U.S. Navy has made the city one of its fundamental bases—a recent arrival to the waterfront has everyone in town buzzing. That’s the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park along the Embarcadero, the state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue at the water’s edge. The beautiful venue seats up to 10,000 people, with dining catered by Chef Richard Blais, and is now the home of the San Diego Symphony. The shell also hosts music acts from all genres in its long season, lasting from March to September. In addition, you can join a yoga class held at the Shell on select Saturdays.

Stay at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, with its comfortable rooms overlooking the shell, drink and dine at their scenic Odysea waterfront lounge, then meander down the Embarcadero (the three-mile walking path along the harbor) just a few blocks to the venue. Keep on going, and you’ll end up at Seaport Village, where many waterfront restaurants and shops exist. Or meander to the east right into the famous Gaslamp Quarter, another longtime neighborhood with much to see and do, including Petco Park, the MLB San Diego Padres home.

Be sure to find time to dine at Lumi, Chef Akira Beck’s Japanese-Peruvian rooftop restaurant, one of the must-try places in the Gaslamp. His fascinating Omakase offerings will delight your senses, and the lively outdoor atmosphere is a delight both during the day and into the evening. And, of course, the weather for rooftop dining in San Diego is fabulous at any time of year.

For more information about visiting San Diego go to www.sandiego.org