Fast Times at San Diego High

Our Local Expert Says:

You can easily devote at least a whole day to wandering around this huge urban park. Package deals are available for museum entrances, and can include the San Diego Zoo, at the north end of the park, as well.

Description:

The world-renowned San Diego Zoo is only one part of this magnificent 1,200-acre city park that was built for the 1915-1916 Panama-California Expo. California's Hispanic roots were celebrated as the city erected breathtakingly ornate Spanish-style buildings, which were eventually permanently restored. So much more than just an urban park, it is home to the zoo, 14 museums, a pipe organ pavilion, botanical gardens, international cultural centers, theaters and performance venues, an antique carousel, off leash dog parks, sports fields, hiking trails, a tennis center, municipal pool, and a miniature-scale train. The December Nights Celebration is held the first weekend of December annually and this popular event is an opportunity for the whole family to enjoy pageants, plays, food and music all in the tradition of the Christmas holidays.

Our Local Expert Says:

If the weather is fine, opt to sit on the garden patio!

Description:

Graciously housed in the House of Hospitality, this venue has hosted myriad weddings, parties and intimate dinners. Casual elegance with a Spanish-fusion flavor is on the menu in the heart of Balboa Park. Zesty seafood paella, wild mushroom risotto, or adobo braised pork will all have your taste buds shouting "olé." The Chicken Milanese is richly flavored with garlic and sage, served with rosemary-infused potatoes with arugula in a tomato concasse. If you want plainer food, try the Prado Cheeseburger. The luscious dessert tray varies daily.

Description:

Grab a patio table in the courtyard of this lovely old house and enjoy the people-watching; indoors you'll find faux antiques, appropriately weathered for a lived-in feel. The pastries are fine, but it's the light meals -- breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- that are best. Breakfast includes omelets and waffles, while the rest of the fare is posted on a chalkboard menu. Try the turkey lasagna, chicken Dijon, tuna melt, or one of several hearty entree salads. Exotic iced and hot coffee drinks include the Emerald Isle (espresso, white chocolate, and mint). Other locations are in La Jolla at 1010 Prospect St. (tel. 858/459-1187); in Point Loma at 1018 Rosecrans St. (tel. 619/222-6852); and in the College area near San Diego State University, at 5900 El Cajon Blvd. (tel. 619/286-8434).

Our Local Expert Says:

Newly renovated, this venue is perfect for outdoor weddings or special events with its scenic ocean views and resort-style luxury

Description:

L'Auberge Del Mar is located in San Diego North's coastal village of Del Mar. Experience Four-Diamond service, casual elegance, gourmet dining, spa pampering, world-class golf, and tennis on your next overnight escape, retreat, meeting, wedding or celebration. Whether it's business or pleasure, prepare to be pampered on your next trip to San Diego if you stay at this resort.

Our Local Expert Says:

You can spend the whole trip in the Gaslamp district - with Petco, tons of exciting restaurants, shopping and elegant hotels!

Description:

Vibrant, eclectic, and endlessly entertaining, the Gaslamp Quarter covers more than 16 city blocks of downtown San Diego in the area once infamously known as Stingaree, with hundreds of specialty shops and dozens of trendy restaurants, bars and avant-garde playhouses. Most of the shops keep late hours, so delightful shopping, drinking, and dining can occur virtually simultaneously. Cutting-edge women's fashions elbow up against exclusive art galleries, and once- run down-hotels have undergone multi-million dollar makeovers and found new and chic lives. The San Diego Convention Center is just steps away from the Gaslamp, and during major conventions the flow of souvenir-hunting attendees floods the area. For an upscale shopping mall experience, the adjacent Horton Plaza offers major department stores and a hundred or so mall shops set in an architecturally amusing maze of bridges, stairways, and intricately tiled walls. If you have just a few hours to devote to shopping - or San Diego itself - spend the time and the money here. Credit card acceptance varies by business.

Description:

One of the best bargains in this city is the fare to hop aboard one of the bright red trolleys that can quickly whisk you away to major attractions. Stops include notable places such as the Convention Center, the Gaslamp District, Seaport Village, Horton Plaza, the Embarcadero and Old Town. You can even travel south all the way to the San Ysidro stop, where then you can easily walk across the border to Tijuana, Mexico. This route is particularly popular on Saturdays. Self-ticketing machines line the tracks at the major boarding stations. Be sure to read the directions carefully or purchase a ticket from one of the agents to avoid any confusion. Trolleys run every 15 minutes on most lines and every half-hour after 7p.

Our Local Expert Says:

Padres games can also be enjoyed from Altitude Sky Bar, the rooftop bar at the Marriott Hotel across the street.

Description:

Home to the San Diego Padres, Gaslamp's PETCO Park is one of the most distinctive features in downtown San Diego. Concrete walls separate the rest of the city from it's major league baseball players, where every summer hundreds of fans from all over the country come out to show their support for the blue and gold (officially "sand"). Just outside the massive doors are some of Gaslamp's most lively bars and nightclubs, perfect for before or after game drinks, while inside fans nosh on Friar Franks, beer and peanuts. In true San Diego fashion, the cheap seats offer up families and big parties grass seats, while kayakers can often be spotted catching the wide screen from the adjacent ocean.

Description:

As its name suggest, The Shout House is the place where you can scream, yell, and just bellow your lungs out. This club offers unique entertainment. It has a dueling piano bar with talented musicians, who keep the night alive by playing all the audiences' requests. Sing along or just enjoy the night with some drinks and food. The restaurant is also available for private parties, events and receptions.