Make your own path in the San Diego Sand.

Description:

• This six-story hotel, located within a renovated 1920's landmark building, is within 10 blocks of most downtown attractions.

• Modern furniture, platform beds, and flat-screen TVs are provided in smoke-free accommodations with shared bathrooms.

• Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in the spacious lobby.

Description:

Designed by a local architect, this informal cafe is a tiny, angular room located near Horton Plaza. The indoor area includes just six wooden tables. Most patrons eat outside on the sidewalk tables. The breakfast menu is the most popular, featuring Joe's Special (a Frittata with eggs, potatoes, spinach and peppers). Other breakfast favorites include home-baked scones and muffins, as well as Pumpkin Waffles. For lunch, the Cafe Burger is a hit, served with Goat Cheese.

Description:

This cafe, tucked into a city block, offers plenty of atmosphere and a welcoming attitude summed up in its motto, "Why would you ever want to leave?" The bright, clean environment serves as a shrine to great coffee and light snacks. Coffee comes first here, served in big, freshly poured cups to please. In addition to coffee, the venue offers a selection of tasty sandwiches freshly made to order. Barbecue items are also on hand. There is a huge 70-inch television to watch and internet access is available.

Description:

Smack-dab in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, Café Lulu aims for a hip, bohemian vibe. Ostensibly a coffee bar, the cafe also makes a good choice for casual dining; you can watch the street action from a sidewalk table or repair to the stylishly dark interior. The food is health conscious, largely prepared with organic ingredients. Soups, salads, cheese melts, and veggie lasagna are on the list; breads come from Bread & Cie. uptown. Try one of the inventive coffee drinks, like cafe Bohème (mocha with almond syrup) or cafe L'amour (iced latte with a hazelnut tinge). Beer and wine are also served.

Description:

This association represents the many businesses and professional offices located in the historic Gaslamp District. There are restaurants, nightclubs, bars, coffee and dessert bars, clothing and accessories shops, furniture and antique stores, galleries, bicycle shops, motorcycle shops, cigar stores and a host of others. Whether you are looking for a wine shop or a tattoo parlor; or just want to enjoy the romance of the Victorian style architecture, the association can help to make your visit more enjoyable. This group is also an excellent source for researching the history of the area.

Description:

If you love focaccio, you will be in heaven when you come here. Not only is the hot garlicky staple served as a starter, but this restaurant goes a step further. You can order focaccio as an entree with a choice of delicious eggplant, bruschetta and other great stuffings. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu, but the stuffed focaccio is a real favorite.

Description:

Come hear the resounding sounds of the world's largest outdoor pipe organ. The San Diego tradition continues as the Organ Master plays classical and contemporary selections on the 4,445 pipe instrument at Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Dedicated in 1915, the 2,000-seat pavilion was a gift to the people of San Diego by sugar magnates John D. and Adolph B. Spreckels. With plenty of free parking and wheelchair accessibility, visitors and locals alike gather to hear the music. See website for events and free shows.

Description:

The city's latest cultural icon is the Museum of Contemporary Art's downtown space, opened in 2007 and known as the Jacobs and Copley Buildings. The annex is boldly grafted onto the end of the historic Santa Fe Depot, built in 1915; it transforms what had been the train station's baggage building into a state-of-the-art museum and educational facility. Designed by the architect responsible for the Warhol museum in Pittsburgh and the Museo Picasso in Málaga, Spain, the new wing provides an additional 30,000 feet of programming space. The expansion also features permanent, site-specific work by artists Richard Serra, Jenny Holzer, and others. Across the street at America Plaza are MCASD's original downtown galleries (MCASD's flagship museum is in La Jolla). Lectures and special events for adults and children are presented, and the first Thursday evening of every month is "TNT" (Thursday Night Thing), an engaging music and arts program that's part cocktail party, part concert, part gallery opening. Free tours are given every third Thursday at 6pm and weekends at 2pm. Depending on the exhibits, allow yourself an hour.

Description:

Located at the W Hotel, this radiant, colorful and cozy restaurant is as fancy as the hotel itself. Dark shades of red, orange, green, gold, and violet dominate its interiors; and the curved seating, suede couches and cushions only add to the comfort. The menu isn't as fancy but offers a good variety - sandwiches, burgers, seafood, dessert, and cheese. Just make sure you order the signature Rice Rolls for starters - they're delicious! There is also a late night menu for those whose stomach growls post 11p. And the innovative 'Jazz in Rice' event takes place every Wednesday between 7p and 10p.

Description:

This club is as sleek as its namesake, a polished precious stone in a world of roughhewn rocks. The decor is ultra-retro and swanky, attracting a hip crowd in cool clothes and with even cooler attitudes. The bar is beautiful and made of onyx, which is really something to see. Live bands play here often and there is a healthy-sized dance floor for those who are interested in more than just posing with a martini.

Description:

• This six-story hotel, located within a renovated 1920's landmark building, is within 10 blocks of most downtown attractions.

• Modern furniture, platform beds, and flat-screen TVs are provided in smoke-free accommodations with shared bathrooms.

• Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in the spacious lobby.