San Diego: On a Budget

Description:

Although not officially sanctioned, Black's is the unofficial clothing optional beach for the San Diego area. Black's Beach is a two mile long, sandy strip situated at the base of majestic cliffs up to 300 feet high. It is formally known as Torrey Pines City Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach in that it is jointly owned by the City of San Diego and the State of California. There is a glider port atop the cliff overlooking the beach where hangliders, paragliders and remote controlled gliders can often be seen soaring. Access to Black's Beach is very difficult due to the high cliffs and lack of improved stairways. The safest access is from adjacent beaches to the north and south, but this access may be obstructed by high tides or surf.

Description:

In Short
After years of traveling to Baja California and enjoying fish tacos at beachside stands, Ralph Rubio opened his first restaurant in San Diego in 1983, banking on the south-of-the-border favorite. Today, Rubio's are located throughout the Southwest serving tacos, burritos salads and more. Baja-style fish tacos are the specialty--beer-battered Alaskan Pollack, cabbage and salsa in a soft corn tortilla. Street tacos (carnitas, carne asada, chicken), quesadillas, nachos and taquitos are other popular options.

Description:

Short on the cash and no objections to sharing a dorm with up to 11 other people? Wake up (there's a good chance you might be hungover) in bunks of questionable quality decorated with the inevitable grains of sand you carried into the room the night before. Make friends with the staff and enjoy the nightlife of Pacific Beach just around the corner. What better cure for a hangover is there than the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean from the outdoor patio while sipping free coffee served all day?private rooms available, reservation for those, only by phone.

Description:

As one of the favorite local spots in Ocean Beach, the Farmer's Market on Wednesday evenings is a place to enjoy both the beach location of OB and local performers, food and company. Celebrating the local, Wednesday evenings Ocean Beach's main drag (Newport Avenue) is closed off between Cable and Bacon streets where locals meander through festive foods favorites like flavored almonds, fresh panini's, mini donuts, sliced fruit and grilled corn on the cob. Ponies sometimes wander through the block, giving children rides, while musical acts entertain patrons at the edge of the streets with varying music - from punk-pop to jazz. The Ocean Beach Farmer's Market is often the most extensive of the traveling event with clothing and jewelry vendors.

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:

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.

Description:

How many art museums invite you to see great works of art for free? The Timken houses the Putnam Foundation's collection of 19th-century American paintings and works by European old masters, as well as a worthy display of Russian icons. Yes, it's a small collection, but the marquee attractions include a Peter Paul Rubens, Portrait of a Young Man in Armor; San Diego's only Rembrandt, St. Bartholomew; and a masterpiece by Eastman Johnson, The Cranberry Harvest. Since you can tour all of the museum in well under an hour, the Timken also makes for an easy introduction to fine art for younger travelers; docent tours are available Tuesday through Thursday from 10am to noon, the third Tuesday of the month from 1 to 3pm, or by appointment.

Description:

In 1911, San Diego began planning the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, creating a unique educational concept to distinguish itself from the San Francisco exposition planned for the same year. Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett of the School of American Archaeology (now School of American Research) was appointed designer of the central exhibit The Story of Man through the Ages. He took expeditions to the Southwest to collect prehistoric pottery and to Guatemala to make replicas of Maya monuments. Dr. Ales Hrdlicka of the Smithsonian Institution was engaged to collect specimens for the most comprehensive physical anthropology exhibit ever assembled. Expeditions were sent to Alaska, Siberia, Africa, and the Philippines, and European museums provided important casts and photographs of early man fossils. From Peru, skeletal material and rare trephined skulls were collected. Panama-California Exposition postcardThe Panama-California Exposition opened on January 1, 1915, with The Story of Man through the Ages enjoying public acclaim. As the Exposition neared its close in November 1915, a farsighted group of San Diegans formed the San Diego Museum Association. Led by prominent citizen George Marston, they... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

This place is perfect to take a huge group - eat dinner before at the upscale dining room (that acts as the dance floor later in the evening) and enjoy free entry into the club after noshing on some premiere treats and signature cocktails!

Description:

This $6-million, three-level club has become a hot destination in the Gaslamp Quarter since opening in 2005. It has more than 22,000 square feet of space, a fine dining component, a handful of bars and private nooks, and a rooftop deck with cabanas and fire pit. While the cover charge ($20) is definitely contemporary, the decor is chicly mod and retro. The name is a throwback, too -- back in San Diego's Wild West days, this area was known as the Stingaree.

Description:

Short on the cash and no objections to sharing a dorm with up to 11 other people? Wake up (there's a good chance you might be hungover) in bunks of questionable quality decorated with the inevitable grains of sand you carried into the room the night before. Make friends with the staff and enjoy the nightlife of Pacific Beach just around the corner. What better cure for a hangover is there than the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean from the outdoor patio while sipping free coffee served all day?private rooms available, reservation for those, only by phone.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Cardiff State Beach includes a great bike path, cliff hanging views and easy access to some of Cardiff's most chic restaurants

Description:

Located on the San Diego Coast, which has been called the Riviera of the West, Cardiff State Beach has a gently sloping sandy beach. The park lies within a two-mile stretch of state beaches between Solana Cliffs and a series of tidepools to the north. The facilities include a boardwalk, firepits, restrooms and cold showers.

This park is open for fishing, swimming, surfing, biking and boating. Beach combing is also a popular activity at Cardiff Beach. Lifeguards are normally on duty and visitors will be charged a day use fee to enter.

The beach is located slightly north of San Diego between Cardiff By the Sea and Solana Beach on California State Highway 21.

Description:

With an ocean front location and the name South Beach Bar and Grill, fresh seafood is just the right thing to expect. Keep walking towards the ocean and look out for the Mahi fish on the signboard. The oysters, clams and mussels seem to have landed in the kitchen from the deep just outside! Wondering why they're so delicious? They're steamed in garlic butter, white wine and lemon, and there's some garlic bread to go with it! For a filling meal, ask for grilled fish-choose the native specialty, Mahi-served with rice, beans, salsa fresca and flour Tortillas. Tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches, burgers and salads are a hearty offering combined with any of the sides. Beers from renown breweries are also served here.

Description:

Short on the cash and no objections to sharing a dorm with up to 11 other people? Wake up (there's a good chance you might be hungover) in bunks of questionable quality decorated with the inevitable grains of sand you carried into the room the night before. Make friends with the staff and enjoy the nightlife of Pacific Beach just around the corner. What better cure for a hangover is there than the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean from the outdoor patio while sipping free coffee served all day?private rooms available, reservation for those, only by phone.