Two day walking/dining tour of downtown San Diego

Our Local Expert Says:

During the summer months, a film series is held on the Star of India's decks, as are sea shanty concerts. These can often be enjoyed from the Embarcadero walkway right outside the ship.

Description:

Part of the San Diego Maritime Museum, this iron-hulled ship once sailed around the world. Now, a highly trained volunteer crew takes her out for a sail on special occasions, usually once a year. The barque-rigged ship is magnificent with sails furled: when at dock she can be toured and is surprisingly large inside.

Description:

Fun for adults and kids, this museum-on-water is the focal point of San Diego's historic Embarcadero Promenade. Comprised of several painstakingly restored historic ships, it is a tribute to the sea-faring age. One of the ships showcased here is the Star of India (1863), a stunning vision that graces the coastline as the world's oldest actively-sailed, square-rigged ship. Admission required.

Our Local Expert Says:

At this venue on the North Embarcadero, next to the historic ships of the Maritime Museum, the long glassed-in dining room offers great views of San Diego Bay

Description:

The Ghio family started out as fishermen plying the San Diego waters. In the late 1940s, clan matriarch Mama Ghio opened a small seafood diner. Her restaurants have been wildly successful for years, and though she's no longer overseeing them, her spirit lives on. On the menu, you will find fresh fish of all descriptions, changing daily. No meal is complete without a bowl of Mama Ghio's red clam chowder. Reservations are not accepted; expect a long wait.

Description:

The bustling Fish Market at the end of the G Street Pier on the Embarcadero is a San Diego institution. Chalkboards announce the day's catches, which are sold by the pound or available in a number of classic, simple preparations in the casual, always-packed restaurant. Upstairs, the fancy offshoot Top of the Market offers sea fare with souped-up presentations (and jacked-up prices). I recommend having a cocktail in Top's plush, clubby atmosphere to enjoy the panoramic bay views, and then heading downstairs for more affordable fare or treats from the sushi and oyster bars. There's another Fish Market in Del Mar at 640 Via de la Valle (tel. 858/755-2277), and a counter outlet in Mission Valley at 2401 Fenton Pkwy. (tel. 619/280-2277).

Description:

Designed as an ersatz Cape Cod community, this choice, 14-acre bayfront outdoor mall provides an idyllic setting that visitors love. Many of the more than 50 shops are of the Southern California cutesy variety, but the atmosphere is pleasant, and there are a few gems. Favorites include the Tile Shop, featuring hand-painted tiles from Mexico and beyond; Best of San Diego, where you can stock up on all your city-themed souvenir needs; and the Upstart Crow bookshop and coffeehouse, with the Crow's Nest children's bookstore inside. Other stores specialize in Scandinavian items, hammocks, travel accessories, and more. There are four sit-down restaurants and a variety of sidewalk eateries, and live music is often scheduled for weekend afternoons; the carousel, with its hand-carved menagerie dating from 1895, is a popular draw with families. You get 2 hours of free parking with purchase ($3 per hour thereafter). Open daily 10am to 9pm; restaurants have extended hours.

Description:

Proving that a shopping mall doesn't have to be a wasteland when it comes to dining, Napa Valley Grille is a popular, moderately upscale lunch spot for downtown workers, where entree-sized salads, sandwiches, and pasta dishes are rolled out. Come back at dinner when the atmosphere is often subdued, and you'll find a satisfying, seasonal selection of grilled items like herb-rubbed filet mignon, grilled Chinook salmon, or citrus-glazed pork chops. Despite the mall bustle outside, the dining room is pleasant and appealing.

Description:

The Disneyland of shopping malls, Horton Plaza is the heart of the revitalized city center, bounded by Broadway, First and Fourth avenues, and G Street. Covering 6 1/2 city blocks, the multilevel shopping center has more than 130 specialty shops and kiosks -- there are clothing and shoe stores, fun shops for kids, and a bookstore. There's a performing arts venue (the Lyceum Theatre, home to the San Diego Repertory Theatre), a 14-screen cinema, two major department stores, and a variety of restaurants and short-order eateries. Horton Plaza opened in 1985 to rave reviews and provided an initial catalyst for the Gaslamp Quarter's redevelopment. It's almost as much an attraction as SeaWorld or the San Diego Zoo, transcending its genre with a conglomeration of crisscrossing paths, bridges, towers, and piazzas.

Anchor stores are Macy's and Nordstrom, while name outlets such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria's Secret, and Louis Vuitton are also in the mix; the top-level food court has a good variety of meal options. Three hours of free parking are available from 7am to 9pm; there are machines scattered throughout the mall where you can self-validate (validation in food court offered until 11pm). The lot is open 24 hours and costs $8 per hour. The parking levels are confusing, and temporarily losing your car is part of the Horton Plaza experience; if you need help or information, you can find a plaza concierge on the first level (Mon-Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm). Macy's also has a Visitor Information Center on the third floor, open daily 10am to 6pm.

Description:

This popular venue, offering mouth-watering Chinese food, is a quiet place on the rooftop of Horton Plaza. Featuring red and black decor, the contemporary restaurant is popular among local business professionals and shoppers. The Mandarin and Szechuan menu items include fresh seafood and vegetable dishes. Some of the specials include Orange Flavored Chicken and Sweet and Pungent Shrimp. The talented chefs claim to follow the four tenants of Chinese food preparation: color, fragrance, taste and completeness. They definitely succeed.

Description:

Possibly the best pasta you will ever taste can be enjoyed here at this authentic Italian trattoria. Case in point: the Ravioli Gorgonzola is definitely a must-try. Actually, everything on the menu is memorable and the service is efficient with a very knowledgeable wait staff. The restaurant is located in downtown San Diego and is ideal for a business lunch or romantic dinner. The restaurant offers an extensive wine list.

Description:

Fun and bright, this popular dining venue has been serving great tasting authentic Greek food for more than 2 years. Greeks frequent the restaurant to savor a little bit of home and to chat with owner Maria Pappas. Everything on the menu is recommended, but the restaurant is particularly famous for its delicious Lentil Soup. The portions are large and the atmosphere is friendly. On weekends, this place gets even more upbeat with live music and belly dancers.

Description:

Authentic Spanish Cuisine and Tapas Bar with dinner shows on weekends and a Spanish Flamenco Guitarist at the Tapas Bar 7 days a week.

Our Local Expert Says:

With tons of locations around the city, you'll never have to go hungry again!

Description:

A San Diego success story, Sammy offers a casual relaxed settings and pizzas and pastas with a California twist. From Chicken Tequila Fettuccini to the widely acclaimed and copied wood fired pizzas, the portions are so generous you must make an effort to save room for the sumptuous gooey Messy Sundae. Beer and wine only.

Description:

Situated between downtown proper and the Pacific Ocean, this modern structure welcomes conventioneers to the city and shows off the best in environmentally friendly architecture. Designed by noted architect, Arthur Erickson, its sleek lines mimic the backdrop of the ocean and have added distinction to downtown's architectural ambiance. Hundreds of events, conventions and trade shows are featured here each year since it opened its doors in 1990.

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 company also offers daily 1- and 2-hour narrated tours of the bay, using its fleet of eight boats that range from a 1940s passenger launch to plush, modern vessels. There are two 1-hour itineraries, each covering about 12 miles. The south bay tour includes the San Diego-Coronado Bridge and Navy shipyards; the north bay route motors past Naval Air Station North Island and Cabrillo National Monument. The 25-mile, 2-hour tour encompasses the entire bay. In winter, whale-watching excursions feature naturalists from the Birch Aquarium. The 2-hour Sunday brunch cruise aboard a sleek yacht is popular; dinner cruises embark nightly. A 5 1/2-hour nature cruise navigates international waters around the Coronado Islands (Dec-June).

Description:

Each Saturday you have the chance to take an inexpensive guided tour through the historic Gaslamp Quarter. This 16-block area has it all. Beautiful Victorian houses line some of the streets, and you can choose from more than 60 restaurants for a later lunch or dinner. Of course, at any hour of the day or night, the Gaslamp Quarter is available for self tours, an opportunity to see the melding of old and new San Diego downtown. But, this guided tour is recommended to fully appreciate the history of this downtown San Diego district. Admission required. Cash Only.

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.

Our Local Expert Says:

Many people listen to the concerts on the Embarcadero for free by sitting at various locations outside the gates, such as on the pier or under the trees on the lawns near the ticket ticket boot. The sound is excellent, although you won't have much of a view!

Description:

The two parks are by the marina and are often used by local fisherman, picnicing families, and tourists alike. The San Diego Sympony Pops and other outdoor concerts are often held here in summer. The Embarcadero 'Marina' Park Pier or South Embarcadero Park Pier is located over the bay's mud bottom which makes it ideal for fishing because of the underlying eel grass. Good angling can also be had close to the shoreline rocks. Restrooms are adjacent to the pier. Metered parking, a picnic area, and basketball courts are near-by in the park. Handicapped parking and restrooms are also available.

Description:

This fine dining seafood favorite overlooks the beauty of the bay, and the extensive menu offers consistently fresh and flavorful mesquite charbroiled entrees. You will not soon forget the Canadian farm-raised salmon, as it melts in your mouth. The oysters, scallops, shrimp and calamari are equally delicious. The menu changes daily and all seafood selections are fresh.

Description:

Discriminating locals make up the loyal clientele who sing the praises of this venue because of the consistently excellent Italian cooking and beautiful presentation. Try the Filet Mignon with Truffles and you too will become an instant fan. Located on the first floor of the Meridian tower, the elegant, cream-colored dining room is the very essence of sophisticated dining. It is an ideal venue for business or romance.

Description:

Croce's is a cornerstone of Gaslamp Quarter nightlife: a loud, crowded, and mainstream gathering place where you'll find a variety of jazz and rhythm 'n' blues stylings 7 nights a week (Sun-Thurs starting at 8pm; Fri-Sat at 8:30pm); there's also a jazz brunch on Sunday from 11:30am to 2pm. The venue is named for the late Jim Croce and is owned by his widow, Ingrid, who was a vital component of the Gaslamp's revitalization. The cover charge is waived if you eat at the pricey restaurant (from where you can see and hear the music from most tables).

Description:

This Latin-themed club is the spot for salsa lessons Tuesday through Thursday, and samba lessons on Sunday at 8:30pm, followed by live bands at 10pm. Friday and Saturday is a Latin/Euro dance club and Monday is rock en Español. Sevilla also has a tapas bar and dining room, open from 5pm (till 11pm weeknights, till 1am Fri-Sat). Live flamenco dinner shows are staged Fri-Sun.