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Featured Replies

On 8/7/2024 at 11:22 AM, wild_turkey said:

I'm heading to San Diego in late August with my wife and our 19 month old daughter. It's our first time there and we'll be staying in an Airbnb house a couple blocks from the beach, near the junction of Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. We liked the idea of Coronado Island, but they don't allow short term rentals there, so it would've had to be a hotel, which meant sharing a room with the kiddo (no bueno) or paying significantly higher rates for a suite. The Airbnb option in Pacific Beach suited us better.

We plan to visit the zoo and spend time at the beach. We would like to visit La Jolla and probably Coronado Island. We don't have any specific activities planned other than the zoo, but looking for recommendations.

I would also appreciate some kid friendly dining spots around that area if anyone knows of anything. Basically prefer outdoor seating with good food, price is no concern, casual or upscale, just don't want to be crashing a quiet date night spot.

Are Stone Brewing or Ballast Point Brewing worth visiting?

I'm a fan of whale watching with kids.  Even if you don't see whales, you're sure to see a ton of dolphin.  She may be too small to enjoy though.   Near the USS Midway, I love The Brigantine.  Right on the water, great outdoor seating.   Great taco Tuesday deals, BTW.   Also, in late August, the horses will be running at Del Mar if you enjoy that.  "where the turf meets the surf, down at old del mar

On 8/7/2024 at 11:32 AM, Herbie Hancock said:

Miguel’s Cocina by the El Cordova Hotel on the island is great food with a nice patio. Been a few years, but we hit Stone and Bolt brewery and enjoyed both.

Bought a vase from a dude blowing glass in the art market at Balboa park. Pretty damn cool to watch something get made from scratch right in front of you and then get to take it home.

Miguel's is a chain. It's fine, but there are several locations.

18 hours ago, wild_turkey said:

Any thoughts on Duke’s in La Jolla? Or the aquarium up there?

The Scripps Aquarium is fantastic.  And, on that day, go to the gliderport.  There's a cool sandwich shop there and you can get lunch. https://www.flytorrey.com/the-cafe/

In La Jolla, there are a ton of seals.  The kid might get a bang out of that.  And a restaurant with the best views ever: https://www.georgesatthecove.com/

4 hours ago, mdleast said:

I also like hanging out on that patio at the Duke's in La Jolla and have done so multiple times.  I like the food well enough but I am not a big "foody" or anything if that's a big factor for you. 

There is also a Jake's in Del Mar from that same company that I also have been to multiple times at sunset.  Love that beach around there and how they do the view beyond sundown with lights on the beach

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Love Jakes.  J.R. hasn't been behind the bar the last couple of times I've been there.  

Edited by Gil Bang

  • 1 month later...

I’ll be in Encinitas for a long weekend with the Mrs in November — staying at a resort called Alila Marea (credit card points conversion for Hyatt came in clutch). 

Any general recos/must sees/must eats? The Zoo and/or the Safari Park is definitely on our list, but we’re pretty wide-open other than that. 

On 10/6/2024 at 1:00 PM, ATXhorn17 said:

I’ll be in Encinitas for a long weekend with the Mrs in November — staying at a resort called Alila Marea (credit card points conversion for Hyatt came in clutch). 

Any general recos/must sees/must eats? The Zoo and/or the Safari Park is definitely on our list, but we’re pretty wide-open other than that. 

Will you have a car? 

Del Mar will be running their winter meet in November, so you can see the ponies if you enjoy that sort of thing.   If you do any day trips, pick up a picnic lunch at Seaside Market in Cardiff.  It's the best fucking market I've ever seen.  Amazing prepared foods.   You could easily do wine country Temecula for an afternoon if that appeals to you.  If you've got Global Entry, you can go to TJ for a few hours, but don't do it without Global Entry.  The border wait can be hours long. 

Edited by Gil Bang

The Midway aircraft carrier was pretty damn cool the last time we were there.  Very well restored.  Definitely gives you a sense of what that Greatest Generation went through.

17 minutes ago, DalTxHornFan said:

The Midway aircraft carrier was pretty damn cool the last time we were there.  Very well restored.  Definitely gives you a sense of what that Greatest Generation went through.

Yeah, and the aforementioned Brigantine and Miguels are only about 200 yds north of The Midway. 

BTW, was just down in Little Italy the other night.  What a cool vibe.  Great neighborhood, great restaurants and bars.  No trashy bullshit like the Gaslamp.  

On 10/6/2024 at 3:10 PM, Gil Bang said:

I love 3rd corner wine shop and bistro.  

My go to in Point Loma

  • 5 months later...

In SD for a day, and it rained, hard, most of the day.  Hit the maritime museum which I had never done before and it’s fantastic.  Great lunch at a katsu place in Clairemont.

 

 Great city, wonderful place to visit.  I love the flight down from Monterey, it only takes a bit over an hour.

On 8/7/2024 at 9:47 PM, Butch Had Not said:

Totally forgot about this place.  Amazing croquettes among other things.  

 

https://www.eenamisd.com/

That’s the place I had lunch today!  Top notch.

57 minutes ago, Hefeweizen said:

That’s the place I had lunch today!  Top notch.

Get the katsu sandwich?

14 minutes ago, Butch Had Not said:

Get the katsu sandwich?

No, guy next to me had it and it looked great but I did the Katsu with curry, and it was awesome.  I’ll be back in a few weeks and will likely hit it again.

2 minutes ago, Hefeweizen said:

No, guy next to me had it and it looked great but I did the Katsu with curry, and it was awesome.  I’ll be back in a few weeks and will likely hit it again.

Man,  I'm envious. 

Had the curry as well and croquettes last time. 

  • 1 month later...

Staying by sunset cliffs for the weekend. It’s beautiful 

 

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3 minutes ago, Zepol87 said:

Staying by sunset cliffs for the weekend. It’s beautiful 

 

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Where we drankin at?

Tonight back at the room. Had lunch at Poma’s Italian deli and it was delicious, dinner in gaslamp and hit a few bars. Tomorrow no plans until late afternoon, what’s the move? 

yep.  that's my fucking town.  

I'm like Frank Sobotka when I see that shit.

On 5/2/2025 at 11:07 PM, Zepol87 said:

Tonight back at the room. Had lunch at Poma’s Italian deli and it was delicious, dinner in gaslamp and hit a few bars. Tomorrow no plans until late afternoon, what’s the move? 

Man I missed this (golf+sun+beer=early night).  No matter as I wasn’t free until the evening anyway.

Good call on Poma’s.  All four of those restaurants at that intersection are pretty good.

Sorry the weather wasn’t better for you.  Looks like you had a good time regardless.

It was a great time and I got to hang with some buddies from Dallas I haven’t seen in almost a year. Don’t know why I don’t make the 2 hour drive down more but this was a good reminder to do that more often 

38 minutes ago, Zepol87 said:

It was a great time and I got to hang with some buddies from Dallas I haven’t seen in almost a year. Don’t know why I don’t make the 2 hour drive down more but this was a good reminder to do that more often 

in another month, the train tracks will be open again and you can take Amtrak.  It's a really great way to do it. 

21 minutes ago, Gil Bang said:

in another month, the train tracks will be open again and you can take Amtrak.  It's a really great way to do it. 

Until it’s closed again.  It is a great way to get north/south, but it seems like 3 months tops is the window.

they're supposed to  be fixing it for real this time, but time will tell I guess.   I hope they do, because GF and I love to go up to San Juan Cap for brunch and fucking off on an occasional Sunday.

14 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

they're supposed to  be fixing it for real this time, but time will tell I guess.   I hope they do, because GF and I love to go up to San Juan Cap for brunch and fucking off on an occasional Sunday.

FIFY

16 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

in another month, the train tracks will be open again and you can take Amtrak.  It's a really great way to do it. 

back in october i took amtrak from SD to LA and ended up stuck on the tracks for 8 hours with no power to the train...that means they can't sell booze and the toilets don't flush. also the windows don't open. never again. 

On 5/3/2025 at 1:00 AM, Zepol87 said:

Staying by sunset cliffs for the weekend. It’s beautiful 

 

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Richie Rich over here. 

My recommendation for San Diego is "move there."

10 hours ago, stc said:

back in october i took amtrak from SD to LA and ended up stuck on the tracks for 8 hours with no power to the train...that means they can't sell booze and the toilets don't flush. also the windows don't open. never again. 

interesting.  I got stuck in the middle of camp Pendleton for 2 hours with no power, and the sold beer at 50% off, and gave ALL of the cold food away for free before it spoiled. 

  • 1 month later...

Going soon. Too bad the track is not open until July 

  • 1 month later...

Spent two weeks on the coast of SoCal bouncing between Mission Beach to Pacific all the way up to Laguna, Newport and Huntington.

Historically we've always rated San Diego very high, but man, the OC beaches were so much prettier, nicer (aka no Kelp forest mazes with gnats everywhere) and the waves were a lot more crashier and fun. 

If you are like me and have previously thought of SD as the gold standard it's worth at least testing that theory again.

We just did a week out there as well. Two nights in SD with my in-laws then 2 in Santa Barbara and 2 in Huntington Beach. Other than LA traffic it was great. Crystal Cove is really cool if you’re in OC as well. 

Fish Shop in Pacific Heights— fantastic tacos

3 hours ago, 4th&Five said:

We just did a week out there as well. Two nights in SD with my in-laws then 2 in Santa Barbara and 2 in Huntington Beach. Other than LA traffic it was great. Crystal Cove is really cool if you’re in OC as well. 

Crystal Cove is "Old California" to me.  It's awesome.

BTW, I've previously pimped the Torrey Pines Gliderport as a cool lunch spot.  I went the other day, and it's undergone a major upgrade, including a new deck with a full bar.  Restaurant now has a pizza oven too.  And live music on the weekends. 

We were lucky enough to get one of the fire pit rentals at crystal cove for sunset one night. Very cool. 
 

We did the paragliding about 15 years ago. Fun but for someone afraid of heights once was enough. 
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18 hours ago, 4th&Five said:

We were lucky enough to get one of the fire pit rentals at crystal cove for sunset one night. Very cool. 
 

We did the paragliding about 15 years ago. Fun but for someone afraid of heights once was enough. 
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I took my family to that Scripps lookout point in June for the view and watch the paragliders, but the main fucking viewing area was shut down because there'd been a rock slide recently. That was a big bummer. I'm not sure it's going to re-open at any point. 

Thinking of taking the family down to Point Loma today. Stops at sunset cliffs national park and work our way down to the cemetery, cabrillo national monument,  lighthouse. Then head to Shelter Island, dinner at the Blue Wave Bar & Grill. 
 

Is this a good plan?
 

Any ideas, variations I should consider? 

26 minutes ago, Lerka Lerka said:

Thinking of taking the family down to Point Loma today. Stops at sunset cliffs national park and work our way down to the cemetery, cabrillo national monument,  lighthouse. Then head to Shelter Island, dinner at the Blue Wave Bar & Grill. 
 

Is this a good plan?
 

Any ideas, variations I should consider? 

Eat at Point Loma seafood. 

44 minutes ago, Lerka Lerka said:

Thinking of taking the family down to Point Loma today. Stops at sunset cliffs national park and work our way down to the cemetery, cabrillo national monument,  lighthouse. Then head to Shelter Island, dinner at the Blue Wave Bar & Grill. 
 

Is this a good plan?
 

Any ideas, variations I should consider? 

Cabrito National Monument?

In...

9 hours ago, SydneyCarton said:

Eat at Point Loma seafood. 

+1.  Point Loma Fish Shop also a favorite  

10 hours ago, SydneyCarton said:

Eat at Point Loma seafood. 

 

36 minutes ago, Jatrain said:

+1.  Point Loma Fish Shop also a favorite  

Good rec dudes. Thanks. 🤘🏻

We finished up with police in helicopter circling and announcing repeatedly “Hispanic male, 30’s, white t-shirt, black jeans, call 9-1-1.” Time to go kids! There were 8 units setting up a perimeter as we left.  That was something. Made it in time for some great photos at Sunset Cliffs.

Enjoying a cold beer, watching the moon beams dance across the bay listening to Harvest Moon at the moment. Man, I could get used to this SoCal weather. It’s ridiculous. 
 

51 minutes ago, Lerka Lerka said:

 

Good rec dudes. Thanks. 🤘🏻

We finished up with police in helicopter circling and announcing repeatedly “Hispanic male, 30’s, white t-shirt, black jeans, call 9-1-1.” Time to go kids! There were 8 units setting up a perimeter as we left.  That was something. Made it in time for some great photos at Sunset Cliffs.

Enjoying a cold beer, watching the moon beams dance across the bay listening to Harvest Moon at the moment. Man, I could get used to this SoCal weather. It’s ridiculous. 
 

Well crud.  Sorry I missed this since I live in Point Loma.  Glad you had a good time.  

Congrats on understanding what the helo was saying.  I could never understand.  Sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher.  Shelter Island?  My ring alert went off around 7 and I ignored.

1 hour ago, Upgrayedd said:

Well crud.  Sorry I missed this since I live in Point Loma.  Glad you had a good time.  

Congrats on understanding what the helo was saying.  I could never understand.  Sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher.  Shelter Island?  My ring alert went off around 7 and I ignored.

Yes, Shelter Island around that time. Not familiar with the area, had to look it up. Action appeared to be focused at the end of and between Carleton and Dickens, towards the water. 

Had some vendor reps take me and a few coworkers out to dinner a couple weeks ago. Barbusa in little Italy was fuckin awesome. Our waitress recommended we just get their mega appetizer sampler instead of decided between a hunch of different apps. She was correct. 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Shoutout to whichever of you guys has the Mercedes SUV with the “HOOKUMM” CA plate. I was behind you on the 163 today.  

  • 3 months later...

Going to be in Carlsbad before NY and looking for a recommendation of a Japanese restaurant fit for a somewhat nice birthday celebration. Only hitch is it has to have a good mix of grilled fish, and not just nigiri and/or rolls. Anyone?

@Chopper

https://blueoceansushibar.com/

 

Be advised that Carlsbad has a few excellent restaurants.  Like really, really great ones. 

Jeune et Jolie, Lilo, Campfire, etc.  Just up the road in Oceanside is Valle.  

Edited by Gil Bang

On 12/2/2025 at 11:21 AM, Chopper said:

Going to be in Carlsbad before NY and looking for a recommendation of a Japanese restaurant fit for a somewhat nice birthday celebration. Only hitch is it has to have a good mix of grilled fish, and not just nigiri and/or rolls. Anyone?

Not Japanese but Fish 101 in Leucadia is awesome. Owner knows all the boat captains and they get the freshest fish, like were swimming earlier in the morning. Yellowtail (when in season) is my go-to when I’m out there.

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