Guidebook for San Diego
Food Scene
Charm Thai Kitchen
11625 Duenda RdGreat Thai restaurant. It is busier at lunch.
Best bakery in San Diego. We especially like their apple strudel and cinnamon rolls but I don't think you can go wrong with anything here.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Edelweiss Bakery
11639 Duenda RdBest bakery in San Diego. We especially like their apple strudel and cinnamon rolls but I don't think you can go wrong with anything here.
Great Vietnamese restaurant with the quickest service ever.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pho Ca Dao & Grill
11808 Rancho Bernardo RdGreat Vietnamese restaurant with the quickest service ever.
Curry & More Indian Bistro
11808 Rancho Bernardo RdBest Indian restaurant in town, according to our friends who should know!
Best BBQ in town - see the pattern here? You will be smelling this when you get in and out of your car! Mmmmm!
166 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Phil's BBQ
3750 Sports Arena BlvdBest BBQ in town - see the pattern here? You will be smelling this when you get in and out of your car! Mmmmm!
Quick, cheap, easy and you can't go wrong at a taco shop in San Diego, although this is one of the better ones.
Cotija's Taco Shop
17090 Bernardo Center DrQuick, cheap, easy and you can't go wrong at a taco shop in San Diego, although this is one of the better ones.
Fun place that looks out on a little lake. Dim sum so they come around with carts and you take what looks good to you.
Pearl Chinese Cuisine
11666 Avena PlFun place that looks out on a little lake. Dim sum so they come around with carts and you take what looks good to you.
If you want a coffee with or without your pastry from Edelweiss this is right in the same parking lot. Short walk away.
31 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Starbucks
11611 Rancho Bernardo RdIf you want a coffee with or without your pastry from Edelweiss this is right in the same parking lot. Short walk away.
Delicious natural foods - soups, salads, pizzas, sandwiches, baked goods. Another popular spot at lunch.
Brothers Provisions
16451 Bernardo Center DrDelicious natural foods - soups, salads, pizzas, sandwiches, baked goods. Another popular spot at lunch.
If you want to get some Mexican food right off the plane this is the place - not too far from the airport and some of the best Mexican food in the city. You stand in line to order and then there is seating. They also have a small parking lot. It is a popular lunch place.
44 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Indio Mexican Restaurant and Catering
3695 India StIf you want to get some Mexican food right off the plane this is the place - not too far from the airport and some of the best Mexican food in the city. You stand in line to order and then there is seating. They also have a small parking lot. It is a popular lunch place.
Andrés Restaurant
1235 Morena BlvdGreat Cuban food!
Delicious fish tacos (and I am not a fish taco fan!)
77 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mitch's Seafood
1403 Scott StDelicious fish tacos (and I am not a fish taco fan!)
Nice place to go wine tasting, farmer's market.
44 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bernardo Winery
13330 Paseo Del Verano NorteNice place to go wine tasting, farmer's market.
Entertainment & Activities
Amazing zoo and botanical garden! A must see if you come to San Diego. If you plan to go to both the zoo and the safari park and think you might want to go more than one day each, it is cheaper to buy a year's pass.
165 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
San Diego Safari Park( Insidegate) station
Amazing zoo and botanical garden! A must see if you come to San Diego. If you plan to go to both the zoo and the safari park and think you might want to go more than one day each, it is cheaper to buy a year's pass.
Connected to the San Diego zoo, this gives bigger animals place to roam. Different groups of animals in their 'natural' habitat, lions, bears, ... Fun for all ages!
967 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Safari del Zoológico de San Diego
15500 San Pasqual Valley RdConnected to the San Diego zoo, this gives bigger animals place to roam. Different groups of animals in their 'natural' habitat, lions, bears, ... Fun for all ages!
LEGOLAND California
One Legoland DrFun for kids of all ages!
Gem of a small museum with loads of hands on activities! We all loved it!
56 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museum of Making Music
5790 Armada DrGem of a small museum with loads of hands on activities! We all loved it!
This is much more than an aquarium - sea life exhibits of all sorts, fun play places for kids, shows, ... You can easily spend a day or more here.
1754 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
SeaWorld San Diego
500 Sea World Dr.This is much more than an aquarium - sea life exhibits of all sorts, fun play places for kids, shows, ... You can easily spend a day or more here.
The aquarium of Scripps Institute of Oceanography. A great aquarium in a beautiful location overlooking La Jolla Shores beach.
366 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
2300 Expedition WayThe aquarium of Scripps Institute of Oceanography. A great aquarium in a beautiful location overlooking La Jolla Shores beach.
Sightseeing
Just beautiful at certain times of the year. If you don't want to pay to walk among the flowers, drive to the street just east of the fields and look as long as you like for free.
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
FLOWER FIELDS
2666 Flower Fields WayJust beautiful at certain times of the year. If you don't want to pay to walk among the flowers, drive to the street just east of the fields and look as long as you like for free.
Buildings that give you an idea of San Diego's history along with lots of shops and Mexican restaurants. Try the ones off the strips to the north and south - Old Town Mexican Cafe and Casa Guadalajara.
1070 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Old Town
Buildings that give you an idea of San Diego's history along with lots of shops and Mexican restaurants. Try the ones off the strips to the north and south - Old Town Mexican Cafe and Casa Guadalajara.
East of San Diego in the "mountains" - great apple pie, gold mine, nearby parks with hiking, ... Fun place to go for a day out.
245 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Julian
East of San Diego in the "mountains" - great apple pie, gold mine, nearby parks with hiking, ... Fun place to go for a day out.
Little Italy
Arts galleries, good food.
Downtown has small shops and restaurants. Friday nights in the summer they have an antique car show.
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Escondido
Downtown has small shops and restaurants. Friday nights in the summer they have an antique car show.
Parks & Nature
Amazing botanical garden with a huge kid friendly area. Don't miss this one. A season pass will get you into gardens all over the country.
196 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
San Diego Botanic Garden
300 Quail Gardens DrAmazing botanical garden with a huge kid friendly area. Don't miss this one. A season pass will get you into gardens all over the country.
Hiking trails on the cliffs above, lovely beach below. Look for a spot on the road since it is pricey to park ($15/day) unless you have a California State Park pass.
268 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Torrey Pines State Beach
Hiking trails on the cliffs above, lovely beach below. Look for a spot on the road since it is pricey to park ($15/day) unless you have a California State Park pass.
We haven't been there but I am intrigued by the name.
46 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve
8833 Harmony Grove RdWe haven't been there but I am intrigued by the name.
Good hiking in natural habitat.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Blue Sky Ecological Reserve
16275 Espola RdGood hiking in natural habitat.
Lake Poway
Great for fishing, picnicking, ...
You can see seals here or at nearby beaches to the south.
1327 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Jolla Cove
1100 Coast BlvdYou can see seals here or at nearby beaches to the south.
Popular beach with grassy areas, children's play ground and gently sloping beach. If you go snorkeling in the south part of the beach (in front of the hotels) you may find yourself snorkeling with sharks (non aggressive) and guitar fish. I did it once.
184 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Jolla Shores
Popular beach with grassy areas, children's play ground and gently sloping beach. If you go snorkeling in the south part of the beach (in front of the hotels) you may find yourself snorkeling with sharks (non aggressive) and guitar fish. I did it once.
Drinks & Nightlife
The gaslamp quarter downtown has it all - good food, live music, fun times. We especially like the Brazilian steakhouses.
1208 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Gaslamp Quarter
The gaslamp quarter downtown has it all - good food, live music, fun times. We especially like the Brazilian steakhouses.
Arts & Culture
Small but nice collection. Museums in Balboa park have one Tues a month free. Check out on line which is their free Tues.
126 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The San Diego Museum of Art
1450 El PradoSmall but nice collection. Museums in Balboa park have one Tues a month free. Check out on line which is their free Tues.
Lots of museums in close proximity (as well as near the zoo). There are art, train, natural history, science, aeronautical,... museums. There is a Japanese garden and a botanical center. The whole park is a botanical garden.There are cool buildings and an organ pavilion with free concerts in the summer time. The Timken museum is a free art museum. Most of the rest of the museums are free one Tues of a month. Check out the website of the one/s you want to go to and find out which Tues is their free day.
3290 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Balboa
Lots of museums in close proximity (as well as near the zoo). There are art, train, natural history, science, aeronautical,... museums. There is a Japanese garden and a botanical center. The whole park is a botanical garden.There are cool buildings and an organ pavilion with free concerts in the summer time. The Timken museum is a free art museum. Most of the rest of the museums are free one Tues of a month. Check out the website of the one/s you want to go to and find out which Tues is their free day.
The Old Globe as well as an outdoor theater and a puppet theater are located in Balboa park.
96 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Old Globe Theatre
1363 Old Globe WayThe Old Globe as well as an outdoor theater and a puppet theater are located in Balboa park.
Poway Center for the Performing Arts
15498 Espola RdThey have a little of everything here.
Check out their website for concerts and theater productions.
59 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
340 N Escondido BlvdCheck out their website for concerts and theater productions.
Essentials
Vons
11986 Bernardo Plaza DrThe nearest large grocery store.
A small grocery store that has good produce and meats as well as "health" foods and supplements.
Sprouts Farmers Market
15727 Bernardo Heights PkwyA small grocery store that has good produce and meats as well as "health" foods and supplements.
If you have never been to Trader Joe's I urge you to go. At first glance it is not impressive - a small, specialty type grocery store. But their products & prices grow on you and before you know it you are driving 3 hours to go to one (if you live in Alabama)! All their products (with the TJ label) are non-GMO and they have fresh baked Gluten Free as well as regular things.
39 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Trader Joe's
1885 S Centre City PkwyIf you have never been to Trader Joe's I urge you to go. At first glance it is not impressive - a small, specialty type grocery store. But their products & prices grow on you and before you know it you are driving 3 hours to go to one (if you live in Alabama)! All their products (with the TJ label) are non-GMO and they have fresh baked Gluten Free as well as regular things.