Mission Beach Stuff Not To Miss

Breakfast Burritos: Kono’s at Crystal Pier.  At the Boardwalk and the Pier and Garnet Ave.  NOTE: There are secret tables WEST of the “shell store” with great views.  The line can be 30 people long, but worth the wait.  Get your coffee from the Konos coffee cart before getting in line.

Hawaiian Lunch: Da Kine’s, cattycorner from the Catamaran on Pacific Beach Dr. and Mission, on top of Tony Roma’s.

Cheap breakfast with a view: Hurricanes on the roof, located at Belmont Park and the Boardwalk.

Seafood: World Famous at Pacific Beach Dr. and the Boardwalk.

Steak: Tower 23 Hotel’s Restaurant (call ahead).  Valet parking, great bar scene and excellent views.

Bar: The Liar’s Club bar (many micro brews and great seared Ahi sandwich) on Mission Blvd. at Sunset.

Entertainment: Belmont park has the rollercoaster, concessions and a “bar” called the Wave House that is set on sand with two man-made wave machines that people surf while you eat or have a drink.  On the Boardwalk at Ventura where W. Mission Bay Dr. ends.

Pacific Beach Stuff Not To Miss

Shopping along Garnet.

Trader Joe’s and Henry’s Grocery at Garnet and Fanuel. 

Costa Brava for great Spanish food.

Cold Stone Creamery on Garnet at Chalcedony.

Taco Surf for great fish tacos and Mexican food. On Mission Blvd. near Diamond St.

The Open Bar on Mission between Grand and Pacific Beach Drive.

La Jolla Stuff Not To Miss

From Pacific Beach to La Jolla you’ll pass Bird Rock: Go north on Mission until it hits La Jolla Blvd. and take that a mile into Bird Rock where there are a few good restaurants (Thai, Italian and American), and walk down Bird Rock Ave to see the water, walk around the tide pools at low tide.

Shops in La Jolla Village are fun, but a bit “Rodeo Drive” ish.  Walk Prospect and then Girard and you are pretty much done.

Drive up further along La Jolla Blvd. until it hits Prospect, turn right and take that into La Jolla Village, passing the Contemporary Art Museum (host of Spike and Mike’s Festival of Animation, among other great shows.  In the Village, you can eat at any number of restaurants.  Top of the Cove is tops for views, but the Hotel Valencia is great as well. 

Best view is Brockton Villa at the Cove (park at the Cove and walk North up the 1 way street opposite traffic.  Perfect to eat before sunset and then walk to the Cove (a grassy park on the beach) and watch the sunset from there. 

The Children’s Pool is a haven for seals, but has great views as well.  Walk along the sea wall and look for dolphins and watch seals lay on the beach.

Other Stuff:

Balboa Park

Prado restaurant for mojitos or a nice dinner.

The Timkin Gallery is a wonderful boutique art gallery with NO entry fee (donations welcome) is in the middle of the two koi ponds and the Gardens.

The Ruben H. Fleet Space Museum is a great IMAX theater, but it is connected to an interactive (i.e., you can touch) science museum.  Very fun.

The Zoo, and over a dozen other museums and beautiful parks.

Downtown San Diego:

The Gaslamp Quarter hosts dozens of the best bars and restaurants.  Go walk 4^th and 5^th and you’ll see.

Thursday nights Lobster is 12 bucks at Ole Madrid on 5^th, get there before 6:00 to get ½ pitchers of the best sangria.

The craziest outdoor mall, designed like an Escher painting is the Horton Plaza.

Walk to the Seaport Village, walk up the promenade to the Star of India and other maritime experiences, including the Carrier cum Museum the Midway.

Café 222 on 2^nd, south of Nordstrom by two blocks.

Croce’s for entertainment, founded by wife of late performer of the same name who is best known for “Time in a Bottle.”