San Diego reccs

[Deleted]

So I'm going to San Diego for work all next week. We'll have evenings and all day Friday to ourselves though. We're staying right by the water really close to the Seaport Village shopping center and won't have a car.

Besides the typical 'tourist' stuff (we're doing the zoo on Friday I think) what would you recommend? What are some good restaurants and places for shopping? I'd be willing to walk a little distance for something cool.

TIA!

[sarahbear]

Walk to the Gaslamp Quarter. Restaurants and boutique shopping everywhere. Only a few blocks from you. We like Basic Pizza if you want a casual meal near the ballpark, but seriously there are so many places just pick the cuisine you like and enjoy. Horton Plaza mall is right there too if you want shopping.

[meganew]

I can't say enough good things about the Old Town Trolley Tour. You can pick it up right in Seaport Village and it takes you all over San Diego, so you'll see Balboa Park, Horton Plaza (great shopping), Coronado, etc. you can hop on and off of the tours all day long, so you can spend time at each place. I definitely recommend checking out the Hotel Del- and eat at Moo Time! Omg so yummy!
Hillcrest is also one of my favorite places in the city- lots of record stores, unique shops and good food.
Sigh. I really miss SD. : (

[textbookcase]

Definitely walk to the Gaslamp, great restaurants and shopping. If you're into baseball you could go to a Padres game if they're playing.

[LWoods]

Lurker/SD resident chiming in:
In that general area you'll basically be confined to the Embarcadero (USS Midway museum, ferry ride to Coronado), Seaport Village, the Gaslamp District and East Village (near Petco Park.)

I highly recommend a ferry ride over to Coronado. The ferry landing area has some nice food/drink/walking options. Food-wise there is Candelas (pricey, but they have a great HH), Nicky Rottens (delicious burgers) and the Coronado Brewing Company (decent bar food and beer). Walking/bike riding there is a bike rental place right there and the walk/bike path goes under the Coronado bridge on one side and close-ish to the naval station on the other.

I'd also recommend a boat tour of the area. You get to see everything from the water, but it's really interesting and just sticks in the Big Bay. You'd pick it up at the same place you would the ferry. From where you are it's north, just past the Midway.

In the Gaslamp, I'd recommend just walking along and picking a place that looks good if you're up for it. Most are decent, albeit touristy. I do enjoy Ostera and Searsucker for amazing food. Searsucker is Brian Marlarkey from Top Chef's restaurant if you're into that.

East Village, I'd agree with the Basic recommendation and add El Vitral (fancy Mexican food), Lolitas (less fancy Mexican food), and Knotty Barrel (fancy bar food.)

If you can, try to walk through Balboa Park. It's not the most exciting or fantastic, but it's beautiful and was the site of a Worlds Fair. Museums and whatnot are there too for entertainment. There's also a hiking yoga class that goes through there which is fun and different. It's right near the Zoo, so not quite close to where you're staying, but if you're at the Zoo already might be do-able.