Vacation ideas needed in San Diego area

The wife and I are doing a mini vacation from 8/22 - 8/25 to San Diego for 3 days before the baby comes in october. Looking for ideas of things to go do and see. We are going to the zoo for sure and want to go to a beach or 2. Any recommended beach locations? Any recommended local (no chain) restaurants to go eat at? We are staying on the NW corner of the zoo.
I am going to try and go by and see a few vendors - @dirtydeeds @Baja Designs since they are not far away. Any other recommended offroad shops or vendors to go see?

 

Balboa Park is nice; you'll miss free museums on Tuesdays but inexpensive to walk around and see what you want to commit to.

Best beaches for visitors (with parking and bathrooms) are probably La Jolla Shores or, in No. County, Encinitas (has a cool food vendor).

We have excellent food, and the biggest source of tax revenue in SD is breweries-- they're everywhere. Not sure that fits with a last-hurrah-9th-month trip, but we can point out good ones if you want info. Some have good food.

Have you decided where you'll stay? If you let us know the area, we can give you best options.

Vendors, huh? Does that mean you'll be driving (and parking) the Tundra? Let us know because there are places I'd recommend/ not recommend based on availability of suitable parking. Parking a 3rd gen Tundra in downtown SD is a pain in the ass UNLESS you arrive and find street parking in the short time between commuters leaving and nighttime parkers arriving (about 4:30-5:15).

@pelfreybilt is in San Diego, East Co.

 

We love the beaches at Coronado. Tons of excellent food there as well! We go once or twice a month and get lunch at Swaddee Thai. Tons of places for great ice cream too! The zoo is a must so good call! SeaWorld is cool but super expensive. Parking alone is minimum $22. Birch Aquarium in La Jolla is around $19 per person, offers a spectacular view and parking is free. It’s a small aquarium but worth it in my opinion. And then you’re in La Jolla and close to another awesome beach and great restaurants.

 

Bluewater in Little Italy off Washington was my go to spot for seafood. Sandwiches, Sashimi and seafood platters, I'd go a few times a week. Carne Asada burritos from most of the taco shops are the best I've had in San Diego and Stone Brewery in Escondido is the nicest brewery that I know of.

 

My two cents: the zoo is a very hilly day of walking for someone that pregnant. Maybe reconsider that one unless the goal is to have the child born here in CA.

As someone already mentioned, Escondido (30 mins north of downtown) is home to Stone Brewing, but they have a location much closer to downtown in Liberty Station that might save you a lot of time. Close to Liberty Station is Cabrillo Nat'l Monument and the Pt. Loma Lighthouse.

As for vendors, @pelfreybilt is 25 mins east of downtown in El Cajon.

La Jolla is always a winner. Mt. Soledad (in La Jolla) has great views on clear days, and the Children's Pool (neither a pool, nor for children) is a great place to watch harbor seals on the beach.

The Gaslamp is a cool area of downtown with lots of bars, restaurants, and clubs (think Riverwalk, minus river).

Like SA, SD is a big city with lots to do. We're here if you have any questions.

 

Swadee Thai is legit!!! The Hotel Del is a must see! Hodads Downtown SD and Tacos El Gordo off of H street in Chula Vista and Hectors Mariscos Chula Vista on broadway for the best shrimp ceviche hit us up we won't steer you wrong!

 

Thanks for the input, we are staying at an AirBNB near the zoo ( 4 blocks from the ME corner)
We are flying and will have a compact rental car. I cashed in the remaining southwest points I had, so flights were only cost $22 for both of us.
I will look up both those beaches, but looks like la Jolla has votes from almost everyone here.

 

Thanks. We were not planning to go to sea world. The aquarium is up our alley, as we have 4 indoor tanks and an outdoor pond.

 

This place is a bit pricey but, since you'll be staying very near it, I recommend
https://www.google.com/search?q=hillcrest+restaurant+Trust&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari . Plates are small portions to share and almost everything I tried was excellent.Might require reservations because it's pretty popular right now, but it's a spacious, friendly place that manages to feel "neighborhood" despite very high ceilings, and the increasingly upscale neighborhood (gay gentrification almost done; evennthe gay bars have been displaced by increasing property values and rent).

Btw (you might know this already), SD is super casual even at $$$ restaurants; there will be a range from shorts to business suits (you should wear a collared shirt, a tie, and pants not jeans to $$$$ restaurants).

Edit: the zoo is located at Balboa Park, and I think parking at the zoo is still free; that's at least a day, right there!

 

The best sit down mexican food I've had in the SD area hands down is Su Casa in La Jolla. You definitely should check it out. My gf is russian and that is her favorite restaurant lol

 

Try Seaport Village, USS Midway, Island Prime (for dinner) in Harbor Island. Hodads in OB, El Pescador Fish Market in La Jolla for the best fish tacos on earth. Too many places here in San Diego, you may not want to leave. Oh, and don't forget Old Town Mexican Cafe.

 

Check out the cliffside views from Swamis carpark or along the side of the road there. Preggers can stay seated in the vehicle and take it all in as her feet may be a bit swollen. Check out the eateries in Encinitas. Stay in the Encinitas area. Did I mention how nice Encinitas is? Shopping, food, views, etc. everything a woman loves.

 

Encinitas is the place to be. Great beach (moonlight beach) best ice cream ever (Handel’s) great little downtown area with tons of different food.

 

I believe @dirtydeeds isnt in san diego anymore if im not mistaken. Hopefully he gives u an answer

 

ALL OF THIS^^^^

 

Watching surfers from Swamis (south end of Encinitas, up on a cliff) is pretty cool too. VG's donuts, nearby in Cardiff, is one of the two best in all of SD (Petersen's in Esco is the other).

I could keep going...

 

If you can swing it when you go to the zoo, get the VIP experience. I think it was around $100/person (they have 2 tiers, go with the more expensive one). It was the highlight of the zoo experience. You go to a little amphitheater, with maybe 25 other people, and they bring out some crazy animals (getting to hear a real wolf howl in person is one of the craziest sounds), you get to feed a rhino (they get "happy" when you feed them, so have a camera ready lol!), it was amazing if you are an animal person.
It is a crazy amount of walking if you want to try to see everything, and it takes an entire day, make sure she's up for a lot of walking.

 

Do I see a SoCal meet and trail run 8/22 to welcome @Cfincke and family

 

skip Old Town -- tourist trap with a conglomeration of Mexican restaurants
eat in SD's Little Italy instead

San Cabrillo National Monument is a short drive and worth it (tidal pools)
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
La Jolla cove is worth spending a morning to see the sea lions and seals
Torrey Pines SP has decent hiking

Joshua Tree NP is worth the two hour drive

avoid Black Beach -- sausage fest

 

Are there any friday night or saturday morning tundra meets in SoCal? Here is san antonio, there are normally 2 meets a week.
I will be rolling with a compact rental car

 

WTF sausage fest? I spit out my drink i laughed so hard

 

Not from SD but every time I go I stop at POKEZ Mexican restaurant! Its a small hole in the wall but the food is really good!

 

No offical meets, but definitely a big group of tundra members out in SD.

 

JVs Mexican on Morena Bl. has killer burritos! Especially for breakfast. Also love Mr. Peabody's Burger & Ale on Friars Rd. Great local pub. Great food. Happy Hour all day!

 

Mmmmm: Su Casa! Closer to where your staying, Ortega's serves Baja style lobster; great food experience on the safer side of the border.

We could all meet up driving the smallest vehicles we have access too!

 

Be sure to get a window seat on the plane. Landing at San Diego Airport is awesome.

 

Timing is everything. Cool article I just found in my newsfeed:

Beyond Comic-Con: San Diego's beaches and Pacific views are its real stars - the guardian
https://apple.news/AECdZEBAXPj6GlG2qPY548w

 

I’ve lived in SD for the majority of my life and I’ll be stationed there again in a year (thank heavens). I would stay away from mission beach this time of year. Coronado is amazing. I personally feel the North County beaches are better and less crowded. I’m fairly certain that the beach in Camp Pendleton is open to anyone with a drivers license.

 

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions, you gave us a ton of ideas.

 

One other thing, be prepared to see the most beautiful women on the planet!