By Alice Brzovic | Member
Southern Californians measure distance by driving time. If traffic permits, you can drive the 97 miles from Anaheim to San Diego in 90 minutes. What you do once you get here depends entirely on your interests.
A good place to begin your San Diego adventure is in Balboa Park, a 1200-acre urban park where both locals and tourists like to hang out.
Want to see a play? The Old Globe has three stages. Want to go to a museum? Check out the San Diego Art Museum, the Mingei International Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Man, Reuben H. Fleet Space Center, or the free Timken. Want to hang out with the animals? Visit the San Diego Zoo. Want to be a little kid? Catch a ride on the Balboa Park Carousel or Miniature Train. Like to shop? Visit the Visitor Center, the Spanish Village Art Center, or the UN building’s International Gift Shop. Want to relax outdoors? Listen to a free concert at the Organ Pavilion, stroll around the Alcazar Garden behind the Mingei, around the Lily Pond and Lagoon in front of the Botanical Building, or find a shady spot to stretch and take a nap.
If you’re a history buff, stop by the San Diego Historical Society at Casa de Balboa while in Balboa Park to learn more about the region’s history and historical landmarks. Then head down to Old Town San Diego State Park to see the original Spanish settlement and other early California buildings. If you want to see how the locals lived before the Europeans arrived, visit the Kumeyaay-Ipai Interpretive Center at Pauwai (Poway).
Other worthwhile attractions around San Diego County include the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly Wild Animal Park), SeaWorld San Diego, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Legoland, the Museum of Making Music, and the California Surf Museum.
May is a great time to visit San Diego’s mountains, only 40 minutes away from downtown San Diego. The Sunrise Highway (S1) will take you to the Desert Picnic Area in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area, where you can see the sun rise over the Colorado Desert and Pacific Crest Trail.
From the picnic area, drive north to Highway 79 to visit the quaint mining town of Julian, known for its homemade apple pies.
You can walk off the pie by hiking one of the many trails found throughout the San Diego County. Jerry Schad’s Afoot & Afield in San Diego County (Wilderness Press) describes most of them, from the beaches to the desert.
A hike may make you feel thirsty. Good thing San Diego is the capital of craft beer in America. To learn more about the microbrewery scene and tours, visit the San Diego Brewers Guild Web site.
While you’re in San Diego, make sure you visit the Goldstar discount ticket Web site to see what’s playing. San Diego has many high-quality theater companies, from small neighborhood troupes to the nationally renowned Old Globe in Balboa Park and La Jolla Playhouse.
Other venues include the Moxie at Rolando, Cygnet in San Diego’s Old Town, the Diversionary in North Park, Lamb Players Theater in Coronado, North Coast Repertory in Solana Beach, New Village Arts in Carlsbad, and the San Diego Repertory at the Lyceum in Horton Plaza.
After seeing a play at the Lyceum, walk east to enjoy San Diego’s hip nightlife in the Gas Lamp District. Or, walk west to enjoy views of San Diego Bay.
Most days in San Diego County are good days to go to the beach. If you want to just relax and swim, La Jolla Shores is one of the most beautiful and inviting swimming beaches anywhere. Go to Mission Beach if you want to “make the scene” on the boardwalk, or head to Point Loma if you want to explore tide pools in a stunning landscape. If you like to walk, check out the local favorite Torrey Pines State Beach or the isolated and wild Silver Strand State Beach.
San Diego has everything anyone could want—good weather, parks, mountains, cafes, microbreweries, performing arts, a waterfront, a lively entertainment district, and 70 miles of coastline. So, when you’re done with Summit 2016, it’s time for you to zip down the freeway for a fun getaway.
