My brother and I will be traveling the first part of June. We will stay with relatives in the Anaheim/Riverside/Corona area. From Pacific Beach and the Gaslamp Quarter to SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, experiencing the highlights of America's fittest city will keep you going from sunrise to sunset.
Where the locals go: George's at the Cove is known for its views and seasonal foods. Sink into a Niman Ranch pork chop and save room for the Chino Farms carrot cake.
Break the bank brunch: The Victorian-era Hotel del Coronado, known simply as the "Del," is the perfect Sunday splurge. If you miss brunch in the Crown Room, catch a sunset at the Palm Court.
Local flavor: San Diego is 16 miles from the Mexican border, so it's no surprise that fish tacos and tequila are firmly rooted in the local surf scene. Get your tacos to-go at Rubios, El Zarape, or Las Olas then make a dash for the beach.
Get out of dodge: The 600,000-acre Anza Borrego Desert is the biggest state park in California. Fuel up for a desert trek or recover afterwards at Julian, a mountain town renowned for its apple pies.
You belong in the zoo: Balboa Park is San Diego's 1200-acre urban cultural oasis. Mill around its Spanish-Colonial buildings, museums, and gardens, and don't miss the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Did we mention it's free?: Public beaches like the scenic, off-the-beaten-path Windansea Beach are considered some of the best surfing spots in town. Combine hiking and swimming at the peaceful Torrey Pines State Beach, or head south to tan au natural at Black's Beach.
Local secret: Whether you go to the shows or take acting classes, the acclaimed La Jolla Playhouse, located on the UCSD campus, is one of the best community theaters in the country. (Nominated for Travelocity's Local Secrets, Big Finds award.)
Dress code: In this beach locale, there is no reason to pack a coat and tie--flip-flops are in vogue year-round.
Editor's favorite watering hole: The Bitter End is the go-to club in the Gaslamp. Choose from almost 20 martinis, like the Purple Orchid, and then make your way to The Underground to dance them off.
Oh, the places you'll go!: Dr. Seuss made San Diego his home, and now some of his collection is at the UCSD Mandeville Special Collections Library.
Anaheim, CA: More Than Just a Mouse
With everything from valiant knights in armor to old-time cowboy towns, there's more to Anaheim than you think.
While known primarily as the home of a certain famous mouse, Anaheim dishes up a smorgasbord of family-friendly activities. Check out Medieval Times, the original "dinner and a show" that harkens back to a time when valiant knights battled for their kingdom's honor. Dig into a traditional royal feast, and wield a mighty turkey leg to cheer for your team in a tournament of games. This contest begins with a joust atop Andalusian stallions, and draws to a dramatic finish with swords and maces.
Jump forward to the time of California's Gold Rush at Knott's Berry Farm, an amusement park set on what used to be 160 acres of berry farmland with an on-site fried chicken restaurant. (Both tasty jam and fried chicken are still served up on the park's grounds.) Wander through Ghost Town, a tribute to California's 1880s boom--complete with costumed cowboys, a log flute ride, stagecoaches, and panning for real gold. After, take a whirl on the famed "Montezuma's Revenge" roller coaster in Fiesta Village, and cool off on the park's Bigfoot Rapids ride.
www.darintravel.com Besides Disneyland....if you like amusement parks you might want to also visit Universal Studios and Knotts Berry Farm in the LA area. In San Diego there is Sea World, the Zoo, and the Wild Animal Park. Another trip I would recommend is a boat ride over to Catalina Island.
San Diego has tons of fun activities to do. Kayaking through the La Jolla Caves is awesome. A private beach bonfire is lots of fun. There's hiking, biking, and lots of water activities. For more info on things to do in San Diego visit: http://www.sandiego-romantics.com.
Have a great time! I lived here all my life but if I was visiting here is what I'd like to see:
Disneyland
Knott's Berry Farm
and then hop on the train in Anaheim and head to Oceanside or San Diego. You will see beaches and areas you could never see by driving.
Here is a link for The Reader. It's a free, weekly magazine that has great info on where to stay, whee to eat, what to do, what's going on in town. I'd check it out before you get here so you can plan your visit. There are so many things to do that without a plan you won't have time to see a lot of it.
Have a great trip and enjoy your visit.
http://sdreader.com Depends what you want to do... the other responders offered theme parks, so I'll go a different route.
Anaheim is a great area, with lots of different malls and such. Near the Angels stadium is Block of Orange, and in Irvine is the Spectrum. These are nice outdoor malls to just walk around at... also, the Block is open late.
I would check out Pasadena, since it is not too far. They have a great downtown area, and Paseo Colorado [it's a street] is a very nice place to eat and walk around. They have lots of cool little shops also.
For something right around Corona, I'm originally from the Fontana area. Ontario Mills and Victoria Gardens are two malls right there... other than that, it's a boring suburban area.
San Diego is where I currently live, and it's great. Definitely check out the Gaslamp and Balboa Park.. those are must-sees in my opinion. Also, if you go near the harbor, it is nice there. Little Italy is also a nice treasure [Fillippe's is a GREAT Italian place, hidden in the back of an Italian market... you'll see the line out the door, that is the place]. San Diego is a really beautiful town and nice to visit for a day or two. |
