What part of GROWL does she not understand?
Friday, January 18 2008
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Coco very much wants Chuck's bone, and Chuck very much does not want her to have it. Keep in mind that we can count on one hand the number of times Chuck has barked in his lifetime.
Also, Jon and I just got a wild hair and decided that we desperately need a break from the snow and the freezing temperatures, so Monday morning we're throwing Leta and the two puppies in the back seat and heading to San Diego. I visited San Diego a couple of times when I lived in Los Angeles, but only for a few hours each time, so I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what we should do and see and eat while we're down there for the week. We will certainly be taking everyone to the dog friendly beaches, and hopefully I can convince Leta that it would be awesome to visit the zoo even though it will be filled with animals who will most likely want to look at her. Also, does anyone know if they have hippos at the San Diego Zoo? Because that would be like Christmas in January.
1. Terri said:
You're welcome to come to my house. We're in Oceanside, CA. About an hour north of San Diego. I'm not sure if they have hippos at the zoo but I have a certain pair of stretch pants that if I put them on and turn in a specific direction you'd never know the difference!
2. Kim said:
Yes, they do. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-hippopotamus.html
Have a great time!
3. Anonymous said:
Showing my husband all the video and pictures you post of Coco has him ALMOST convinced that we should get another dog, so please keep posting them :) Also, I'm jealous that you get to go to a warm place that easily, I'm stuck in the Northeast which pretty much requires a plane ride or a REALLY long drive to get anywhere warm.
It's been quite a few years since I was at the San Diego Zoo but I do think I remember seeing hippos there, so enjoy!
4. Christina said:
If you're looking for some damn good sushi, they just opened a Nobu in the Hard Rock in downtown San Diego, and it is FABULOUS. Best sushi I've ever had in my life.
5. Darren said:
Er, just make sure you keep everybody well away from the tiger exhibit, eh?
6. Genny said:
That's hilarious! I guess now you will have to count Chuck's barks on two hands.
BTW - I just wanted to say thanks for your blog. I get a ton of enjoyment reading it every day. Keep up the great work and have fun in San Diego!
7. An Iowa Mom said:
Can you swing by Iowa and throw my kids in your backseat too?
Please.
8. Terri said:
PS We have six bedrooms, five baths, three car garage, two kids, so if you want a zoo without driving all the way to San Diego, stop by the 5 and the 76 and we're right around the corner. We can Dog sit too.
9. Nicola said:
Hehe, I love the way they're both kinda giving you sideways glances like 'are you gonna do something here? help me out!'
10. elspeth said:
i dunno about hippos, but they do have an adorable new baby panda.
11. Melanie said:
I have to stop and think before I watch your videos any more... my chocolate lab went APE downstairs while listening to Chuck. She's certain that we are hiding dogs and bacon upstairs, where she's too scared to go.....
Last night she taught us a lesson and got down a whole bottle of bacon salt (best stuff EVAH!) and ate it.
12. Jen W. said:
Aww...Chuck has a girly bark! :)
13. AJ said:
I can attest to the presence of hippos at the San Diego Zoo.
14. Patti said:
Go eat at Croce's (as in Jim Croce's. . .) Fabulous.
15. Bess said:
Oh, I'm so excited you are coming to San Diego! You will LOVE it here! The weather right now is perfection. I hear there might be a storm coming in on Monday, so hopefully the weather people are wrong. For some reason, they usually are!
The zoo has really cute pygmy hippos. They swim right up the glass and turn and do flips in the water. So cute! I could sit and look at them for hours (as long as they aren't sleeping!)
The Wild Animal Park is really fun too! You ride on a train and see animals in natural habitats. They also let you feed giraffes.
I always think it's nice to bring visitors to the Hotel Del Coronado and walk around there. The beach is really nice there too. I also like to take people to La Jolla Cove to walk around by the ocean.
You can't beat Hillcrest for good restaurants!
Welcome to our wonderful city from a former resident of Bartlett, TN!
16. Brandy said:
I think I had the same conversation with my little sister when she was 6 and I was 13 every time she went near my stuff.
17. Anonymous said:
In Ocean Beach:
Eat breakfast on the pier at the pancake stand
Rocking El Gigante Burritos at Rodeo (a stand)
Great mexican at Ranchos
Great coffee at Java Jungle (it's a nursery too)
Great burgers at Ho-Dads
Great live music at Winstons
In town:
Balboa Park museums/park
Old Town
Out of town:
Go to the Wild Animal Park and/or Zoo. Both are gorgeous
18. Courtney said:
Don't miss "Undercover Hippo" this weekend on the Nat Geo Channel at 9PM
19. Elizabeth said:
San Diego is a great place to visit with kids!
Legoland. The Zoo - which has hippos. Sea World. Old Town. And Balboa Park - one of my favorite places to go when I was a kid. It's an awesome park with 15 museums, a carousel, miniature railroad, street performers...
Have fun!
20. Bess said:
Oh, I just remembered to tell you that there is an awesome dog park at Balboa Park. It is right by the beautiful bridge leading into the park. It's close to the intersection of 6th Ave and Prado.
21. Alli said:
Balboa Park, must go see this, and bring your cameras. I promise, you won't be disappointed! As far as beaches, you absolutely have to cross the bridge and go to the beach just next to the Hotel Del Coronado. You will probably need to bring an extra 4GB memory card just for the damn hotel shots you're going to take. Oh and if you're looking for fun at night, and you can get out? Gaslamp. Look it up and trust me on this. Gaslamp District.
You can always go to La Jolla too. Such a fun little town, and Leta can check out the baby sea lions!!! The hippo you so love? Forget her. Baby sea lions!!! are the bomb diggity.
22. jcristg said:
the last look chuck shoots you at the end is classic.
23. Nothing But Bonfires said:
Damn good drunken burritos at Cotijas. If you like that sort of thing. Which I'm hoping you do.
24. Christina Rose said:
And Hippo Statute. Not quite like really hippo riding though.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/96047101_4777d3904a.jpg?v=0
25. dcfullest said:
Balboa Park kicks ass. Here is their calendar:
http://www.balboapark.org/calendar/
26. Emily said:
The hippos at the San Diego zoo are some of the best I've seen. And I've seen a lot of hippos in my 24 years.
27. rob said:
Confirm hippos at the zoo. Check out the wild animal park, too. No hippos, but still cool. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wap/index.html
Might be more Leta-friendly, as you're a bit more removed from the animals.
Check out George's at the Cove for eating time:
http://www.georgesatthecove.com/
My wife and I go every time we're in SD. The Terrace has a fantastic view of the La Jolla beach, especially near sunset (they've got those fancy outdoor heaters).
28. Alli said:
Oh and yes, like someone up there just said...Croce's. In gaslamp. So so so good, and go when there's live music. And live martinis.
29. Emily said:
Oh, the zoo has hippos, and they're wonderful. That whole frickin' zoo is wonderful. So wonderful, that you should probably give yourselves a good three hours afterwards to take naps, because that zoo's Awesomeness will just wear your shit right out.
30. Anonymous said:
Have you seen the Gaslamp District? Tons of great photo ops there! http://www.gaslamp.org/
31. amysh said:
As a fellow hippo-lover, I can say with complete certainty that there are hippos at the San Diego Zoo.
Great places to eat that I would consider moving back to San Diego for:
- The Linkery in North Park
- Sushi Deli 1 in Hillcrest
- Soltan Banoo in University Park
- Mariposa Ice Cream in Normal Heights
Have fun!
32. Diana the Scale Junkie said:
Welcome to life with two dogs. There will always be one toy/bone/rock that is the coveted item. Even when they have identical items, one will always be better than other. I just loved seeing the two of them playing in the snow the other day because my two play like that all of the time and the judgmental one dog humans at the dog park look at me like I'm a bad puppy momma who lets her dogs eat the poppy plants when really its just normal dog play.
Enjoy San Diego and safe trip!
33. Danille said:
this is an awesome website to help you find your way around a new city.
www.yelp.com
34. Anonymous said:
I got nothin' on SD, but wanted to say that not only do I enjoy when you post about the fine linguistic distinctions between your speech & Jon's, but it really tops the cake when you put the audio up for us to get the full effect.
Thanks!
35. Melissa said:
We stayed in some awesome cottages in La Jolla called "Redwood Hollow". Close to the beach, very private, reasonable price--and they allow pets with notice. Private kitchen ($$ saver and a way to not have to rush the morning).
I love La Jolla. Everything we ate and everywhere we went was wonderful.
Soak up extra sun for the rest of us!
36. Anonymous said:
three words - carne asada fries
you're welcome.
37. Karin said:
I hope I don't offend anyone, but I was not at all impressed with the San Diego Zoo. We went there 2 years ago and it was dirty, and all the animals were asleep. We loved La Jolla, there is a resturant called Georges' that overlooks the ocean and has GREAT fish taco's. There is Sea World which the kids always love, and Lego Land (I've never been). Most of it was pretty touristy, head NORTH and hit the beachy towns.
I am in MN and frezing my A## off, so wish you'd bring me with too!
38. K @ ourboxofrain said:
I'll second (or is it third?) the Wild Animal Park (http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wap/index.html) recommendation.
39. Sarah said:
You should stop by Croce's. It's a good meal and a better time.
Also, check out the photography museum. There are about five million museums all gathered into one central location in San Diego and right across from the natural history museum is the photography museum. It's pretty cool.
They do have hippos at the zoo, too. Yay for hippos!
40. Audra said:
There is a dog beach (where you can take the dogs off the leash and let them run) on the Pacific Coast Highway between Del Mar Heights Rd and Via De La Valle.
If you guys have time you should check out Muttropolis on Cedros avenue 2 minutes from dog beach.
As far as food in that general area I recommend Pizza Port, Station Sushi and Pacific Coast Grill.
And yes the zoo has hippos.
41. Owen P said:
Places to eat: Buon Appetito in Little Italy for homemeade pasta. Khyber Pass in Hillcrest has really good Afghani food; Bronx Pizza in Hillcrest has phenomenal pizza. If you're up for a little pricier dining experience, Dobson's near Horton Plaza is delicious. If you get a night for just the two of you, South Beach in Ocean Beach (AKA O.B.) has the best Fish Tacos in SD and a lot of good beers on tap.
To Do: the Zoo of course, and maybe the Wild Animal Park in Escondido (although that might be too much walking for Leta). A ferry trip to Coronado Island is a nice ride on the bay. I dunno if Leta's into Legos, but if she is, Legoland would probably be right up her alley - though if Jon's a *true* geek, he may dig it more than she does. Browsing the shops on Pacific Highway in Del Mar is also great fun. You might want to wait on taking Leta to the track, though; she has years to get into betting on the ponies.
The County Building on Pacific Highway downtown is also worth a visit for you, Heather. It's got great '30s era architecture and might very well be a good place to take some cool photos.
Enjoy! I'm gonna say hi if I see you kickin' around town. :)
42. Deann B. said:
The zoo is fun as is the Wild Animal Park. The most popular dog beach is in Ocean Beach, but I believe there is also one in Del Mar (although they are snootier and you have to pay for parking). Hillcrest is an awesome boutique kind of neighborhood - great for furniture shopping, perusing used bookstores, and trying all kinds of food - Ono Sushi is good as is Crest Cafe. Little Italy (part of downtown and the harbor area) also have a lot of local flavor and Seaport Village is a great place to while away the afternoon. They even have a carousel that Leta might enjoy. If you like really cool architecture and museums galore, check out Balboa Park. And if you like history and Mexican food, be sure to check out Old Town. Lastly, this might help point out a few highlights of some of the popular neighborhoods: http://www.signonsandiego.com/feature/238/.
Hope this helps... Have fun... it's sunny and about 70 degrees today!
43. leaseuhd said:
The best part of watching the video of Coco and Chuck was watching my dogs perk up and listen to your dogs fighting - they kept turning their heads and trying to figure out where the dogs were hiding in my laptop.
44. Anonymous said:
I live in San Diego! It's 74 degrees right now.
Eats:
Any of the Sushi Delis for good, cheap sushi. Better for rolls.
Tadashi in La Jolla is a fabulous sushi place with excellent sushi. They have an all you can eat option for $25 each. Better for Nigiri style.
There are some great Mexican places in Old Town.
Hillcrest is filled with good restaurants as well.
To Do:
Definitely the zoo
Balboa park is great for walking around, you can take the dogs, and they have a great dog park as well.
La Jolla is fun for walking too.
45. onyx said:
I've been to the zoo twice and I can say with certainty that Yes! the zoo has hippos. And Tigers. And once, I saw a monkey with one arm and one leg...no lie. He was trying to climb a ladder too... very sad.
La jolla is also awesome. Theres a park with a small playground, as well as large rock formations and a cove near the ocean that is really pretty. There's also a mexican bar thats a resautrant during the day that was pretty good.
One thing about the zoo though, it's really big! So be prepared to walk about a million miles. But theres a gondola ride that goes from one end of the zoo to the other which I would recomend, it was neat to see an aerial view of the exibits.
P.S. See the pandas too!
46. laura said:
Museum of Contemporary Art and Cowles Mountain Trail are great. And I've heard kids dig Legoland.
47. Jenn said:
You must eat at The Eggery. Make sure to get something that involves their potatoes and hollandaise sauce.
48. Spendthrift said:
Zoo & all that, but take some time to walk around Hillcrest, go to Babette Schwartz for gifts that will shock your family. Eat at Kemo Sabe for that 'ooh, ooh, look, I'm soooo cool' feeling.
49. Stephanie said:
Yes, drive up to La Jolla, it is such a beautiful beach, with lots of wind carved sandstone cliffs, and there is a little cove where all the harbor seals beach themselves and just hang out. It is unreal, and a must-see (though they might look at Leta). http://www.lajollaseals.com/
50. Anonymous said:
There is quite a bit of walking at the zoo, so be prepared. We took a bus tour and it was great. I think you might be able to buy a bus pass that takes you from stop to stop and you can get out and walk around.
51. themotherboard said:
They do have hippos! Very very cute hippos.
Then, if Mexican food is your thing, Old Town Mexican Cafe is MUST (best damn food ever!) As is The Cosmopolitan in Old Town. There is another Mexican joint called the Rockin' Baja Lobster and it has an amazing salsa bar! There is this great little double decker red bus deal, that for $25pp takes you all over San Diego, and you can get on and off as much as you like for like 3-4 DAYS... its a great way to see the entire city, then plan your attack on the city! You can pick that up in Old Town, and they have stops all over San Diego... all the major attractions anyway, and you can use it to go from site to site sans car! You MUST go to Balboa Park on Sunday (not Monday's because its rather dead and boring on Mondays) because they have all sorts of concerts and food and stuff... its an amazingly great place! Then Seaport Village has not only great shopping, right on the water, but great food as well! I have eaten at an awesome restaurant on Catalina, the name escapes me now (it wasn't the Coronado, but that is great eating as well), but it was right on the water, and the food was to DIE FOR! It was very posh! I hope you have fun! San Diego is my favorite place on earth. I want my ashes sprinkled there. Is that morbid?
52. TriptikGirl said:
I really liked the San Juan Capistrano mission: beautiful grounds, excellent photo ops.
53. Michelle said:
Hey Heather!
Yay - come to San Diego!! Try the dog beach in Coronado or Del Mar, but avoid the dog beach at Ocean Beach - it's not usually very clean and can have a rough crowd. There are dog parks galore - Nates Point at Balboa Park, a fenced park at the end of the 8 freeway near Sunset Cliffs, and there are several more inland if you want head to east county area.
I am a local dog trainer, and would be happy to assist you with any doggie activities, or referrals to any dog thing you may need. www.kinderpaws.com - if you need anything at all.
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! Perhaps you'd like to have a celebrity tour! I drove through Salt Lake over the holidays and couldn't help wondering if it would be creepy if we wanted to say Hi! I decided it would be, like the whole Mystery thing "HI, I'm your #1 fan!"
Anyway, welcome, enjoy the sun, and know you have doggie friends here if you need them!!
54. amanda said:
Drive over the Coronado bridge and visit the Hotel Del Coronado!
55. Kate said:
The science museum (ostensibly for children)!!! I believe it's in Balboa park...
It's possible that my to-be-erstwhile husband and I had more fun than any kid there...
I have to admit that we also went to Sea World (for nostalgia's sake (I'd been as a kid) and the penguins are to die for and the Leta might be entertained by the shows.
56. Kitten Froggington said:
Go to the Mission district for breakfast one day and hit Nirvana (it's family friendly too). They have the most fabulous granola waffles and the best huevos rancheros I have ever had in my life. It's a great location for a stroll, and enough window shopping for beautiful trinkets to keep you thinking about it for years to come. Enjoy!
57. Jody said:
Stop in Santa Barbara while you're at it. You will not be Disappointed!
58. TamiW said:
Coco sure has "pitiful" down pat!
San Diego is soo wonderful! If you go to Fishermans Warf there are a lot of fun shops and you can take a ferry ride. There are pedi-cabs that are fun, too!
The Gas Lamp District is beee-utiful. The Horton Grand Hotel, in the Gas Lamp District, is a lovely place to stay. Rumors say it's haunted! Each room has a diary that guests can write in. I've read several of them and I find them to be fascinating.
As far as restaurants...have you ever seen a taco stand that is open 24 hours a day and almost always has a line going out the door??? "Juanita's" on Pacific Coast Highway in Encinitas is such a place. Please read the reviews on this website: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/311708
This place looks like a greasy spoon from the outside but the food is delicious!!
I hope you enjoy your time in southern California. If you happen to eat at Juanita's on the weekend...lunch is on me!
59. Anonymous said:
Come to Phoenix instead! Okay, we are missing the oceans...but you've got ME!
60. HouseofJules said:
If you & Jon get out for an 'adult beverage', you should go relax at Lahaina's, which is literally in the sand on Pacific Beach. You can watch and applaud the sunset, enjoying a delicious Pacifico beer or 10, which could be why the entire place, uh, applauds the sunset.
61. Alissa said:
There are a few of these throughout San Diego and they have a delicious breakfast (went to SD in May for 5 days and we ate there THREE of the 5 days!.....although I don't think they have poptarts ;-)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-mission-san-diego-2
62. Anonymous said:
I'm usually just a comment reader, but I just had to say something when I saw that you and the family are headed to San Diego!!
It's been clear for the most part lately so I would definitely recommend heading to the following places to see some spectacular views of the city and the ocean:
Sunset Cliffs (Ocean Beach)
Mt. Soledad (La Jolla)
Point Loma/Cabrillo
Ditto on the Balboa Park/Zoo/Wild Animal Park comments, all are great for families. I would also suggest trying breakfast at either The Cottage or Harry's in downtown La Jolla - both are delicious! And I think there's a beach just for letting the pups run sans leash in Ocean Beach. Enjoy your trip!
63. dajamama said:
I just watched this on my laptop, and as soon as Chuck started barking, my dog got up and dashed over to the door, hackles up, to see what evil dog was outside. Past me, past the computer, past the speakers. It didn't even register to him that he'd walked right by the source of the sound.
I think I'll watch it again and again and again.
Playing with dogs is fun!
64. Debra said:
I love the Hash House a-Go-Go in Hillcrest for breakfast. The portions are the hughest you'll ever see for breakfast - pancakes are literally the size of an entire plate. Took my boyfriend's little newphew there when he came to visit and he was mesmerized.
65. Susan said:
We were just in San Diego for a week back at the end of August. I posted several entries on my blog about our trip including restaurants where we ate and side trips (Temecula is awesome and I highly recommend going). We also visited the zoo where they do have hippos and there was even a baby. I'm so jealous, sounds like a fun trip! Safe travels.
66. helena said:
not only do they have hippos, they have PYGMY HIPPOS, at the SD zoo...which are better than baby hippos because they stay tiny forever!!!
also, avoid the gaslamp...it's a tourist trap and is six kinds of gross. there are some radical restaurants in the east village area (north of the ballpark)...mission is great for breakfast, pokez is great for mexican. sushi deli in hillcrest is famous and pretty awesome (and better than the other sushi delis).
67. Anonymous said:
You should visit the discovery science center in Santa Ana!
68. GEORGE! said:
San Diego... Spanish for "a whale's vagina"
69. Lauren said:
You must definitely eat at the Old Town Tortilla Factory in the Old Town/Gas Lamp area. It is an extremely authentic Mexican restaurant...and they have the ladies in the front window hand making the tortillas. It's famous!
70. Green said:
Check out BuenoMorning.blogspot.com - he lives in San Diego and probably has some great places listed on his blog.
71. Will said:
As a former San Diego resident who's now back in Nashville, I can say I miss two things (excluding family) so much it makes me wish I never left. Sadly, both are food. 1.) Go to any hole in the wall taco place ending in -ertos. Robertos, Gilbertos, Albertos, Adalbertos, etc. will do. Order a carne asada burrito. You'll be surprised by the size and cheap price, and they probably won't give you the correct change back. Yes, they're run down looking, but don't be skeert. 2.) Hit a Rubios and get fish tacos.
Last trip we took to San Diego, my then-two year old who is now four wanted to go over the Coronado bay bridge a few times a day. Coronado's a nice enough beach, so it's not a bad idea to try it. I don't recommend hanging around various malls with all your remaining free time, which is pretty much all we did for the time that wasn't allocated to eating carne asada burritos, fish tacos, and driving across a big bridge.
Love your blog. Been reading for years now, but this is my first comment.
BTW, my daughter says "crowns" instead of "crayons". If you hadn't mentioned it once, I would have no idea what she's saying. Um, thanks?
72. Underblog said:
I think all they have at the SD Zoo are hippos.
Chuck and Coco are working it out.
73. e said:
I went to Sea World for the first time a few years ago, and it was FANTASTIC. Shamu and the otters were just awesome. I felt like a kid again, scampering around and seeing all the animals. Much better than an aquarium.
74. Stephanie said:
ooh....San Diego is so fun with a little one. Our son (10 mos. younger than Leta) loved it when we lived there last year.
Check out the Bonobos at the Zoo. Super social, matriarchal, oversexed chimps. What could be better? Sometimes they'll touch hands with you through the class. Better still, they're around the corner from the hippos.
Sea World is worth the trip to feed dolphins, touch stingrays, and the Shamu show is fascinating for preschoolers.
Sushi Ota has the very best sushi in SD. I heard that they fly the fish in daily from Japan. Either I'm very gullible or it's that good. Plus, it's in a hole in the wall strip mall, the true sign of sushi goodness. It's located near Sea World. Here's the address:
4529 Mission Bay Dr
San Diego, CA 92109-4920
I love the beach at La Jolla Shores. There's a great playground right next to the beach and you can watch the scuba divers go in and out of the water. There's also a great playground in Del Mar at Powerhouse Park. But, you have to put up with the Del Martians. Hmm...not sure if I could say much more without causing trouble.
http://www.delmar.ca.us/Visitors/pwrcc.htm
Swami's for breakfast in Encinitas. Banana pecan pancakes are awesome and it opens super early for the surfers. Surfer hours and toddler hours are pretty much the same. You can then head over to the Self-Realization Fellowship Garden.
http://www.yogananda-srf.org/temples/encinitas/hermitage.html
A hike up to Torrey Pines state reserve can be really fun with dogs and little ones and the view is amazing. http://www.torreypine.org/
I really love Ortegas in Hillcrest for Mexican. Yummy tortillas. http://www.ortegasbistro.com/ Oh! and Fish Tacos. God, I miss them so much. Rubios is pretty darn good, cheap and great to take kids even when they're not on their best behavior.
I completely agree with the other comments about Hotel Del Coronado. It's so beautiful there and the brunch is amazing but pricey.
Have fun in SD! I can't wait to go back and visit friends.
75. Katharine said:
You should go to the Wild Animal Park and Sea World too. The Wild Animal Park is almost like being in Afica - everything is spread out. At least that's how I remember it - course it's been 10+ years. Sea World is really commercial, but I really think it's a great place for landlocked kids (young and old) to see some awesome creatures. I find your site very entertaining - thank you for sharing.
76. Teacher A said:
The zoo has hippos and pygmy hippos. Plus, I highly recommend the monkey and otter area, as their interactions are pretty funny.
On the beach front, Dog Beach is popular with the dog owning crowd. http://www.projectpacific.org/beaches.html
If you are looking for random shopping, Clairemont Mesa has all sorts of random Asian boutiques (as well as tons of restaurants). http://www.clairemont.com/
I also second the recommendation for The Eggery, but caution you that parking in Pacific Beach is often a bitch, so be prepared for a walk. http://www.theeggery.com/
Pacifica Breese Cafe, in Del Mar, is also a really neat place to eat. It's right on the hill in Del Mar, so when you're sitting on the patio it seems as though you could just fall into the ocean. http://www.pacificadelmar.com/breeze-cafe.php
77. Genesis said:
The San Diego Zoo is magnificent. Wonderful animal exhibits (including hippos ginormous and pygmy), and the landscaping is just beautiful. Leta would probably freak out at this, but on certain days for a few bucks you can feed the giraffes - my nieces and nephews thought that was almost as good as seeing monkey butts. Just down the street from the zoo is a park with a great jungle gym area for kids. It's a good place to break up your zoo visit if Leta needs to run around for awhile. You can get a hand stamp for zoo reentry.
The zoo is in Balboa Park, which others have mentioned. BP has some lovely gardens, including a Japanese Garden. The Old Globe Theater is a fun place to see a play, but probably not the best option for kids unless they have a kids production going on right now.
If you do go to Balboa Park, then very nearby is Extraordinary Desserts, which you don't want to miss. Their creations are both lovely and delicious.
78. kalisa said:
I was in SD a couple years ago for the Super Bowl but the only thing I really remember about it was that my hotel was in La Jolla. (Which isn't even pronounced "la-JOL-la" but "la-HOY-a".) Right by the Mormon temple. Which you're probably not all that anxious to visit, living in SLC and all.
79. Susan said:
I liked the Wild Animal Park even better than the zoo. But I'm not sure they have hippos. They do have giraffes you can feed though. I bet Leta would just love to have a long giraffe tongue take food from her hand. :-)
80. Amy D. said:
We honeymooned in SD in '05; it was great! The zoo is a must; I think they had one hippo when we were there, and I think she mighta been pregnant, so maybe there'll be a baby hippo!
We also did Balboa Park, Sea World, Old Town, and the Gaslamp District, all fun. Didn't have time for La Jolla (sea lions, I think...) or Torrey Pines, supposed to be great scenery. Coronado Island has a great beach, too. Enjoy!
81. Anonymous said:
I second the vote for fish tacos at Rubio's.
82. jill said:
Tapas and sangria anyone? http://www.cafesevilla.com/
My in-laws live in San Diego and it's worth dealing with them for the chorizo and lobster bisque. And that's saying a lot.
Of course, they are a bit easier to handle after a few pitchers of sangria.
83. Jana said:
Best Pizza EVER: Sicilian Thing
(sometimes we drive to SD from the OC just for the pizza)
Groovy Coffeehouse: Clair de Lune
Have Fun!
84. Sue at nobaddays said:
I second what Anonymous (:-) said about Ocean Beach (great neighborhood) ... and the recommendations are good.
Would like to add a recommendation slightly further up North for Pizza Port (the one in Solana Beach only): http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g33101-d547457-Reviews-Pizz...
Great, authentic surfer pizza hangout and outstanding small-batch unique brews: http://www.pizzaport.com/solana.htm
The only bar and pizza joint I know that is so welcoming to kids. A must in San Diego. Here's a map: http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:offi...
Also, Swami's Cafe in Encinitas for breakfast or lunch if you're there ... and Swami's beach across the road (next to the groovy white temple - not Mormon unfortunately ... but you'll get great photos and sunsets there) is awesome: http://www.swamis.signonsandiego.com/
85. marysia in tx said:
I always go to Miguel's on Coronado when we got to SD: www.brigantine.com/miguels/
also Top of the Market (that's a fancy romantic dinner night out): www.thefishmarket.com
And my favorite margarita place in the Gaslamp District is La Fiesta on 5th Avenue.
The last one is a touristy, but I suppose most of downtown SD is anyways. I wrote a bit about SD here: limesaregreatfruits.blogspot.com/2006/08/i-wish-they-all-could-be-california.html
86. Lauren said:
Oh my goodness, this video just cracked me up! Thank you so much for sharing it with us :).
When I used to go visit my boyfriend at the time in San Diego, one of our favorite places to hit up for breakfast/brunch was Panniken's. It is a cute yellow house in Encinitas on the 101, and they also sell beautiful coffee and teacups :).
http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com/places/pannikin-cafe-encinitas/
87. Cheryl said:
You must eat Filippi's Pizza Grotto. The antipasta is to die for and awesome pizza. They have several locations, but the best one is the original restaurant at 1747 India Street in Little Italy.
Enjoy!
88. Sarah in LA said:
San Diego is my hometown....
Balboa Park rules
Old Town Mexican Cafe rules too (someone above called it the "OT Tortilla Factory" - it's been a while so maybe they changed the name?) the food is excellent.
89. Heather said:
@Terri: You must live right around the corner from me! I'm closer to the Mission Ave exit. Maybe Dooce needs to make a stop to see her fans in Oceanside!
San Diego has great hippos. They had a baby when I was there last.
Have a great time!
90. Tory said:
There's a cute design district in Solana Beach if you're up a shopping afternoon. Check out Leaping Lotus for a large collection of shops with all sorts of things under one roof.
91. Brook said:
I'll add a vote for Balboa Park- it's lovely, has dog-friendly bits, has a photography museum, puppet theater, and when you get tired, the youth symphony holds open rehearsals on Saturdays.
The gift shop at SADI museum is dangerous. I rarely make it out of there without a pretty bowl or a new pair of earrings. Some may find the Spanish Village Art Center a little hokey, but for me, it's like etsy-in-person, having a bunch of artists working and selling in the same space. I remember being obsessed with the glassblowing demos as a kid.
I worry that some of the things I'm thinking of are summer features of the park, you'd have to google the site.
92. Todd said:
There is also dog beach which is the beach where all the dogs can run free, no leash, just watch your step!
http://sandiego.about.com/cs/prosports/a/dogparks_sd.htm
93. Bethany said:
I second what Amanda says. Go to the Coronado Del Mar hotel on Coronado island. It is totally worth go over there for brunch. The brunch is great and the views are spectacular from the hotel.
94. Supercute said:
If you guys are going to be here in San Diego the week of the 27th you will be just in time for Restaurant Week! http://www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com/
It's around 130 restaurants, all serving a signature 3 course meal for either $30 or $40. It's a great way to try out a ton of great places without spending a small fortune, plus you can check out the menus to see what looks good. (My Favorites: Bondi is a great, fun Australian place, and Island Prime is an amazing steakhouse right on the water).
I would second the Wild Animal Park, I think it's much more fun than the zoo, and you can take a tram tour where you go into some of the animal exhibits.
95. fancydancer said:
LEGOLAND, for sure. And you get priority parking if you drive a Volvo.
96. Ginny said:
My kids and I enjoyed watching the tuna fishermen sitting on the docks mending their nets on the bay there.
97. Anonymous said:
there is a special show on tv sunday night on the national geographic channel on hippos! i saw a blurb on it during the today show...
98. Yolanda said:
Another San Diego county resident chiming in:
1. Zoo is a must. Run don't walk to the Hippo Beach section and plan to press yourself against the glass and smooch a big hippo mouth. You will fall in love. If you won't be back soon, I strongly recommend the Wild Animal Park. The tram ride is amazing. You really do feel like you're on safari and watching the circle of life play out in front of you.
2. Skip Sea World (over-priced and not much fun).
3. A day at Balboa Park is essential. Lots of great museums, architecture, and there is even great theatre (The Old Globe). The Prado restaurant serves great mojitos and Latin-influenced dishes.
4. Good Eats: I second the recommendation of Ho Dads in Ocean Beach for casual, All-American good eats. There are tons of fine dining choices in the Gaslamp District, which is where the beautiful people hang out in the evening. Your sweet tooth will be best satisfied at a place called Extraordinary Desserts in Little Italy. You can get great Mexican food at many places, but the classic recommendations are El Indio and The Old Town Mexican Cafe.
5. Geeky stuff: There are Apple stores at UTC (805@ La Jolla Village Dr) and Fashion Valley (163 @ 8). I think UTC is the better choice, but it's further away from central San Diego. It is however, very close to ultra-geeky Sorrento Valley (805 @ Mira Mesa Blvd), the land of office parks that inspired the movie Office Space.
6. Doggie stuff: I'm most familiar with the dog beach at Del Mar, as I used to pass it every day on my way to work. Here are a list of all of the leash free parks in the area: http://sandiego.about.com/cs/prosports/a/dogparks_sd.htm
7. Hang out with me. I'm fun, kinda.
Enjoy your time. Can't wait to see the pics.
99. Natalie said:
While in SD
Wild animal park over the zoo
Balboa park for sure!
100. Kristin said:
HO-DADS! the BEST hamburgers and it's right next to Dog Beach in OB. there is also a great bead/jewelry shop across the street called The Black Bead and on the same street there are a bunch of antique shops.
and i second Hash House. the best best best breakfasts. Also check out Babette Schwartz http://www.babette.com for some kitschy shopping. Both are in Hillcrest. Hillcrest in general is just great. lots of delicious restaurants, cool shopping, great architecture, etc.
If you go to Hillcrest, then head over to Balboa Park which is just adjacent. Lots of great photo ops. It's great just to walk around and there is a wonderful dog park there too. BP is next to the Zoo.
if you go to Fashion Valley mall, get a drink at Dlush. It's delicious!
Have fun!
101. Sarah Cool said:
I can hear the "i don't want to do this, kid, but get the hell away from here" in chuck's voice.
102. Tater's Mom said:
You could send several good vibes to San Diego's Chargers who will be attempting to do what no team has done so far this season - KILL THE PATRIOTS!
Okay so you don't necessarily have to be in San Diego to do this (I'll be doing it from Seattle!) but it couldn't hurt - you know, in between hippo kisses and the like.
103. Kristin said:
one more!
Extraordinary Desserts
also in the Balboa Park/Hillcrest/Downtown region.
http://www.extraordinarydesserts.com/
enough said.
104. meredith said:
I travel for a living, and San Diego is one of my favorite places. I highly recommend watching the movie Anchorman before you go. It'll make your trip that much more amusing.
If you can, take a drive up the PCH to Encinitas. There is a little roadside taqueria there that has the best fish tacos ever. I can't remember the name of it though ... but it's teeny and is right between the roadside and the beach.
105. Lisa W. said:
They do have hippos! My "homepage" link goes to my Picasa album with a picture of them from Thanksgiving.
Balboa Park in general very fun with lots of activities and the zoo all right there. I also like Sea World.
Also old town has good Mexican food. Those are my recommendations.
106. the mighty jimbo said:
three words: tijuana donkey show.
107. Anonymous said:
My dog was licking my speakers as I was watching this...does that mean he can *hear* how tasty that bone is? ;-)
108. Tawny said:
I would HIGHLY recommend Extraordinary Desserts. There is one in Hillcrest (near Balboa Park) that is cozy and romantic and one in Little Italy that is modern/business chic. The one in Little Italy has non-dessert stuff on the menu, including a more extensive wine list, salads, and snack-type things.
There is a delightful restaurant in Pacific Beach called Cantina Panaderia, that has Asian-Mexican fusion food, which I realize sounds kind of pretentious/ridiculous, but I had an extremely excellent breakfast there recently (coconut french toast with raspberry puree!). There are also some good Mexican restaurants in Old Town, where you can watch ladies make your tortillas right there in front of you.
I would say, with a kid, the zoo is a little more practical because it involves less walking, whereas the Wild Animal Park is a bit of a hike. The Wild Animal Park, however, is not nearly as depressing, and I know for sure that you can see hippos there. They breed them, and I've seen several baby ones.
I also recommend a stroll through Balboa Park, because it is lovely and there is a bad-ass dog park right near the entrance, as well as lovely gardens, an atrium, and assorted museums.
-Tawny
109. Kat said:
Just make sure Coco is 'car broke'. It could be a messy trip if she is not.
110. Ash said:
They have a boy hippo and girl hippo in the same tank. Last time we were there, they were doing a little dance underwater where they pretended to attack each other ferociously while bouncing up and down on their piggly little legs. It was the most adorable thing I've ever seen.
You must adopt them immediately.
111. Sleeping Mommy said:
Today I held one of these lovely australian shephard puppies in my arms. I almost took him home, but reminded myself STERNLY that I already have four dogs, eight cats and two dogs.
It barely stopped me.
112. Anonymous said:
The zoo and the Wild Animal Park are both great; if you can find a place for the dogs for a while, Sea World is probably the MOST fun. If you go to Costco or Costco online, you can usually get a pass for Sea World, the zoo, and/or the Wild Animal Park for a good deal. If you like malls, Horton Plaza is a fun, multi-level mall where you can stroll outdoors and there are lots of shops (including many popular ones).
Hope that helps and enjoy the time away from the cold!
--Elizabeth
113. aaryn b. said:
Okay, here's the deal:
Don't miss the zoo. Hippos, v. cool though none available for adoption at the moment. Also, while you're there, take Leta on Skyfari and maybe check out the petting zoo.
Balboa Park train museum has a great exhibit of toy trains and apparently, a lego exhibit right now as well.
SKIP SEAWORLD. Human ride on the backs of whales to rock music. N'uff said.
Go to Coronado. You can have a drink at the Hotel Del and feel like you've stepped back in time. Also, a fantastic dog beach there and a lovely little restaurant called Tartine. Great lunches. You could also eat at Peohe's right on the water and look back over the city.
For breakfast, The Mission (three locations, downtown, North Park and Mission Beach) or Brockton Villa (La Jolla)
For kid friendly dining, The Corvette Diner in Hillcrest. For AWESOME Mexican food, Mama Testas in Hillcrest (1417 University, http://www.mamatestataqueria.com/).
NOW, for you and Jon (since I'm offering JUST THIS ONCE to watch Leta and the dogs for you while you go exploring...ask LeahPeah for references.)
*Starlite on India Street (http://www.starlitesandiego.com/, you'll LOVE the decor and arcitecture)
*Café Chloe (http://www.cafechloe.com/, on 9th and G Street downtown. Mos def have the pommes frites.)
*The Guild, 1805 Newton in the East Village downtown
*Exrtaordinary Desserts (two locations, downtown on Union and in Hillcrest on 5th Avenue---the design freak in you will love the DT location)
*The C-Level Lounge (c-level lounge, near the airport, north of down town; sit out on the patio for a view of downtown and Coronado)
Vagabond in South Park (http://www.vagabondkitchen.com/serving/up/flash/, after, you can hear music and drink beer at the Whistle Stop down the street)
What?!? You're not going to be here for a month??? Okay, I'll stop. Have a great trip. I'll cross my fingers for no rain.
114. Naomi Niles said:
Awww, Coco is so sweet, even if she annoys Chuck. Would you consider renting her out? I'd pay by the minute.
115. Jennifer said:
"Go to any hole in the wall taco place ending in -ertos. Robertos, Gilbertos, Albertos, Adalbertos, etc. will do. Order a carne asada burrito."
As a San Diego resident, I believe this is the best advice ANYONE has given you. Seriously, if you miss out on the hole in the wall carne asada, you should leave San Diego feeling ASHAMED of yourself.
I have a 3 year old, and she LOVES Legoland, Sea World, the Zoo, Balboa Park, all the standards. You can't go wrong checking any of them out. You've gotten a lot of recommendations for food in La Jolla, but one of the best KID FRIENDLY fancy restaurants with a VIEW is Jane's Del Mar. :) YUMMY!
Oh, and if you DO go to Hotel Del, don't forget about the Haunted Room. :)
116. Lori said:
Leta is the perfect age for Lego Land!
Have fun
117. rachelleb said:
i used to be a zoological member when i lived in san diego.. i'd skip the zoo and go to the wild animal park.
118. Sarah said:
I can only reiterate what others have already said, but wanted to add my excitement that you are visiting San Diego!
Definitely check out the hippos at the zoo. In addition there are some other very cool animals there that I never even knew existed until I moved here and saw them at the zoo. Specifically the Okapi(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okapi)which look like a cross between zebras and giraffes with a coat so velvety soft looking that you just want to rub your face on them and the Tapirs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Tapir).
After (or before) the zoo I highly suggest checking out the nearby Spanish Village which is just a small artists courtyard with cute little stores of handmade crafts, jewelry, photography etc... It is part of Balboa Park and you can easily walk from the zoo (where there is free parking!) to the Spanish Village and the Balboa Park museums. The dog park on the other side of the bridge is a great place for off leash play with other pups (as long as Chuck and Coco are fairly obedient and don't have a tendency to run far off as it is not fenced in).
And finally, yes yes yes go to the Hotel Del on Coronado. It is my happy place. Before I moved a little further up the coast I used to drive over there if I was having a bad day and just sit and have a drink on their deck overlooking the beach. Heavenly.
Have a great visit!!!
119. Natalie said:
They do indeed have hippos at the SD Zoo, as other people have said. When I first visited here (before moving out for grad school), there was a baby hippo too. Her and mama were hanging out in the water (there's a clear wall that allows you to see the underwater view), when mama decided to take a big dump. True story. So you can definitely see hippos, but beware of the hippo poo.
The Linkery in North Park (east of Balboa Park, on 30th and Upas) is a good place to eat if you like sausage. If you like Italian, Alexander's is across the street. Unfortunately my knowledge of kid-friendly hangouts is lacking, but if you're able to get out for a night on your own, Hamilton's has a great beer selection, the Whistlestop is a great bar, and the Casbah can't be beat for live music.
As far as beaches go, Coronado is my personal favorite, because it's usually less crowded and the water is pretty calm. Ocean beach probably has the best dog beach, though. And Balboa Park is amazing - great just to walk around/hang out/have a picnic, or explore the many museums.
Ho-Dad's and Hash House are great places to eat. The Mission Cafe is also excellent for breakfast. If it's pizza you want, try Bronx Pizza in Hillcrest or Lefty's (for Chicago-style) in North Park.
120. Melissa said:
I have no good advice but can I just say I'm jealous. I sure wish I could drive for a bit and be somewhere warm.
Have a great trip!!
121. Anna said:
We are actually *leaving* San Diego tomorrow to head up to Mammoth and go to the snow for a few days. Crazy, I know.
Lots of great ideas have been posted here (I actually sent this link to my husband, because I am going to try some of these restaurant suggestions) but I would also throw in the Corvette Diner in Hillcrest. It is a great place to take kids. They have 50's music, the staff all sing, and the waitress are rude (on purpose) and throw straws at you. The kids can be loud and it won't bother anyone.
Hope you have a great trip!
122. Cynthia said:
The best time to go to the SD Zoo is first thing in the morning. The tour bus (best part of the park -- sit on the top and you can see everything!) is empty and the animals are all awake and being fed. We rode the bus all round the zoo first and then walked to see everything up close. You can get pretty close to the pandas, which is really cool.
123. Esther said:
El Rinconcito http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:offi...
it's a ways out, but, you will be the only white people there, there is a live mexican band, and you can order a bucket full of delicious seafood cooked in amazing sauce and a bucket of coronas with fresh lime.
124. HDC said:
Coronado Island & the Hotel Del Coronado specifically. The hotel was in the movie "Some Like it Hot" and the interior is still very much the same. Terrific antique stuff everywhere. Dunno how pooch friendly the beaches round there are tho.
125. Tera said:
Corvette Diner! Fun 50's style diner, great food, fun times!
3946 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 542-1001
www.cohnrestaurants.com
126. not without art said:
Del Mar is the dog beach to hit - our guy Augie loved it there. It is just North of the San Diego area. http://www.flickr.com/photos/13910262@N02/1626097354/in/set-721576025102...
The funky furniture shopping for unique finds is in the area just North of Balboa Park.
And the Mission Hills district is great for family/dog walks - beautiful safe interesting area to explore.
Enjoy
127. Anonymous said:
Oh, I almost forgot--be sure to stop at Seaport Village. It is very quaint, has lots of little shops, good food, etc.
And I don't know if you have a GPS or are into geocaching, but if you're interested, there is some great geocaching around the area and it takes you to places you wouldn't normally see (although sometimes it can be a hike).
Also, Mount Soledad (I think) at night overlooks the city, is beautiful, and is said to be a very spiritual place.
--Elizabeth
128. Steven Citron-Pousty said:
It's all about LegoLand!! They have outside dog runs there so you can give the dogs a bowl of water and then go play, ride some rides, eat half-way decent food for less than the cost of a european sports car, and not spend all day waiting in line for 2 rides. It is small enough that you are also not exhausted from walking half way around san diego all day. As an animal lover you should definitely avoid Sea World - depressing...
129. Amy said:
I'm not going to San Diego, but I'm saving all these comments for when I do...it's like an insider's travel guide.
Heather, each month you should pick another city and ask your readers for recommendations.
Have a great time in SD. I have family in SLC and they are freezing their asses off with those 12 degree temps. It makes these 40 degree days in NYC seem balmy.
130. watersign said:
As someone who's only been in SD for 5 months, I love reading the comments for suggestions. I can only second a lot of the suggestion already made:
Balboa Park and La Jolla are must-sees.
I love getting slices at Bronx Pizza.
Best fish tacos ever at South Beach Bar & Grill in Ocean Beach.
Extraordinary Desserts will knock your socks off.
131. Anita said:
I've not read through all of the comments, but what about this place
http://www.legoland.com/california.htm
132. Anonymous said:
we do the sock-snout thing with our dog too! and the cat, and even the babies(hubby has great beeeg feet)_
133. andrea said:
Love the video. I actually miss that little high pitched puppy bark. Good for Chuck for standing his ground.
Have fun in SD. I would give anything to get out of the dreary Seattle weather. I'd be thrilled for either sun or snow--just something besides this gray.
134. Valerie said:
I second the Sushi Deli recommendations. My husband and I have gone to San Diego on a whim to eat there. Cheap and good. It's loud--and you should go earlier in the evening if you're going with Leta. The line to get in gets insane at times...
For breakfast please eat at The Hash House A-Go-Go. You will love it. That's all I can say. It's on Fourth, near Balboa park and just south of the Hillcrest community.
I lived in San Diego for two years and miss it so badly! Have a great time. :) I wish I was going, too.
135. Karen Sugarpants said:
Look at Mylie's reaction!
http://karensugarpants.com/2008/01/18/dog-social-networking/
136. Nevada said:
If you're in San Diego, you simply must try the lobster tacos. The best are at World Famous restaurant and pub on Mission Beach. They're about $4/each, or if you go on either monday or wednesday afternoons (i can't remember which day it is, sorry) after 4pm I believe its their featured appy and they are only $1.50. To die for! Unfortunately they are a good 24 hr drive from Vancouver, British Columbia.
Have fun!
137. Madeline said:
Went to SDSU, love SD!!
The Zoo is the best in the world. THE BEST.
Gaslamp = cheesy. Croce's really cheesy. Cheesy tolerance is all about your mood!
Little Italy = adorable, great shops and a v. cool furniture store totally your style. and I used to work with the owner in Hollywoodland:
http://www.mixturehome.com/about_facts.php
North Park = also v. cute, yummy restaurants etc.
South Mish = Beach radness, The Mission for breakfast, total SD
Pacific Beach, La Jolla = love it all
138. Becca said:
I live in the OC and here are a few things that I think haven't been mentioned:
Ghiradelli Chocolate Shop/Ice Cream Parlor on 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp District. Hot Fudge to die for.
Museum of Man in Balboa Park.
Model train museum is there too, in case Leta is into that. Or Jon.
Outlets in Carlsbad have a Crate and Barrel outlet, plus Stride Rite if you like their shoes for Leta. No crocs as far as I know.
Have fun! San Diego is one of my favorite places in the world!
139. Lara said:
Yeah, yeah, it's commercial and it's hokey, but LegoLand really is lots of fun and Leta is the perfect age to really enjoy it. You'll LOVE the zoo - it's the best one in the country, imho.
Have a great trip!
140. Lara said:
Yeah, yeah, it's commercial and it's hokey, but LegoLand really is lots of fun and Leta is the perfect age to really enjoy it. You'll LOVE the zoo - it's the best one in the country, imho.
Have a great trip!
141. Pretty Lush said:
Southern California has missed you. She told me.
The Gaslamp District is great for wandering and eating. I've been in several different areas of San Diego and loved them all, so you're bound to have fun. I hope you all love it!
142. Madeline said:
p.s. I have two Goldens who must be separated during chew flip time else they tear out each other's throats! Goldens, sheesh!
p.p.s. and MAKE SURE you eat many many burritos in SD. mmmm, burritos.
143. brittany said:
SPREAD
Even if you don't eat at this restaurant, stop by & get some of the most delicious (don't call it peanut butter) peanut SPREAD you've ever put in your mouth. EVER. I actually haven't even eaten at the restaurant, but if it's 1/10th as good as the peanut spread, it will be heavenly. I can highly recommend the butterscotch, the dark chocolate cherry, and the mocha almond.
My ex boyfriend lived in San Diego while I lived in Seattle & I made him send me batches regularly.
144. Christy said:
Welcome to Southern California Heather! We up here in Ventura County are freezing our A@#%!'s off (I think it's like 55 degrees or something....hahaha!!)Anyway, my whole family lives in San Diego. It's a great town. ENJOY!!! I know everyone has pretty much covered where to go, but I soooo agree with the Gaslamp district. So FUN!!!! Wonderful martini bars if you can get out just the two of you. If not, it is a really kid freindly town. Hey - maybe the Hippo at the San Diego zoo can babysit for you! She did have babies not too long ago.....Anyway, enjoy!
145. Anonymous said:
I just took my two year old to the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla and she loved it. They have a tidepool area outside that overlooks La Jolla Cove that is beautiful. Plus, the kids can handle starfish, fake lobsters and the like. You could couple that with George's and a trip to check out La Jolla Cove. It shouldn't be missed. In and Out Burger! Rubios! (You've got to try fish tacos no matter how gross you think they sound. Trust all of us on this one.) I'd vote for the Wild Animal Park over the Zoo - they have a kids water play area if it's warm enough. Skip Ocean Beach - it's a little sketch. Definitely the dog beach in Del Mar. I am sure Leta would love, love, love Legoland. If you want to go shopping, they've got beautiful outlets in Carlsbad that you can bring dogs to since it is an outdoor mall. They even have poopy bags for your convenience. The outlets could be coupled with the dog beach, which is maybe 10 minutes away on the 5. Julian is a beautiful, old rustic mining town that is a little over an hour away. The fire got very close, so hopefully it doesn't resemble a hellscape now. That is something you might want to find out before investing the time/drive. You've got to get apple pie and ice cream there. Good stuff, and there are lots of little places to walk the dogs on the way there (although you might have to get the food to go once there). Have fun! It's a great city...
146. Abby said:
Here's a picture I took of the hippos at San Diego zoo.. I think they have two exhibits!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abigailginsberg/2147016696/in/set-721576035...
147. Anonymous said:
You WANT - no you possibly NEED to go here for dinner when you're in San Diego. They're north of the city, but the food is excellent, the beer is excellent and it's just an amazing place to eat.
http://www.stonebrew.com
148. Vegas Baby! said:
For a "manly" museum experience, the Midway downtown is pretty nice (it's an aircraft carrier!)
http://www.midway.org/site/pp.asp?c=eeIGLLOrGpF&b=3038957
If you and the little one like to watch the little choo-choos go around and around, you can't beat the model railroad museum in Balboa Park.
http://www.sdmodelrailroadm.com/
And I wholeheartedly second (and third) the Extraordinary Desserts recommendation, which is near Balboa Park (hell, I'm a guy and even MY eyes rolled back in my head after trying one of their chocolate creations).
http://www.extraordinarydesserts.com/balboapark.htm
And this may not be the trip for it, but if you're looking for a romantic, tasty dinner (or tapas place), you can visit Cafe Sevilla in the Gaslamp District. Fantastic Sangria and Spanish food (yes, Spanish, not Mexican). Also, Flamenco dinner show packages and a dance club and flamenco in the tapas bar, for much pre-bow-chicka-bow-wow good times.
http://www.cafesevilla.com/SanDiego/
149. softservegirl said:
I live in San Diego and go to all the dog beaches. the best dog beach is on Coronado Island. Visit The Hotel Del Coronado (big white old thing of a Hotel that was the backdrop for SOME LIKE IT HOT with Marilyn Monroe) ...and down the beach from the hotel is the doggie beach. If you like, email me when you are in town and I'll meet you there with my pup. that would be a blast to have a doggie party!
other good dog beaches are: OB dog beach and Del Mar dog beach though you have to pay for parking and I got a ticket last time I was there.
The BEST fish tacos in San Diego are located at EL CUERVO on Washington and 1st Avenue, in Hillcrest (which is close to balboa park and the zoo). the BEST. Also order a chicken abodabo taco with guac. rocks your mouth like no other taco!
Best Thai - THAI AMARIN in hillcrest again, and all near the zoo and balboa park.
http://thaicuisine.com/r/3183.html
good luck, and have a blast! we are having some very decent weather.
150. Natalie said:
Forgot to mention - for sunsets check out the Torrey Pines glider port near the Salk Institute. Or Sunset Cliffs, just south of Ocean Beach - I got these shots there last weekend...
151. Chloe said:
I'd steer clear of Extraordinary Desserts. Yes, looks fabulous but was waiting in line to use the restroom and saw a huge critter moseying around in the storeroom, not a hippo nor a dog but had a long skinny tail. I realize that all places have critters but in the daylight?
Hippos at the San Diego Zoo: don't get too close. That's where the cute little babies were rubbing their behinds against the wall, spraying everyone with urine.
Have a great time.
152. Anonymous said:
At the San Diego zoo, at the right times, you can feed the giraffes. Coolest thing ever!
153. Amber said:
You know what this video totally reminds me of?
This story. Dog: STARVING!
(I haven't ever been able to stop quoting this story. It's amazing.)
154. Katrena said:
Go to STUDIO DINER. Open 24 hours a day. You won't regret it!
155. Owen P said:
Dang it, I forgot a few eateries. Blue Water Grill on India st. in Mission Hills has great fresh fish. I second the recommendation of Miguel's, though I would recommend to steer clear of Rubio's and look for non-chain restaurants to get your fish tacos at. Like Blue Water.
156. sylvia said:
1) there are hippos
2) balboa park, right near the zoo, is lovely to stroll around in
3) the torrey pines beach area is small,lovely and often times not crowded
157. holly said:
Please eat the FRENCH TOAST at Mission Cafe...right in Mission Beach. Please do this for me! I lived in san diego for nearly 4 years and couldn't get enough of that stuff. Now I am in San Francisco and I am cold.
Also, I added your entry today about Gold's Gym to my long laundry list of reasons I no longer consider myself Mormon...
158. Sarah said:
I know it's been said, but Birch Aquarium in La Jolla is a great place to visit. It's small, but has a "petting" area for Leta, where you can hold starfish, etc.
Also, I second the recommendation for World Famous, great restaurant, great atmosphere. Plus, there are lots of fun shops nearby.
And if you make it to the zoo, they have a whole Children's Zoo with lots of activities for the little ones. But sadly, the animals will definitely try to make eye contact with Leta.
159. Angie said:
So, I'm watching the video and my beagle puppy starts running around like a crazed maniac wondering where I'm hiding your crying puppy. Thanks for the laugh.
160. Nicole said:
www.sandiegan.com ------> lots of great maps, walking tours, discount coupons, restaurant recommendations, etc. you can pick up an actual copy at lots of grocery stores/newsstands/hotels down here. it's also compact so you can carry it around without that unfortunate "giant floating map" look that so many tourists bring with them.
161. Valeri said:
Extraordinary Desserts, 2929 Fifth Avenue, SD. It's right next to Balboa Park, and down the street from Hillcrest. Has the most amazing things you will ever put in your mouth. Hillcrest is a fabulous little place all on it's own. It's the West Hollywood of San Diego and if you walk down Fifth you will find a handful of used bookstores and thrift stores (as well as one fabulous soap store called...dammit. I forget). At the back of one of the books stores (it's the biggest one on the same side of the street as WaMu) is what I call "Deathrow of Books". It's this sad little back room (a hall, really) where they put all the books that no one wants. Everything in there is 50 cents. Save them! Save them for me, Heather!
162. Colleen Sherman said:
YES THEY HAVE HIPPOS AND THEY ARE AWESOME!!! I have pictures of our recent trip to the zoo on my blog and there are pics of the hippos!! You are only a thin piece of glass away from them!! You'll love it!! It was my favorite part that day (besides the Corona stand which we didn't see until 1/2 through our visit).
http://colleensherman.blogspot.com/2007/12/san-diego-zoo.html
163. Lizzie said:
How cool to learn that so many San Diegans read Dooce! I'm adding some places that haven't been mentioned yet to the long list of excellent recommendations you've already received.
Ponce's Mexican restaurant in Kensington, right off the 15 at Adams Ave (http://www.poncesrestaurant.com/)
the Big Kitchen in South Park, owned and operated by Judy the Beauty on Duty (