Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [232]
Catalina Express ( 800-481-3470; www.catalinaexpress.com; 34675 Golden Lantern; ) runs daily trips to Avalon on Catalina Island. Round-trip, it costs $61/47.50/55 for adults/children two to 11/seniors. One-way trips last approximately 1½ hours. Parking costs $9 per day.
EATING
Traveling families, chattering businessmen and the occasional lonely pirate fill up on hearty diner-style dishes at the Brig ( 949-496-9046; 34461 Golden Lantern; mains $8-11; breakfast, lunch & dinner; ). Those wanting straight-off-the-boat fresh fish can order as much as they can eat from the counter at pier-side Jon’s Restaurant ( 949-496-2807; 34665 Golden Lantern; mains under $12; 11am-7pm Sun-Thu, 11am-8pm Fri & Sat, longer hr Apr-Oct). After a long day on the yacht, you should escort your cherie amour to bright and breezy Gemmell’s ( 949-234-0063; 34471 Golden Lantern; mains lunch $8-19, dinner $17-29) for award-winning, French-inspired cuisine.
Catalina Island
If you’re planning a trip to Catalina Island, you can pick up the ferry 8 miles south of Laguna Beach in Dana Point. For details, Click here.
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San Diego County
* * *
HISTORY
DOWNTOWN & AROUND
ORIENTATION
INFORMATION
SIGHTS
TOURS
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
SLEEPING
EATING
DRINKING
ENTERTAINMENT
SHOPPING
GETTING THERE & AWAY
GETTING AROUND
CORONADO & THE BEACHES
INFORMATION
SIGHTS
ACTIVITIES
SLEEPING
EATING
DRINKING & ENTERTAINMENT
SHOPPING
GETTING THERE & AROUND
LA JOLLA
INFORMATION
SIGHTS
ACTIVITIES
SLEEPING
EATING
DRINKING & ENTERTAINMENT
SHOPPING
SAN DIEGO NORTH COAST
DEL MAR
SOLANA BEACH
CARDIFF-BY-THE-SEA
ENCINITAS
CARLSBAD
OCEANSIDE
AROUND SAN DIEGO
JULIAN
TIJUANA, MEXICO
* * *
New York has its cabbie, Chicago its bluesman and Seattle its coffee-drinking boho. San Diego, meanwhile, has the valet guy in a polo shirt, khaki shorts and crisp new sneakers. With his perfectly tousled hair, great tan (of course) and gentle enthusiasm, he looks like he’s on a perennial break from college, and when he wishes you welcome, he really means it.
This may sound pejorative, but our intention is quite the opposite. San Diego calls itself ‘America’s Finest City’ and its breezy confidence and sunny countenance filter down even to folks you encounter every day on the street.
What’s not to love? When much of the nation shivers under blankets of rain and snow, San Diegans picnic in the park and slice through waves on surfboards. Beaches or forests are rarely more than 10 minutes’ drive away. It’s America’s eighth-largest city, yet we’re hard-pressed to think of a place of any size that’s more laid-back.
San Diego bursts with world-famous attractions for visitors, including the zoo, SeaWorld, Legoland and the museums of Balboa Park. The ritzy, picturesque enclave of La Jolla has pride of place on San Diego’s coast. Conventions are big business too, and next to the convention center is the always-buzzing Gaslamp Quarter. San Diego’s beach communities are great for hanging 10, dipping in the world’s largest pool (aka the Pacific), listening to a live band or dancing ‘til the wee hours, and there’s a burgeoning culinary scene throughout the county. As corny as it sounds, San Diego indeed has something for everyone, from museums and naval ships to shopping and shell-collecting.
* * *
HIGHLIGHTS
Museum-hopping in Balboa Park
Swilling margaritas in Old Town and pub-crawling downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter
Marveling at the Hotel del Coronado
Cooing at koalas and pandering to pandas at the San Diego Zoo
Skating seaside in Pacific Beach
Hang gliding, kayaking or giving your credit card a workout in La Jolla
Sampling the next great exotic cuisine in Hillcrest
Watching the sunset