I’ve always had a fascination with stadiums. I love everything about them! So when I heard about the Petco Park tour I knew I had to jump on the chance to take it. I truly enjoyed the tour and was very impressed with the quality and content of it all. I learned some great things about the stadium, the Padres and San Diego! The whole thing was definitely… dare I say it… a home run!

Quick Facts:
Availability: Sunday – Friday: 10:30am and 12:30pm; Saturday 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm
Cost: Adults: $11; Seniors (60 & over): $8; Kids (12 & under): $7; Military with active duty ID: $9; Season Ticket Holder Adult: $8
Duration: Tours run approximately 80 minutes and include 1.5 miles of walking
Highlights:
Some highlights include going in the visitors locker room, sitting in the press box and getting to go in the Padres dugout!

* Please note that tour destinations and times are subject to change at any time without notice.

Whether you are a local or visitor, you don’t want to miss this tour! It’s the perfect thing to do in San Diego. Tour tickets are available online at padres.com or at the Advance Ticket Windows at Petco Park. For more information, please call the Tour Hotline at (619) 795-5011 or email a request to tours@padres.com. Also, of you’re looking for a place to grab a drink for happy hour, check out the So Diego Tours list of some of the best happy hours in the Gaslamp Quarter HERE.

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Basking in the sun of San Diego’s southern point, Ben Stubbs begins to understand the magic of ‘America’s finest city’.

Down the Interstate 5 freeway from Los Angeles, the urban sprawl is unending. The beachside communities of Orange County are bustling and full of tourists. We descend on San Diego and drive as far south as we can along the peninsula beside the hooked Coronado Bridge to the beach community of Coronado, which is nestled between Point Loma and Mexico. Behind us are boutique beer bars, theatres, coffee houses and nail salons. Coronado is quaint and manicured, though this wasn’t always so.

In 1867, Alonzo Horton was a man of vision. Suffering with tuberculosis and seemingly on the way out, he wanted to find a place in the sun to live out his days. He’d heard about the potential of a place of Spanish missions to the south of his San Francisco home, called “San Diego”, so he took a ship down the Pacific Coast and when he spied the dusty, waterless plains covered in rabbits, a shallow harbour and a few decaying buildings he promptly fell in love and bought the surrounding 324 hectares for a total of $US265. Horton dredged the bay to allow ships to drop anchor and began to entice sailors and businessmen looking for opportunities to make a quick buck with the potential of the city on the border. Horton’s plan worked, and in 1885 a piano maker and a railroad promoter by the names of Babcock and Storey arrived and bought the Coronado Peninsula for $110,000, and soon after they began construction on the Hotel del Coronado.

This is where our San Diego history tour starts as we begin to understand the story of “America’s finest city”, as it is often called.

I am on the Coronado walking tour with local historian Nancy Cobb. We start in the grounds of the “Del”, as it is known here. It was built by 300 Chinese labourers, an architect from Indiana who’d never built a hotel, let alone a wooden Victorian beach resort with red turrets, and the two entrepreneurs Babcock and Storey, who were anticipating the rush from the railway that never came to town. The hotel was, at the time, the largest in the world, and the sprawling complex of 750 rooms covered more than three hectares.

We walk to the reading room of the Glorietta Bay Inn across the road. This grand old place of marble staircases and wooden floors was once the home of John D. Spreckels, the entrepreneur who is credited with much of San Diego’s success. He took over ownership of the “Del” in 1892.

From the Glorietta Bay Inn we walk through a stand of Norfolk pines, brought here by Kate Sessions, who was the horticulturist for the city. In the 19th century, San Diego was a barren desert so every tree, plant and blade of grass had to be imported. Sessions acquired specimens from sailors who had travelled around the world, including those who had been to Australia. We pass a spiked dragon tree, from the Canary Islands, which also featured in Marilyn Monroe’s film Some Like It Hot, which was shot around the Hotel Del in 1958.

Nancy takes us for a walk along Coronado Beach. This was named the best beach in the US in 2012. From the glinting sand we see Baja in Mexico to our south and the military bases of San Diego to the north. Our walk takes us past the enormous houses of the wealthy and to Star Circle, where Nancy takes us across the park to the edge of a modest yellow cottage. This was L. Frank Baum’s house while he was writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It’s even suggested (by many locals, anyway) that his Emerald City was based on the manicured beauty of Coronado.

As darkness begins to fall, I head over the arched Coronado Bridge to downtown San Diego to continue my history tour. I’m spending an evening with So Diego Tours on its Brothels, Bites and Booze visit to the Gaslamp Quarter, the refurbished district that is full of restaurants, theatres, pubs and clubs. Once the potential of San Diego was realised as a port and later as the jumping-off point for Tijuana during Prohibition days, it became a centre for all things best kept under the table, at least according to our guide for the evening, Deborah Hayman.

“This used to be like modern Las Vegas. What happened in San Diego stayed in San Diego,” she says as we note the former spot for the “First and Last Chance Saloon”, now the Toscana restaurant. At its peak there were 120 brothels and 350 hookers working the streets of the Gaslamp, Deborah tells us. “We’re going to be spending lots of time on the corners of the Gaslamp Quarter tonight,” she says. “No relation to the old profession here, though.”

Back then, San Diego was known as a “stingray” town because a night out with the women of the red-light district would sting more than a stingray barb. We stop at 5th and J streets, at the Grand Pacific Inn and Suites. This has been here since 1880 and it was the first women’s health centre in San Diego.

Our first food stop is Bolillo Tortas. We share dishes of rice milk, stuffed jalapenos, corn on the cob and pinto bean soup to represent the Mexican history of the area.

Next is the Brooklyn Hotel, where famous lawman Wyatt Earp lived for seven years while he managed 21 gambling and dance halls in the city.

After the talk of wine and women it’s time to stop for a tipple of San Diego beer; the boutique-brewery industry has boomed here, and at Rock Bottom we’re given a five-beer taster. This is in homage to the craft-brewing industry, for which San Diego has been named the boutique-beer capital of the US.

Prohibition hit the city hard, and it allowed Tijuana to begin its relationship with San Diego as a place of excess. There are still many underground pubs here that are literally under the trapdoors of the Gaslamp Quarter as a tribute to the 1920s.

The re-imagining of the Gaslamp Quarter in the 1980s and ’90s was a huge success after it had become one of the more decrepit parts of the city. The streets are booming with Friday night revellers celebrating at some of the more than 200 restaurants, bars and clubs in the area. The police lights mix with the flashing neon of the strip. We walk between the people and bicycle taxis to Vin De Syrah and a late-night cabaret show, and it seems as if the night is just beginning in San Diego.

So what happened to Alonzo Horton’s dream? Well, there’s still no fresh water or railway, and they’re still dredging the bay – though if you ask the 3 million San Diegans who now call this “rabbit town” home, it seems Horton was certainly on to something.

Ben Stubbs travelled with assistance from visitcalifornia.com.au.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/travel/on-the-edge-of-a-dream-20130502-2iu9s.html#ixzz2SdWsqvqL

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Parking can be difficult to find downtown. We advise arriving early in order to ensure you arrive on time for the tour.

1) Street Parking: Monday – Saturday: 8am – 6pm: 2 hour parking and metered; After 6pm free until 8am; Sundays: Free

* Beware of parking signs. Times may vary according to location and special events*

2) Parking Structures:

Park it at Market:
Location: Market Street & 6th Ave. San Diego, CA 92101
Park It On Market Rates:
- $1.00 per hour or part thereof
- $15.00 maximum per day
Mon-Sun 24 hours
$ 1.00 / 1 hour
$ 8.00 / daytime
In after 3am out by 6pm
$ 8.00 / evening
Fri-Sat in after 6pm out by 3am
$ 3.00 / evening
Sun-Thu in after 6pm out by 3am
$12.00 / event

6th and K Parkade:
Location: 6th and K St. San Diego, CA 92101
Mon-Sun 24 hours
$ 1.00 / 1 hour
$ 8.00 / daytime
In after 3am out by 6pm
$ 5.00 / evening
Sun-Thu in after 6pm out by 3am
$ 9.00 / evening

*Horton Plaza (324 Horton Plaza) no longer offers free validation with parking*

3) Valet: Various hotels in the area offer valet parking to the public. They will have signs out on the sidewalk listing pricing.

Tequila, Tacos and Tombstones: Old Town

1) Historic Park: There are parking lots all around the State Historic Park. Click HERE to see a map of the area and available parkinglots

2) On the Street: Street parking is available all throughout Old Town. Parking on San Diego Ave. is usually 2 hour parking from 8am – 6pm.

*Do not park in the structure attached to Cafe Coyote*

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In case you have not yet heard about Donut Bar, it is quite a unique place. Located at 631 B St., their one-of-a-kind creations are truly a delight for your taste buds. Lemon pistachio, Saigon cinnamon & sugar, and a bacon maple bar are just a few examples of these heavenly creations. (**Note: they create different doughy treats everyday so if you want to check and see if they have your favorite that day, check out Donut Bar on Facebook or Tumblr.)

After a short walk over, (this was our attempt to justify the seven donuts we were about to order!) we were greeted by the sweet aroma of Donut Bar. Just to the left of the door you will find the menu of available donuts for the day. When you walk inside you will see all the tantalizing options laid out behind the glass for you to admire. With so many one-of-a-kind donuts to choose from, it took us at least five minutes to finally make our decision. We ended up selecting two crème brulee, one raspberry round, one starbucks tribute, a few of the chocolate bars, and a maple bar! We thanked the lovely staff, grabbed some napkins, and hurried out the door to open our box of donuts right there! We didn’t see the point in waiting until we got back to the office to enjoy our donuts so we began sampling them as we walked. Our walk went something like this: take a bite, pass it to the next person, then bite the next one, pass, and repeat! I thoroughly enjoyed the Starbucks tribute; it had the perfect hint of coffee flavored frosting on top of the moist doughy base. For those of you who like filled donuts, we highly recommend the crème brulee and raspberry round for some burst in your mouth flavor! My only regret this time was not trying the lemon pistachio donut, but I guess this only means another field trip in the near future is a MUST!

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As the birthplace of San Diego, Old Town is rich in history combining a beautiful park setting and historical buildings with tasty restaurants, some of the best hotels in San Diego and fun events all year round. It’s the perfect destination for a day strolling through the boutique shops, sipping margaritas or making a night of it and enjoying live entertainment at many of the local restaurants.

For visitors interested in the supernatural, Old Town is home to the supposedly haunted Whaley House. This isn’t just any old haunted house. The Whaley House is known as the most haunted house in the entire country according to the Travel Channel’s America’s Most Haunted, with a long history of death and misfortune from suicide to hangings on the property.  Of course the paranormal activity in the Whaley House cannot be confirmed, but there sure is a lot of evidence to suggest it is indeed haunted. From apparitions to visitors hearing footsteps, a trip to Whaley House Museum is a must for fans of the supernatural in San Diego.

Old Town is home to over 25 restaurants including the popular Mexican eateries Casa De Reyes, El Fandango and Old Town Mexican Café Restaurant. It’s overwhelming to choose just one place to eat in this culinary Mecca so locals recommend taking the Tequila, Tacos and Tombstones: an Old Town Culinary and History Tour with So Diego Tours. This tour is a foodie’s delight with food samples at four to five restaurants, the occasional included alcoholic beverage and an educational guided tour of the history of Old Town. It’s a great way to explore the area, learn a few interesting facts and have a great time eating amazing food and sipping a couple cocktails.

Visitors can take a step back in time to the 1800’s in San Diego when this incredible city was just starting out with a trip to Old Town. It has maintained the distinct architecture and rustic feel of San Diego’s humble beginnings while incorporating modern attractions, restaurants and entertainment. It’s the perfect destination for locals looking for something fun to do on a lazy Sunday or visitors wanting to see a different side of San Diego. It’s also just minutes from the San Diego International Airport, Gaslamp Quarter and attractions like the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld, making it a great home-base for a convenient vacation in San Diego.

This article was written by Carli Leavitt, the editor of SanDiego.com. Carli is a San Diego native with a wealth of knowledge about local attractions, hotels, beaches and nightlife venues in Southern California.

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The first place was Fathom Bistro Bait and Tackle.  I had no idea where we were going, but this little place was a fisherman’s dream come true!  Nestled on a fishing pier in Shelter Island, the Bait & Tackle shop’s second half was a mini craft beer bar serving 15 beers on tap, home made sausages, burgers and the World Famous Fathom Explodo Dog.

Beers on tap are listed out with a price per pint and alcohol percentage. 

Nautical themed decor, Jacques Cousteau posters, and a National Geographics’ book shelf give this place a fun vibe to relax in between fishing sessions.

After our first beer, we were off!  There were about 20 people on trek to Pacific Beach, and we arrived safe and thirsty at California Kebab & Beer Garden for lunch and of course, more beer!

Arriving at California Kebab & Beer Garden where Amplified Ale Works brews and serves up their own beer along with other delicious craft beers.

This place not only had amazing beer and food, but the patio allows for some great views to the Pacific!  This is a perfect spot for a quick bite, since it’s has a walk-up counter to place your order.

Order your food, and while you wait for it to come out, belly-up to the bar for some fresh beer.

After satisfying our appetite, we then went on quite the ride around the bay, over the I-5, and finally to the new Coronado Brewing Co. tasting room and brewing facility!  Wheew!

At Coronado Brewing Co.!

This place is massive, and you sit in the actual brewery.  No walls, just beer, jugs and machines!  There were over 20 of their own beers on tap!  You create your own flight, and each taste costs just over $1.

So many to choose from!!

Coronado Brewing Co. just opened right off of Morena Blvd. It’s sooo huge!

After Coronado, we hopped on the bikes and got on the Pacific Coast Highway and into Little Italy to end at Bottle Craft, a little beer boutique with bottles from around the world!

You can do it!!!

Now, if you asked me if I would bike this route again, I’d say maybe.  In my opinion, it was a lengthy ride (about 26 miles).  Don’t get me wrong…I love riding, but when it comes to riding and tasting beer, it can get dangerous and exhausting.  I’m not encouraging anyone to drink and ride.  Have one beer, wait about 40min-1 hour, and head out.  That’s what we did, and it was a great way to socialize and experience some new spots.  I’m really glad we went!  Now, I hope I’ve inspired you to go out and try these craft brew bars!  Get out there!

If you want to explore San Diego like this, give me a call, and I’ll help you coordinate!

(619) 233-8687

Until next time!

-Bianca

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Gang Kitchen
Location:345 6th Ave.
Phone:(619)550-1600
Hours: M-Sun:4PM-Close
Happy Hour:4PM-6PM (At the bar)
Deals:
$2 Lucky Buddha Beer / $5 Gang Cocktails / $5 All Apps
So Diego Picks:
Food: Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice and Szechwan Lobster Crepes
Drink: The Siamese Fireback (Thai-Chili Infused Patron Silver, Lime, Agave, Hibiscus Liqeur, Cointreau)

Searsucker
Location: 611 5th Ave.
Phone: (619)233-7327
Hours: 5PM-6:30PM
Lunch: Mon-Fri:11:30AM-2PM;
Dinner: Sun-Thurs:5:30PM-10PM; Fri-Sat:5PM-11PM
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri:5PM-6PM
Deals:
Food: habanero house pickle $1 / searsucker “beer nuts” $2 / brown butter fries $4 / JOJO tacos $5 / farm bird lollipops + hot sauce + bleu fondue $5 / blackened chicken caeser $6 / artichoke hearts + gruyere + tomato $7 / squid “sweet heat” $7 / cheese toast + tomato soup $8 / two-hand burger + gruyere + onion jam + baconaise $9
Drink: $7 House Infusions / $5 Beer / $7 Featured Cocktail / $7 House Wines
So Diego Picks:
Food: The two-hand burger
Drink: 6 chili vodka bloody

Café Sevilla
Phone: (619)233-5979
Location:353 5th Ave.
Hours:Mon-Thurs:4PM-11PM; Fri-Sat:4PM-1AM; Sun:11AM-7PM
Happy Hour:Mon-Sat:4PM-7PM; Sun:11AM-7PM
Deals: Select Martinis, Sours, Mojitos, Margaritas and Sangrias 50% off / Select Flatbreads, Platters, Tapas and Chef’s Tapas Special 50% off
So Diego Pick:
Food: Scallop and Yellowtail Ceviche and the Dates
Drink: Midnight Mojito (Zaya aged rum, fresh lime juice, sugar, mint and a dash of apricots are combined to create the ultimate mojito) and the Sangarita (The perfect union of Sangria and El Jimador Margarita)

Flemings
Location:380 K St.
Phone:(619)237-1155
Hours:Mon-Sun:5PM-10PM
Happy Hour:Mon-Sun:5PM-7PM
Deals:
Food:$6 Fleming’s Prime Burger w/Cheese & Bacon, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Sweet Chile Calamari, Roasted Mushroom Ravioli, Tenderloin Carpaccio, Wicked Cajun Barbecue Shrimp
Drink: 2 for $6 Blue Moon Seasonal / $6 Manhattans, Vintage Vodka Martinis, Ruby Slippers, Clear Cosmos, Stoli Bombshells, Select Wines by the Glass: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, Shiraz, Cabarnet
So Diego Picks:
Food: Fleming’s Prime Burger w/Chees & Bacon and Sweet Chile Calamari
Drink: Vintage Vodka Martini

Las Hadas
Location: 558 4th Ave.
Phone: (619)232-1720
Hours:M-Th:3PM-12AM;Fri-Sat:12PM-12AM;Sun:10AM-12AM
Happy Hour:M-Th:3PM-7PM; Fri-Sat:12PM-7PM; Sun:2PM-1AM
Late Night Happy Hour:10PM-12PM
Deals:
Drinks:$2 Tecate & Bud Light Drafts, Tequila Poppers / $3 Bottled Beers: Corona, Pacifico & Dos XX Lager / $4 Las Hadas Margaritas, Las Hadas Sangrias, House Wines, Draft Beers / $5 Shots/Drinks: Espolon Tequila, Cabo Wabo, Patron, Fireball, Ketel 1, Grey Goose, Jack Daniels, Captain Morgan
Food: $6 Fresh Guacamole, Crispy Calamari, Buffalo Strips, Coconut Shrimp, *Carnitas Tacos (add carne asada $3), Cheese Fries / $7 Chile Verde Burger, Marinate Carne Asada, Ceviche Del Mar, Chicken Quesadilla, Camacho Nachos, Adobo Wings, Chipotle BBQ Ribs, *Pork Sandwich
So Diego Picks:
Food: Fresh Guacamole and Coconut Shrimp (You have to order this!)
Drink: Las Hadas Margarita with Salt

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Whitney Bond is a local chef and writer who loves the challenge of conquering cuisine from all over the world. Get to know her better by taking a peak at her food blog, Little Leopard Book, for all kinds of culinary adventures including her latest Chopped Challenge.

She’ll keep things classic, however, for the night’s demo. Expect to come hungry for the three-course Greek meal including Eggplant Feta Fillo Baskets, followed by the main course, Moussaka and finishing up with Baklava for dessert. You’re welcome to bring your own libations! Greek food isn’t complete without some great wine! The demo and dinner will last approximately three hours and you will leave with copies of Bond’s recipes of the evening in hand. Cost: $60 per person.

Whitney’s Baklava

So bring your friends, your adventurous spirit and be prepared for a night of mythological proportion that even Homer would write about. You won’t be sorry you did!   Book here!

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I’ve heard many a tale about the Potato Chip Rock hike and the biggest draw to doing the hike, at least in my opinion, is the pictures you get to take at the top of the hike! Before going, I asked my friends who had done it before for some advice. These are some of the answers I received…”After last night, you want to do what?”, “It’s mostly uphill”, “It takes at least 3 hours”, “Can I put a tracking system on you for when you pass out and we need to find you on the mountain?” So after these encouraging responses I almost didn’t go, but luckily I had a friend that pushed me to go.

The trail is located in the city of Poway, right near Poway Lake. The Lake Poway Recreational Center is a lovely place with many activities including the park, lake and many hiking trails. We were not sure where to go so we visited the Rangers office where a very nice and informative Ranger gave us some background on the area and told us where to go. The Mt. Woodson trail is the trail you want to take in order to make it to the fun “photo op”.  The Ranger warned us it should take about 3 hours up and 1 hour down. Once pointed in the right direction, we were on our way!

My Experience: I truly enjoyed the Potato Chip Rock hike. It is definitely mostly uphill, but it is beautiful. There are a lot of people on the trail, which can be a good thing or bad thing, depending on your preference. I was in awe of the natural beauty the whole way. It definitely is a change from the city life. I was warned that it was a long hike, but it definitely felt like it went on and on and on. Just when you think you’re almost there, there is the mile checker to tell you that you’ve only gone .5 miles! If I didn’t have the motivation of knowing that I had a killer photo op waiting for me at the top, I probably would’ve quit. We were really glad we stuck with it and made it to the top.

Things I wish I would’ve known: 

1) It really is 3 hours up and 1 hour back.

2) It really is mostly uphill.

3) Make sure you bring water. I was advised to bring a snack. I didn’t really feel the need to have a snack, but it couldn’t hurt to bring one.

4) In order to get on the “potato chip rock” for the photo op you need to jump from one boulder to the next. In my opinion this was a scary jump. Some were doing it with ease… others, ahem me, not so much. I have a busted knee to show for it. You also need to get down somehow, whether it be taking a leap back to the boulder or sliding down the boulder hoping you make it down unscathed.

5) Go in the cooler months. I went on a Sunday at 2pm in January. I would imagine the hike would’ve been a lot harder if it were hot. There is very little shade, so plan accordingly.

6) Stretching before and after is strongly encouraged.

7)  Most importantly: Think of what poses you want to do before you get to the rock! There is a bit of a wait and usually you have to ask strangers to take the picture for you. People are waiting for their turn watching you as you strike your best pose. You don’t want to do that huge hike just to get a horrible picture!

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1)     Ice Skating overlooking one of America’s most beautiful beaches.

That’s right folks, we San Diegans can pretend that it’s cold enough to have a body of water freeze over to ice skate on.  The Hotel del Coronado not only has their iconic Christmas tree lit up, but they have an ice skating rink that overlooks the Pacific!  Open December 15-January 1 from 11:00am – 1:00pm, 2:00pm – 5:00pm, 6:00pm – 9:00pm.  Cost is $25/adult and $20/kids 10 years and younger.

2)     Parade of Lights at the San Diego Bay – December 16

Cuddle up on the embarcadero, Sea Port Village, or Ferry Landing in Coronado for spectacular parade on the Bay.  Motor yachts, sail boats, and even dinghy’s dress up for the holidays to show off their decorating skills to all of San Diego.

3)     The Poinsettia Bowl Band March in the Gaslamp Quarter – December 18

This year, our own SDSU battles it out with BYU for the year’s only true battle of the bands in the heart of Downtown, San Diego.  Each marching band starts at opposite ends of the Gaslamp Quarter, and meets in the middle for a friendly band match.

4)     Pet Parade in the Gaslamp Quarter

San Diego is the 3^rd most dog friendly city in the nation.  It’s no wonder why we dress them in Santa costumes and parade them around the historic district each holiday season.  The Pet Parade dates vary from year to year.  Check it out here.

5)     December Nights

The nation’s largest urban park hosts an outrageously large holiday festival on a Friday and Saturday night in December.  Balboa Park gets decked in lights, carolers, food vendors, beer gardens and even fair rides.  This event is for the people who love to be around large crowds.  The free event attracts hundreds of thousands of guests each year.

6)     Holiday Shows

The Old Globe rolls out the annual How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the San Diego Ballet puts on the legendary Nutcracker, and The San Diego Symphony has their Holiday Pops each season.  Need I say more?

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