1. Motel 6
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (619) 464-7151, (800) 466-8356
Address: 7621 Alvarado Road
Description: Like other Motel 6’s throughout the country, the East County motels are clean and functional. Kids accompanying an adult stay free. There are various discounts available, including ones for AARP members. If you’re going to spend your time here visiting the local attractions or doing business, then it’s tough to go wrong with the basics, and Motel 6 has them down pat. As with other Motel 6 hotels, your pet is welcome in these two facilities.
2. Grossmont Hospital
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Health Care
Telephone: (619) 465-0711
Address: 5555 Grossmont Center Drive
Description: Affiliated with Sharp HealthCare, this is the largest and most comprehensive hospital in East County. Grossmont celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006. In addition to acute-care services, it offers cardiac care, women’s services, rehabilitation, orthopedics, cancer treatment, pediatric care, mental health services, a hospice program, and hyperbaric medicine. Also, the hospital has a comprehensive sleep-disorder program, unique in the area. The hospital operates the David and Donna Long Center for Cancer Treatment and Cardiovascular Diagnosis, which was the first cancer center in San Diego County. In addition, there’s a Senior Resource Center and Women’s Health Center on-site.
3. Coffee Merchant
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (619) 460-7393
Address: 5500 Grossmont Center Drive
Description: Whether you want one of many types of tea, espresso, decaf, or the real thing, this is a great little coffeehouse for grabbing a quick cup or hanging out with friends (or a good book). There’s a complete espresso and dessert bar and live music every Friday evening, played by a jazz group, perhaps, or a guitarist singing Latino melodies.
4. La Mesa Racquetball
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (619) 460-3500
Address: 4330 Palm Avenue
Description: Racquetball can be played on nine courts here, 365 days a year. The courts are open Monday through Friday 3:30 to 10:30 p.m and weekends 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can also play Wallyball here: that’s indoor volleyball that incorporates the walls for a whole new aspect to the game.
5. La Mesa Ocean Grill
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (619) 463-1548
Address: 5465 Lake Murray Boulevard
Description: Here’s the place if you’ve been craving lobster in a big way. They’re big, sweet, and straight from New England. The whole Maine lobster (served seasonally) includes deviled clam, clam fritters, corn on the cob, red potatoes, and corn bread. The Big Kahuna Fried Fisherman’s Plate will stuff you with Arctic cod, shrimp, scallops, calamari, crab cake, deviled clam, clam fritters, french fries, coleslaw, and corn bread. You may just want to order one dinner and split it between two. If you’re not fond of fish, try the chicken scaloppini. Ask about the daily specials. La Mesa Ocean Grill, a find in East County, is open daily for lunch and dinner.
6. Mario’S De La Mesa
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (619) 461-9390
Address: 8425 La Mesa Boulevard
Description: “This is down-home cooking,” say some Insiders after sampling the food at this lesser-known, but wonderful nonetheless, Mexican restaurant. The food arrives in generous helpings, the menu is extensive, and the service is better than home. You can be sure to get smiles with every order here. There’s a Don Gallo sauce that is a creamy covering for some of the seafood dishes. It’s innovative and downright tasty, too. There’s a “build your own” taco bar and all the standards you’ve come to expect from Mexican restaurants. It’s open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On Sunday it opens for brunch and then heads straight to dinner.
7. Village Garden Restaurant & Bakery
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (619) 462-9100
Address: 8384 La Mesa Boulevard
Description: Home-style cooking with flair is what you’ll find at the Village Garden Restaurant & Bakery. Go hungry—this is down-home, stick-to-your-ribs cooking. Consider the Yankee eggs, served with pot roast at breakfast, or the half-pound bruschetta burger with cheese, garlic, and olive oil. Have a hankering for chicken and dumplings? How about all-you-can-eat fish and chips (served Fridays). The mesquite grill on the terrace is fired up on Thursday and Friday nights in the summer, when diners clamor for the tender baby back ribs. You can dine inside or on the patio. The eatery is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Wednesday, and Thursday through Sunday it’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
8. Grossmont Center
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (619) 465-2900
Address: 5500 Grossmont Center Drive
Description: The Grossmont Center has attracted shoppers from East County and the mountain communities since it was founded in 1965; it’s one of the few in the county not in the Westfield chain. Currently there are more than 100 stores. Anchor stores include Macy’s and Target. You’ll find specialty stores that are unique, including a half-dozen jewelry stores and Shavers and Small Appliances, as well as Barnes & Noble and a Cost Plus World Market.
9. Barnes & Noble
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (619) 667-2870
Address: 5500 Grossmont Center Drive
Description: Like others in the chain, these have a real commitment to customer service. All Barnes & Noble stores are open seven days a week and have large children’s departments. If you need help finding one of the more than 150,000 titles in stock, the staff will be glad to assist. Pick up a newsletter to find out about their children’s story hour and author book signings. They have special book clubs for seniors and contemporary fiction. It’s open Sunday until 10:00 p.m.; other days until 11:00 p.m.
10. Yellow Book Road
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (619) 463-4900
Address: 7200 Parkway Drive
Description: This children’s and teachers’ bookstore attracts people from throughout the county because of its wonderful books and good selection of resource materials for teachers. If the staff doesn’t stock what you’re looking for, they will get it. There’s a newsletter and calendar of events, and they draw in famous children’s authors for signings.
11. Chuck E Cheese’S
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (619) 698-4351
Address: 550 Grossmont Center Drive
Description: Put on your best game face, Mom and Dad, and prepare for an assault on the senses. Kids absolutely love Chuck E Cheese’s for its noise, shows, constant activity, games, rides, prizes, and pizza. The motto is “It’s a magical place where a kid can be a kid.” Although it may be a bit much for adults looking for a peaceful meal, the smiles on the kids’ faces make it all worthwhile. Large groups are welcome (call in advance), and birthday parties and other gatherings can be arranged ahead of time. Admission is free, and the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day but Monday.
12. Chuck E Cheese’S
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (619) 698-4351
Address: 5500 Grossmont Center Drive
Description: Okay, so it’s loud inside. Okay, kids run around a lot. And that’s more than okay if you and the kids need to laugh, get wild, and have some fun. This La Mesa restaurant is a carbon copy of others—same pizza, soda, and video and arcade games. This is a popular place for pint-size sports teams. If you’re new in the community, it’s a great place to meet other families.
13. East County Family Ymca
City: La Mesa, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (619) 464-1323
Address: 8881 Dallas Street
Description: The Y is more than just a great place to work out—it’s a kidstuff favorite with important learning programs, child-care resources, summer classes, and camps that are run on age-specific levels. Two facilities offer a great range of services. At the main facility on Dallas Street, there are four lighted tennis courts, a short running path, a skate park, playground, well-equipped, air-conditioned gym with many fitness classes, and a heated outdoor lap pool. The Cameron Family YMCA, at Town Center Community Park in Santee, has a large gym with an excellent gymnastics training program and dance studio as well as an aquatic center. Y members receive a discount on camps and programs.