Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > California > San Diego
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 07-02-2013, 04:56 AM
 
Location: Phoenix, AZ
872 posts, read 1,000,222 times
Reputation: 1273

Advertisements

Hey guys, I have been living in AZ for about 6 years now and everyone here thinks it's a travesty that I haven't visited SD yet So I am planning on driving out there probably next week if not the week after (including a weekend) so it'd be about 3-4 days. Since I have NEVER been to SD besides stopping there once at the airport (which doesn't count) I have come here for some tips

I think I'd leave here as early as possible in the morning and then that would get me to SD around noon or early afternoon. Some people tell me to look for hotels around hotel circle, Mission Valley,or Coronado. I have seen some good deals online but not sure of the areas really. I guess around or under $100/night is good. I plan not to be in the hotel too much since I'll have my car and will be exploring And I unfortunately don't know anyone over there good enough to be staying at their place

Of course I am wanting to see downtown, the zoo and Balboa Park. Any other suggestions?

Thanks!!! I can't wait
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 07-02-2013, 11:47 AM
 
Location: 92037
4,630 posts, read 10,277,935 times
Reputation: 1955
Awesome. Have fun!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-02-2013, 12:05 PM
 
Location: SoCal
6,420 posts, read 11,600,237 times
Reputation: 7103
This site offers itineraries for various length stays:

San Diego 1-Day Itinerary
2-Day San Diego Itinerary
3-Day Itinerary for San Diego, Ca.

Here are a couple of links for events:

San Diego Events for July 2, 2013 | San Diego Reader
San Diego Events | UTSanDiego.com

What sorts of things do you like to do? Outdoors or indoors? Partying? Museums? Food?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-02-2013, 03:17 PM
 
5,139 posts, read 8,852,840 times
Reputation: 5258
I would suggest leaving PHX around 4 am (or earlier) to avoid driving in the hot, desert sun. And make sure your car is in good condition, don't want to break down (as I did) and thought I would never make it back here. Personally I would just fly and rent a car. Way less stress all the way around.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-02-2013, 04:11 PM
 
Location: San Diego, CA
3,545 posts, read 6,034,824 times
Reputation: 4096
Quote:
Originally Posted by loveautumn View Post
I would suggest leaving PHX around 4 am (or earlier) to avoid driving in the hot, desert sun. And make sure your car is in good condition, don't want to break down (as I did) and thought I would never make it back here. Personally I would just fly and rent a car. Way less stress all the way around.
Just don't do what I did and drive 110 mph on roads that were god knows how hot in 117 degree weather on balding tires in a car with no AC. Because you will surely have a moment, when you have a blowout outside of El Centro where you're standing by the side of the road sweating rivers and cursing your roommate for not putting the jack back in the car the last time he borrowed it, where you're convinced you're gonna die out there..

(To be fair, that was a loooooooooooong time ago, and I've made that drive a bazillion times since, in all sorts of weather, with no issues. Guess I learned my lesson. )
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-02-2013, 04:40 PM
 
Location: Phoenix, AZ
872 posts, read 1,000,222 times
Reputation: 1273
Quote:
Originally Posted by loveautumn View Post
I would suggest leaving PHX around 4 am (or earlier) to avoid driving in the hot, desert sun. And make sure your car is in good condition, don't want to break down (as I did) and thought I would never make it back here. Personally I would just fly and rent a car. Way less stress all the way around.
Good advice!! I got the oil changed very recently and got it checked as well and it's in good condition. I have driven it to Vegas before, but then again that was in November, not the peak of the summer
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-02-2013, 04:50 PM
 
Location: Phoenix, AZ
872 posts, read 1,000,222 times
Reputation: 1273
Quote:
Originally Posted by oddstray View Post
This site offers itineraries for various length stays:

San Diego 1-Day Itinerary
2-Day San Diego Itinerary
3-Day Itinerary for San Diego, Ca.

Here are a couple of links for events:

San Diego Events for July 2, 2013 | San Diego Reader
San Diego Events | UTSanDiego.com

What sorts of things do you like to do? Outdoors or indoors? Partying? Museums? Food?

This is a great site, thanks. I didn't know there was a Safari Park and the regular zoo in SD. Those 3 day itineraries seem like a lot of traveling within the area. I guess I didn't realize the city limits of SD were that large. Then again, look at Phoenix, you could spend at least 45 min driving from one end of it to the next
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-02-2013, 05:03 PM
 
Location: SoCal
6,420 posts, read 11,600,237 times
Reputation: 7103
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jnvlv247 View Post
This is a great site, thanks. I didn't know there was a Safari Park and the regular zoo in SD. Those 3 day itineraries seem like a lot of traveling within the area. I guess I didn't realize the city limits of SD were that large. Then again, look at Phoenix, you could spend at least 45 min driving from one end of it to the next
In case you're thinking of seeing Queen Califia's Magic Circle, it apparently is still closed for repairs: Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-02-2013, 05:09 PM
 
Location: San Diego, CA
3,545 posts, read 6,034,824 times
Reputation: 4096
Quote:
Originally Posted by oddstray View Post
In case you're thinking of seeing Queen Califia's Magic Circle, it apparently is still closed for repairs: Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden
I don't think it's worth driving to Escondido for in general. If you're already going to be up there for some reason (the only two being Stone or the Safari park) then maybe....
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-02-2013, 06:56 PM
 
Location: Bonita, CA
1,300 posts, read 2,026,364 times
Reputation: 1670
Are you taking the 10 or the 8? Either way, try to travel at night or early morning as suggested. Tough thing with that is check in at the hotel...see if you can line up early check in if possible. If you take the 8, you will have to drive up the "grade" just west of Hell Centro. It can be tough on a car in summer.

You will find SD folks are much like AZ folks, in fact alot are cross pollinated throughout the years...with Zonies moving here and us retreating there. I think Zonies are probably the most likely to assimilate here when on vacation and the eventual and unavoidable move here. Remember that your Zonie visitor visa only entitles you to stay here as a guest. If you start house hunting or looking for a job, like most of you do, you will need to take out a "special permit".

Go to the beach.
Go downtown
Go to the zoo and Balboa Park
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > California > San Diego
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:56 PM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top