1. The Pennant
City: Mission Beach, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (858) 488-1671
Address: 2893 Mission Boulevard
Description: Far from fancy, the Pennant is a quintessential Mission Beach bar that has been around forever. Patrons shoot the breeze, watch a game on TV, and generally just hang out in T-shirts and flip-flops. The upstairs deck is a godsend on warm summer evenings; smokers enjoy it year-round. The crowd is mixed, from college students to grizzled beach rats to tourists, so everyone fits right in. For more of the same, cross the street and visit The Beachcomber.
2. Cheap Rentals
City: Mission Beach, CA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (858) 488-9070, (800) 941-7761
Address: 3689 Mission Boulevard
Description: Wow! Their rates are cheap. And there’s a wonderful variety of equipment for use on the boardwalk, the bay, or the beach a block away. In addition to beach cruiser bikes, the baby joggers, in-line skates, and skateboards go for $5.00 an hour or $17.00 for 24 hours. They also rent beach chairs and umbrellas for $5.00 a day. Or pay $20.00 for a day of fun: you get a bike, snorkel gear, and map leading you to La Jolla Cove for a day of snorkeling. Or pay $35.00 for the whole weekend.