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January 8, 2024 In Travel

San Diego Trip

When did we go….

  • Jan 5-8, 2024

 

Why did we go…

  • we decided to sneak in a quick trip before our grandson made his escape from the NICU

 

How did we get there…

  • 3 hour direct flight on Westjet
  • hotel was 20 minutes from the airport

 

 

Where did we stay…

Andaz

  • boutique hotel in the heart of the Gaslamp district in downtown San Diego
  • rooftop pool, dining and bar
  • checked out after one day as we weren’t feeling the vibe of downtown San Diego

Tower 23

  • in Pacific Beach on the ocean
  • nice ocean view and 2nd level sitting area overlooking the ocean and promenade

 

 

Where did we eat…

  • Andaz (lunch, rooftop patio at our hotel, nice view, decent food)
  • Juniper and Ivy (dinner, Little Italy area, sat at the kitchen counter, beautiful restaurant, fun vibe, great service and food)
  • Cove House (breakfast, La Jolla, nice outdoor patio overlooking the ocean, good service and food)
  • Torrey Pines Golf Course (lunch with friends Tad and Philly from Dallas, nice setting overlooking the first tee box, average service and food)
  • JRDN (dinner, Tower 23 hotel restaurant, nice ocean view, good food and service)
  • Osteria Romanita (lunch, La Jolla Shores area, cool Italian joint, fun server, very good food)
  • Callie (dinner with friends Don and Donna, downtown, Mediterranean cuisine, nice ambiance, average service, good food)
  • Konos Café (breakfast, fun beach vibe with a very nice chap working the order counter)

 

 

What did we do…

  • checked out the vibe in the Gaslamp area, which didn’t exist at this time of the year
  • cruised the La Jolla ocean promenade, checking out the massive herd of sea lions and various birds
  • watched the stunning sunsets from the 2nd floor patio at our hotel
  • walked the La Jolla shops and galleries
  • walked the promenade from our hotel in Pacific Beach to La Jolla, checking out the ocean parks and cool houses
  • walked the promenade south of our hotel along Pacific Beach and the inland estuary (cool old houses)
  • walked the Ocean Beach seaside promenade, watching the ‘angry’ ocean waves smash into the cliffside rock formations

 

 

Background:

  • San Diego is located on the southwestern tip of California, strategically positioned on the U.S.-Mexico border and the Pacific Rim, making it a major gateway for international trade and tourism
  • 1.4M residents, making it the second largest city by population in California after Los Angeles
  • San Diego county is home to 3.3M residents, making it the fifth most populous county in the U.S.
  • the city has a unique geography, with hills and mesas separated by valleys and canyons, all along the deepwater San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, which provide 70 miles of coastline

 

What did we not do that is on the agenda for next time:

  • check out some of the towns north of La Jolla and neighborhoods and towns on the east side of San Diego

 

 

Final thoughts:

  • the weather was pleasant, with highs in the mid-teens and lows around 5C
  • it’s always nice to escape the Canadian winter for a few days in a warmer climate
  • San Diego downtown was a disappointment, but the neighborhoods and towns up the coast are very nice
  • we will likely try one of the resorts north of La Jolla during our next visit
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