"Visiting San Diego CA " Topic

I have a trip to San Diego CA in April, looks like I've about 2 1/2 days free time built in to my itinerary.

Besides USS Midway any recommendations of sites to visit?

Thanks in advance.

From what I remember there is a reproduction of a early Spanish settlement/mission station just on the edge of town (we got there by transit) I've been to, called Old San Diego or something similar, which is worth a visit. Nearby I found out too late is a museum dedicated to the Mormon Battalion of the US Army that helped conquer California.

Almost too many to name. There is the Zoo, the museums at Balboa Park (my favorite is the model railroad museum), Old Town San Diego is cool. I think there is a museum or something there about the Mormon Battalion. I think there is a museum at Miramar MCAS, not sure if there is one at Camp Pendleton (in Oceanside). If you venture up to Escondido, there is the Safari Park and the San Paqual Battlefield. It has a very small visitors center and you can't walk the battlefield(its on private land).

The Mormon Battalion museum is really worth going. There's a lot of history there, which many folks are completely unaware of.

That part of town is rife with shops and restaurants which appeal to a wide variety of people.

If wildlife is of any interest, the San Diego Zoo is ready for your arrival.

If you don't mind going to Los Angeles, which really is not THAT much of a drive, La Brea Tar Pits is a site that I found to be cool.

As a native of San Diego, I have to recommend the Maritime Museum of San Diego. It's just up the street from Midway. They have some really cool ships like a Soviet sub and the Surprise from Master and Commander. They are almost done building a replica of the San Salvador, the first Spanish galleon that sailed into San Diego. The build site is up the road from the main museum, a bit past the airport. When I went, they took me all over the ship as it was being constructed. Very cool.

If you happen to be around on a Tuesday night, our Historical Mini club meets at Game Empire at 5:30. We always have room to fit visitors in our games.

Right across the freeway from Old Town is MCRD. There is a MC museum (Command Museum) there that is pretty good (in my opinion). Went there a couple of weeks ago after finding out about it. Lots of weapons and displays for the different wars.
Old Town is neat as is Balboa Park which is right next to the zoo. The Mormon Battalion museum is very informative also. Plenty to do and see in SD :)

Air museum Balboa park
Uss Midway
Usmc museum in Pendelton
Film surprise+ another, clipper
I it was somewhere there too, a sort of museum,on model trains. For wargamers ideas/ inspiration on terrains.
For 2-3 h drive you've got two air museums on the very south of L.A. Without entering the mess.

And a naval game with the local folks. Old san diego pseudo western town is not worth much if you've seen the same kind elsewhere.

San Diego is great to visit and many of the key places have been mentioned above. I'd add Seaworld just for a chance to sit and watch the manatees (I spent an hour – sometime I want to dive with them in Florida!).

And an important one not yet listed – LegoLand between San Diego and LA. Just find an alternative route to the main highway. I think it is either an entry point or check point and the traffic can be HORRORendous.

The one thing I regret I did not spend more time with was the Wild Animal Park mentioned above. Loved the zoo, been several times and would be glad to go again. And Balboa Park is not to be missed, including the above mentioned model railroad museum.

And if you go as far as the LA area, make sure to visit Brookhurst Hobbies.

Hope you have a safe and fun visit. Let us know how it goes.

Thanks for your advice, I found it helpful.

We ended up with only 2 and a half days in town by the time you take out the flights.

So we spent 1/2 day walking round Mission Bay and found a great Spanish restaurant (no not Mexican or Tex-Mex), it was the Costa Brava on Garnet and Jewell.

Next day we went to Balboa Park and spent the day there. Way too much to see but did get to the model railroad museum. Love the Dr Seuss exhibit too. Dined in the Gaslight District.

Final full day went to the maritime museum, high spot was the four hour cruise on the schooner 'Californian', which since I do "Age of Fighting Sail" was great, shows the problem of visibility of sailing ships. We were a little disappointed in 'HMS Surprise' because of the way she's fitted below decks. with areas for cameras and not being able to walk the gun deck properly. Followed this by another fine meal in the Gaslight District.

What we missed:

(1) Too many exhibits in Balboa Park – three days might do this justice.
(2) USS Midway. By the time we'd done with the Maritime Museum it was about 16:30 and the thought of going over such a large ship put us off.
(3) Driving outside of the city. We were 'upgraded' to a "Town and Country" minivan. Hated driving this behemoth, which I found a less pleasant experience than a 1960's Land Rover without synchromesh transmission on all the gears. The less I drove the happier I was. Thanks Enterprise!

This was one of the few places in the US where I've visited and thought, yes, I could be really comfortable living here.

Tijuana is right next to San Diego, but I recommend driving a little farther down the coast and looking for excellent and inexpensive seafood.