Consumer Bob

San Diego Consumer

Vacation in Your Own Back Yard

Living in San Diego
By Consumer Bob
Posted on Jun 26 2007
Last updated Jun 26 2007

It sounded to me like a great vacation. My friends Del and Shelly Stapley leaving their kids at home and getting out of town for a few days. They went walking on the beach, visiting amusement parks and museums. Went out to dinner and rode bikes. But there was a catch, they didn’t actually leave San Diego… their hotel was only 15 miles from home! The Stapleys did what more and more San Diegans are doing these days, vacationing in their own back yard.

Now I’m not gonna harp on the price of gas and why flying and driving are more expensive than ever before. I’m gonna harp on the fact that we don’t take advantage of San Diego and we live here! How often have we entertained friends coming in from Chicago, Portland, San Francisco or Salt Lake City only to say to ourselves, why do we need people to visit to go toBalboa Park or the beach? I know I’ve said it. We live in an incredible city and yet people with Arizona plates seem to enjoy it more than we do. So consider taking time off and staying here.

In our own backyard

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There are certain rules. Get out of the house. Find a local hotel or motel. Since you live here, you can often spend more time finding a great deal on rates. Don’t tell friends and co-workers where you’re going. Leave the cell phone at home or at least try not to pick it up every time it rings. Pretend you don’t know anyone in the city and go out and explore on your own.

You already know about the obvious places. But you know what I’ve found, the Zoo is a lot more fun when you’re not trying to entertain an out-of-town family of six who are trying to squeeze in a week of San Diego into three days. You are on your own pace, a leisurely pace.

Speaking of the Zoo, go first thing in the morning, right when it opens. Stay till about 11am. Then go have lunch at the Prado and hang around Balboa Park. Visit the Photo Museum or check out the Koi at the Japanese Garden. Bring a blanket and take a nap under one of the Park’s great trees and think fondly of Kate Sessions. Don’t go back to the Zoo until the late afternoon. The animals will be refreshed and so will you.

Try things you’ve always wanted to do and go eat at places you’ve heard about but never visited. Try Cuatro Milpas for lunch near Chicano Park, or Pt. Loma Seafood. Try breakfast at Pipes Café near Cardiff or just hit up VG’s Donuts and walk down to the beach. Get tortillas

from a sidewalk vendor in Old Town or Italian sausage at Pete’s Meats in Little Italy. Walk the Oceanside Pier, go snorkeling at La Jolla Cove, hike up Mt. Woodson or ride your bike on Coronado. This city is packed with very cool stuff to see and do and yet the locals only pass by while out-of-town tourists enjoy our city. Remember, we pay a lot to live here… let’s get our money’s worth!

I’m probably writing this as much to myself as to anyone who might read this. I work downtown for NBC. We always know when the cruise ships are in town because the Pedicabs are full and running from Seaport Village to Horton Plaza. I often give directions to lost visitors who are trying to cram as much of San Diego into one port stop and you know what? They’re having a great time. They love this town and would love to live here. Why should they have all the fun? You know I have yet to step foot on the Midway, I can’t remember the last time I went to the Pt. Loma lighthouse. I can’t believe I haven’t hiked the trails in the Torrey Pines State Reserve in years or watched the hang gliders jump off the cliffs above Blacks near the Salk Institute. Most of this stuff is cheap or free. Have you heard a free concert at the Organ Pavilion? What on earth are you waiting for?

When the Stapley’s got home from their exotic vacation, they looked great. And why not? They spent a short vacation in one of the great cities in the world and it only took ‘em 15 minutes to get there.

About the author: CONSUMER BOB-- Bob Hansen has been fighting for the consumer in San Diego for more than 15 years. He's a television reporter for NBC in San Diego.
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Comments

Posted by Robbie Abaroa	June 27, 2007
Some great ideas in this backyard vacation. All of my 7 children who were reared in San Diego will be here again the week of July 4th to help celebrate my 80th birthdate on July 7. They want to take their children or grandchildren who are coming with them, to the spots they went as they grew up. Cuatro milpas is definitely one of the places where we took them to get tortillas when it was only Victorias Market. Later, becoming the only place to serve the best chorizo con huevo. We had our extended Family reunions in Balboa Park many years, as kids got older we gathered at beach across from Vacation Village. There are loads of beautiful areas and since I wanted to have whole family go on a cruise, we have narrowed it down to the only affordable one will be a 2 hr Harbor cruise right here. The 50 plus members of family are getting really excited to be doing some of the old events this next week and strolling in Seaport Village and attending a Padres game.

Posted by Carl Soderholm	July 3, 2007
Bob, Very interesting and imaginative suggestions. I wonder if there are any "Visit Your Hometown" discount packages available. I seem to recall that Disneyland had discounts for California residents a few times a year. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity for a CONVIS promotion. Thanks again for a great article!

Posted by Zachary P. Cotronis	July 4, 2007
Bob, you are absolutely right. San Diegans have to realise that they live in one of the world's finest cities, if not the finest one. I consider myself lucky and priviledged for having spent almost a year in San Diego back in the 70's when I was in the military, and I still cherish evey single moment I spent there, and I always will. You people have lots of choices to make and places to go that perhaps you've never been before even tho you live around the corner. Places like La Jolla, Point Loma, Seaworld,the Zoo, Imperial Beach, even a downtown stroll (I used to have pizza at Mario's and coffee at Hamilton's when I was there)will help you relax from daily stress and feel human again. So, why not trying it. It sure worths the effort. Zach Cotronis - Athens, Greece

Posted by Gary Edwards	August 5, 2007
I have been to your great city 3 times and will be returning on aug 11th or next week We have a old army friend there and he makes a great guide every time we come out from Ohio. Im on your web site looking for discounts or coupons for our trip. Havent found much yet but Im sure we will have our usual great vacation again this year. See ya soon !!! Gary and Loretta Edwards From OHIO We love our buckeyes !!!!

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