SD Non-beer Activities

http://www.torreypine.org/

 

If you like hiking Cowles Mountain is nice, easy to get to & a great 360 degree view of the county. Hit up KnB after for lunch & bottle shopping.

 

That's a good suggestion. The main (south approach) trail is closed for maintenance, and may still be closed then, but there are other options: http://www.mtrp.org/news.asp?idno=251924

Hanging around Balboa Park all day is a good way to pass the time, too.

 

Do you play frisbee Golf? If you do you can hit up Morley Field. It's close to Balboa park and the Zoo so you can also hit up those places too. Balboa park is a great place to check out several museums. If you like to get your meditation on, hit up the Self Realization Fellowship and meditation Gardens in Encinitas, which is located next to Swami's beach. By the way everything I listed, except for the zoo, is either free or really cheap.

 

This is one of my favorite finds in SD that nobody knows about: http://www.yelp.com/biz/minature-engineering-craftsmanship-museum-carlsbad

 

I drove by that building a few weeks ago and wondered what it was all about.

 

Not really - there is a way to get up there from the east, and it is not much longer of a trail than the main one. And if the main one is open, you'll be hiking on a trail that had just been improved.

 

Even if the main entrance to Cowles is open I'd recommend leaving from the Barker Way trailhead. It's a more scenic route with a lot less hikers on that trail. It's only a tenth of a mile longer to the top as well.

 

Legoland, fersher

 

Coincidentally that's across the street from the new Pizza Port location. Once it opens, that'll be a good time (if you include the K-1 Speed place and maybe a round at Rancho Carlsbad.)


OP, Cowles is kind of a waste IMO. It's incredibly popular and busy all the time, and while it offers good views of SD county, the view is really not that pretty unless you go at sunset. You're better off hiking over at Torrey Pines for some true coastal CA flavor.

I'd visit Coronado and walk around the Hotel Del and spend some time on the beach. You could even do a 1/2 day fishing trip out from Point Loma if that's your thing, I believe they run about $40 per person and they're really fun. La Jolla Cove is a cool place to walk around and check out the tidepools, and La Jolla Shores beach is a nice beach if you can get parking. Nearby Scripps Birch aquarium is a nice little spot to walk around before lunchtime, and Blacks beach (nude beach) is a famous surfing spot if you're looking for waves.

Other good beaches include places in Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach, although there are crowds there. Walking around PB is a fun experience and there's a lot of cool shops in that area. I prefer North County beaches from Del Mar up to Carlsbad because they get less traffic.

Obviously the big attractions - SD Zoo and Balboa Park, Sea World, Legoland, etc. are all pretty fun and very touristy. I think Balboa Park is my favorite since it has a ton of museums nearby and you can often catch a bike race nearby.

 

http://www.torreypine.org/activities/hiking-trails.html

The Razor/Yucca Point trails and Broken Hill are pretty fun. At the top is the Torrey Pines golf course, and you park at Torrey beach which is a great place to catch some sun.

Another beautiful beach area is Sunset Cliffs in Point Loma. Nearby Cabrillo monument is a great place to get some views of downtown SD as well if you don't wanna drive to Coronado (although I recommend going there - the hotel is great!)

Most of my recommendations are near "can't miss" beer spots too, so you can just work some sightseeing into your beer schedule pretty easily.

 

kayaking in la jolla shores is a great vacation thing. peaceful, you see lots of creatures, and youre out on the water!

balboa park has great museums, and is just beautiful to stroll through for an hour or so. (also, the model train museum is SO cool in there)

torrey pines is a beautiful hiking area, and the state beach below is even better. the del mar area is great for hanging out on the beach (15th street is very popular)

if you like naval history, the midway is a great museum too and in a great location (downtown, on the water ya know since its a boat)

and the zoo is an important do not miss!

 

This is a great time of year to go whale watching down there. If you do a search on it, it is easy to find online discounts for different cruise operations.

 

I was hoping this was finally the thread that points me to a great scotch bar in SD.

 

Small Bar isn't good enough for you?

 

Hotel Del Coronado is a cool landmark. Tons of history, and a great place to get a drink or just walk around. It also has the #1 rated beach in San Diego, and the Coronado itself is a cool place to walk around and grab a bite.

Top SD Beaches (besides Coronado):

Windansea
La Jolla Shores
Pacific Beach (people/party scene) or Grand Ave beach in Carlsbad (quiet, relaxing)