Earlier in October, I planned a weekend for my husbands birthday for the two of us. We have been on the go a lot lately so I planned a weekend in San Diego since it was just a short 35 minute drive from our house. This city never disappoints as a place to recharge after the work week or celebrate something special. The weather is pleasant year round in San Diego. I especially love fall, September to November, because the crowds are much less than peak times of year. This city is the perfect getaway!
We decided to drive to downtown this trip, but we often take the coaster train when we go there. The Sante Fe train station is perfectly located in downtown making it easy to get to many of the hotels and sights. The rail system is easy to navigate and an inexpensive way to get to San Diego from northern California. A bonus is, you don’t have to pay for parking once you arrive or always search for a parking spot. No matter how you arrive to San Diego, train, plane or boat, it’s easy and convenient to get to. Keep in mind, if you have a car, hotels charge a premium for parking and some offer valet only. http://www.gonctd.com http://www.amtrack.com
The InterContinental Hotel San Diego
This time we stayed at The InterContinental San Diego which opened in late 2018 and is a waterfront, luxury hotel boasting spectacular views. We wanted a hotel with a cool rooftop pool, but not a place like party central, to enjoy the day with a refreshing cocktail in hand while taking in the water views. This hotel offered just that and the pool, sundeck area and bar I feel is better suited to the business traveler or adult leisure traveler looking for a relaxed venue. Probably not a hotspot in terms of the pool area for families or those looking for the raging pool party, since the pool is fairly moderate in size. We loved our pool time spending the day watching the cruise ships come in, sailboats in the harbor and enjoyed the yummy food brought to us poolside so we never missed a moment of sunshine. In the evenings, the large fire pits on that deck are a great place to socialize and enjoy the evening. http://www.intercontinentalsandiego.com
Rooms at The InterContinental San Diego are very nice, new and well appointed. We stayed in a waterfront north one bedroom suite. It was extremely spacious with all exterior walls being floor to ceiling windows so the views did not disappoint! It boasts two bathrooms (couples know this makes for happy trips… each having their own bathroom space). I loved the functional coffee bar and spacious dining area. We spent Saturday morning with a spectacular room service breakfast. With a room this nice, why rush out right away to explore was my thought. We decided to lounge around a bit longer to enjoy the living room watching college football gameday while staring out at the beauty of the San Diego Bay. I could do that every Saturday in the fall!
Out and About in San Diego
There are no lack of activities in San Diego. Most are walking distance in downtown but if you are like me, walking distance truly depends on what kind of shoes go with my outfit for the day! So what my husband considers walking distance and what my cute, I just had to have them, shoes think is walking distance, can be two different things. Ladies…I know you feel me on this one! It’s a girl thing. Below are a few of my suggestions for emptynesters to enjoy:
- Tour the USS Midway http://www.midway.org If you want to enjoy some amazing seafood after touring the Midway, stop by Top of the Market-San Diego. It’s right next to the Midway and great for happy hour drinks and the chilled seafood platter appetizer. http://www.thefishmarket.com
- Gaslamp District has amazing places to dine, catch your favorite sports game while having a drink, shop at super chic boutiques, or enjoy the nightlife…there is plenty of that to pick from. http://www.gaslamp.org
- Walk around Seaport Village and stop for a bite to eat and a glass of wine on the patio while taking in the views of the Coronado Bridge and bay at Edgewater Grill. http://www.edgewatergrill.com
- Old Town San Diego will be a short drive but will give you the history of San Diego as you walk amongst the original settlement of San Diego. Mexican food is a must when you are over in the area.
- Coronado Island is a short ferry ride from the harbor and worth the time to explore. Excellent boutiques to shop and the island just has a special feel to it. Lobster West is a favorite sandwich shop of mine to enjoy a lobster roll. In casual surroundings, it’s the perfect place for a bite when you are out walking around exploring. http://www.lobsterwest.com
- Balboa Park will be a quick drive to get to when staying downtown but very much worth the effort. It is a huge cultural, urban park with gardens, and water features to admire. There is no lack of museums here so unless you want to spend an entire day at Balboa Park, select one or two and hit those during your visit. My suggestion on where to dine at Balboa park is The Prado at Balboa Park. Indoor or patio seating with a lot of ambience and fantastic food. http://www.balboapark.org http://www.cohnrestaurants.com
My Favorite Dining of the Weekend
Over the weekend, a couple of my favorite places we dined at was Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Steaks and The Vistal. Our concierge made our reservations for Eddie V’s and truly set up a special evening for us there. It is a dinner house with superb service and the presentation of the food is impressive. It is a true dining experience so don’t be in a rush otherwise you will miss all they have to offer. I loved the live jazz music being played in the lounge that overflowed (but not too loud) into the dining room.
The Vistal, which was at our hotel, offers seating on the outdoor deck which overlooks the water. The entire wall along the dining room and bar is all glass. No matter where you sit, you can take in the beautiful views of the bay. Patio dining is one of my favorite things about southern California. Drinks and appetizers at Vistal have the views to do that best! They host a wonderful brunch on the weekends as well. I really loved the smoked salmon plate and the local mushroom omelet. I would highly recommend sampling their menu. http://www.eddiev.com http://www.vistalsd.com
I hope this is gives you some insight to plan your next getaway to San Diego and savor all the city has to offer.
Happy travels!
