<p>This Midwesterner will be flying to San Diego this weekend and staying at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina. Just my luck this March that the midwest has actually been much warmer than SD is!!! But the change of scenery will be very nice. :)</p>
<p>I won’t have lots of free time (will have most of Saturday free) but will be out on foot whenever I can to take in some sights and FOOD. There may be a trolley I can jump on at the hotel but I won’t get much more adventurous than foot or trolley. </p>
<p>I will be alone. Looking for shops to wander around and simple food - the local spots. I think maybe the “gaslight” area is close by? </p>
<p>Hi abasket, we’ll be there for a tournament this weekend, too. You won’t be able to walk to downtown where the Gaslamp District is located. In fact, the Shearton is closer to the airport than most sights. There are shops and restaurants in the Gaslamp Area that you might enjoy but if you want to see San Diego, try Balboa Park or La Jolla. You’ll have to take transportation to both places.</p>
<p>I know you said you’ll be walking or taking a short trip via trolley, but if you decide to venture farther, Coronado is a great place to visit. See the Hotel Del, small shops, restaurants and the beach - all in one walkable area.</p>
<p>Gaslamp District fun, vibrant, walkable. We were wowed by small plates/appetisers at Red Pearl Kitchen (on J Street, I believe). Gaslamp District close to ballpark (H loved) and near convention center. Seaport Village has lots of shops, great walking, kind of close to USS Midway. Too bad you only have a day!</p>
<p>You are near an area that surrounds a marina and water, gorgeous scenery, park and hiking trails (mostly flat), great shopping (Nordstroms), tons of restaurants (Gaslamp), baseball stadium (is it the season yet?), hookah bars (and regular bars), high end trendy stuff, a huge Convention Center, multi-cultural interesting scenery and restaurants, AND a trolley and other transportation run through the area if you want to leave. All this is within walking distance and there is a lot more!</p>
<p>Recently returned from a convention that spouse attended in San Diego. Spouse had a Saturday to take in the sights as well. We spent the Sat morn touring the USS Midway, then headed over to the Gaslamp district for the afternoon and subsequent dinner that evening. USS Midway is within walking distance of Gaslamp. We wanted to get in as much as possible. LaJolla is about 20-30min away, but w/o a car, cab fare is pricey. Seaport Village (also near) was lacking, IMO. A visit to Coronado is doable by water taxi (and inexpensive), but after seeing the Del, was not too impressed with much else. And yes, the weather has been on the cooler side; take a jacket for layering!</p>
<p>I think the harbor tour is interesting (boat) if you have time. The airport IS downtown (just a couple of miles from Broadway- I’ve run from downtown past the airport often). I think the Midway is worthwhile. There are great restaurants in Gaslamp District- depends what kind of food you want. You will get lots of recommendations. There is an inexpensive fish market/cafe right on the main drag near the airport that we love for a casual lunch. I forget what it is called. Maybe “Fish Market”?</p>
Edited to add “or a MOWC run/walk distance” (seriously).</p>
<ul>
<li>Balboa park is about 3 miles</li>
<li>Harbor cruise, USS Midway, other old boats (floating museum boats), Seaport Village shopping center/restaurants - about 2 miles along the water (nice)</li>
<li>Gaslamp - about 3 miles along the water for most of it (nice)</li>
<li>Mission Bay - about 3 miles</li>
</ul>
<p>Bring your tennies. Also - it might rain this weekend but probably only lightly and for a short time if at all.</p>
<p>If you love zoos and have never been, rather than running all over San Diego in one day, go to the world famous San Diego Zoo. It really is beautifully landscaped and has a huge variety of animals. See the pandas. It is close in, in Balboa Park.</p>
<p>I was in SD for about 3 weeks when I was a teen. Did the zoo among other things then so no zoo this time. I think the hotel is on the trolley line so hoping that will expand my options though I am very happy to walk as long as its safe.</p>
<p>It all quite nice from your hotel, along the walking path adjacent to the water, down to where the boats, Seaport Village, convention center, etc. are. The Gaslamp is just a couple of blocks in from the water around the convention center area. </p>
<p>As always, keep your wits about you and pay attention to your surroundings and other people wandering around. There are usually plenty of tourists in that general area.</p>
<p>Old Town is worth going to and is a short distance away and also on the trolley line or a short cab ride. You can wander around viewing the old buildings, the shops there, and hit up some Mexican food places there - like the Cafe Coyote.</p>
<p>It’s been years since I’ve eaten there but Tom Hams lighthouse restaurant was good for non-Mexican. It’s just a short stroll from your hotel - out on the end of that little (sort of) island your hotel is on.
[Tom</a> Hams Lighthouse Restaurant for Fine Steak and Seafood Dining in San Diego California](<a href=“http://www.tomhamslighthouse.com/]Tom”>http://www.tomhamslighthouse.com/)</p>
<p>San Diego is one of my favorite places, but it is also the place I have had the most trouble with very aggressive homeless people. They like to sleep on the benches and small park areas along that waterfront path and also in doorways in the downtown/Gaslight area. I have been hit and threatened several times. It’s a known problem there.</p>
<p>Last time I was there it was for a big legal conference and our big evening function was on the deck of the Midway. It was so incredibly cool!</p>
<p>^^ That’s too bad about the homeless people. I haven’t ever had a problem with them but it could just be because of the mean look on my face - either that or maybe I look like one of them.</p>
<p>A lot of them are mentally ill and aggressive, which is the problem. There was one who slept in the doorway of the law firm I visited there and who urinated all over the door every night. The police moved him constantly, but he kept going back and would be aggressive when you tried to get in the door. That was right across from Horton Plaza (one of my favorite shopping centers, by the way- and right at the edge of Gaslight District).</p>
<p>Yes- it’s basically AT the airport (across the street). Harbor Island is a great place to walk/run and there is a good restaurant at the downtown end of Harbor Island.</p>
<p>Thumper- you might be thinking of Mission Bay.</p>
<p>Never saw an excess of homeless people in the Gaslight area, nor heard about them. I know people quite well who work at the US Attorney’s office in the Gaslamp district, and it would have been a topic of conversation at some point if it was a problem. Drug related issues are more of a concern :).</p>
<p>It would be a waste of time to go to La Jolla, in my opinion. San Diego is not some place that is easy to get around - lots of traffic and one way streets to negotiate. It is very crowded. There is a gorgeous Mormon Church in La Jolla, if you like that type of thing. If you want a beach, Mission is closer, though not nearly as pretty as the one in La Jolla</p>
<p>GladGradDad basically covered all of my favorite places, particularly Cabrillo Point (not shopping/restaurants) and La Jolla Cove (yes shopping/restaurants). Both have stellar views, but would take an effort to get to.</p>