What to see and do in San Diego

[sbaker]

We're doing a California coastal cruise in October.  We'll be in San Diego for one day.  Any suggestions for what we should see and do for the day? Are there things to do not too far way from where the ship will be docked?  Is there public transportation or easy ways to get around the area?  

[CruiserBruce]

The Midway (aircraft carrier/museum) is right next to the cruise ship docks, with other museum vessels docked nearby. Discussed here, and on the West Coast Departures board frequently. 

 

Take a look at Google Maps to get the lay of the land.

[Milhouse]

FWIW, we drove down to San Diego from LA for a visit pre-pandemic (so things may have changed).

We ended up staying in the Little Italy district and found it pretty walkable to the waterfront and to the Gaslamp district as areas of interest.  We made a stop at Kansas City Barbeque where they filmed the Top Gun restaurant scene.  

Really enjoyed eating at The Crack Shack (fried chicken in LI district).

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

So little time and so much to do.  Close to the pier I would visit the USS Midway, which will take several hours and then take a bay cruise or take the ferry over to Coronado and have dinner at one of the restaurants at the Landing.  My mom and step-dad lived on Coronado for several years and their favorite spot was Peohe's.  

[SuzieQ521]

On 8/6/2023 at 10:48 AM, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

So little time and so much to do.  Close to the pier I would visit the USS Midway, which will take several hours and then take a bay cruise or take the ferry over to Coronado and have dinner at one of the restaurants at the Landing.  My mom and step-dad lived on Coronado for several years and their favorite spot was Peohe's.  

 

How are the public beaches in Coronado? We have a Thanksgiving cruise and stop in SD the day after Thanksgiving. We were thinking of doing the hop on hop off tour or just a ferry to Coronado. Not looking to get in the water, but hopefully the weather will be decent enough to just sit on the beach.

 

Thanks!

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

2 minutes ago, SuzieQ521 said:

 

How are the public beaches in Coronado? We have a Thanksgiving cruise and stop in SD the day after Thanksgiving. We were thinking of doing the hop on hop off tour or just a ferry to Coronado. Not looking to get in the water, but hopefully the weather will be decent enough to just sit on the beach.

 

Thanks!

We (+20 kids and grandkids) would usually visit mom & dad at Thanksgiving as the weather was nice.  If it's clear and the sun is out it can actually be very warm if you are out of the breeze.  Mornings can be foggy but usually gone by 1100 AM.  All the beaches are public except for the military base.  There's beaches on the bay facing toward SD and on the other side facing the Pacific ocean.  We like the bay side better as it's more protected.  There's a nice little park and beach just a short walk north from the ferry landing.  I would take the ferry it's a nice view.  

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

7 minutes ago, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

We (+20 kids and grandkids) would usually visit mom & dad at Thanksgiving as the weather was nice.  If it's clear and the sun is out it can actually be very warm if you are out of the breeze.  Mornings can be foggy but usually gone by 1100 AM.  All the beaches are public except for the military base.  There's beaches on the bay facing toward SD and on the other side facing the Pacific ocean.  We like the bay side better as it's more protected.  There's a nice little park and beach just a short walk north from the ferry landing.  I would take the ferry it's a nice view.  

Day after Thanksgiving can be a zoo.  If you want to do the USS Midway go early or even buy advanced tickets.  You might want to make a reservation for lunch or dinner if you plan to do that on Coronado.  

[LynnSD]

You can walk along the water on the SD Embarcadero side,  or at the Coronado Ferry Landing, and there are plenty of places to sit and watch the water both at restaurants, and at benches along the paths.  

[KeepCalmBearOn]

On 8/7/2023 at 3:02 PM, SuzieQ521 said:

How are the public beaches in Coronado? We have a Thanksgiving cruise and stop in SD the day after Thanksgiving. We were thinking of doing the hop on hop off tour or just a ferry to Coronado. Not looking to get in the water, but hopefully the weather will be decent enough to just sit on the beach.

 

The beaches in Coronado are great, but I'd just Uber from the port to the Hotel del Coronado. If you take the Ferry, you are still a mile and a half from the beach in Coronado.

[vakamalua]

If we decide to walk along the Embarcadero, where would be a really good place for lunch?  Is it an easy walk from where the ship docks?

[LynnSD]

Our go-to is Brigantine or Ketch.  Good food, exceptional view.  
It’s just north of the pier.  

[KeepCalmBearOn]

5 hours ago, vakamalua said:

If we decide to walk along the Embarcadero, where would be a really good place for lunch?  Is it an easy walk from where the ship docks?

 

Right next door to the cruise terminal is the newish Portside Pier complex. It is where Anthony's Seafood on the bay used to be.

 

https://portsidepier.com/

 

We prefer the Ketch Grill & Taps, Ketch Brewing Tasting Deck and Topsail to the Brigantine, but all the options in the complex are owned by the Brig.

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

On 8/29/2023 at 9:10 AM, vakamalua said:

If we decide to walk along the Embarcadero, where would be a really good place for lunch?  Is it an easy walk from where the ship docks?

We like the walk down to Seaport Village.  There's lots of new places we haven't tried.  But for a great burger at a reasonable cost the San Diego Burger Company is good.  It's nothing fancy.  The Edgewater Grill is more upscale with good food.  In the Headquarters is Eddie V's, Puesto, and Cheesecake Factory.  We have done Puesto and Cheesecake.  Cheesecake is what you would expect.  Puesto was excellent but not much of a view.    

[LynnSD]

Malibu Farm just opened in Seaport Village too , we haven’t been there yet.