San Diego was the ideal place to spend the first couple months of 2020. The weather was nice and we found lots to do. The best part? We were closer to home and loved sharing our place with company!
Eddie, Kathy, Pam and Frank Frank and Eddie Cousin Faye Sue visited from Phoenix Jim and Kathy visited from Dana Point
Downtown life
Our two bedroom apartment was in downtown San Diego, just a couple blocks from Petco Field. There were plenty of restaurants nearby when we didn’t feel like cooking.
Petco Field The Waterfront’s giant crab legs, The Mission for french toast and banana bread, Puesto for Mexican and Basic for great pizza! The RoVino Foodery reminded us of a mini Eataly. Colorful San Dego Fun to watch the planes overhead! $50? Yikes! Our church Santa Fe transit station
Gaslamp Quarter
We were a couple blocks from San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, which is well known for its nightlife. Our gym was located here and it’s where Frank got his ice cream fix!
Gaslamp Quarter AquaVie
Waterfront
San Diego’s beautiful waterfront was a short walk away. On Saturdays, there is a fresh fish market on the pier.
Neighborhoods
We enjoyed exploring San Diego’s other neighborhoods, too. Each had its own feel and personality. Two tram lines stopped just behind our apartment, providing easy access around the city. Weekly farmers markets provided an extra excuse to visit.
North Park
Funky and colorful, North Park has a relatively small Thursday night Farmers Market.
South Park
I’ve previously mentioned South Park’s awesome shawarma truck and chocolate shop but the area has much more to offer. It’s a cozy neighborhood of restaurants and retro shops. I got a kick out of its mini-Target, which looks like a former Wisconsin Kohl’s Food store.
Hillcrest
We were frequent visitors to Hillcrest — great restaurants, a movie theatre and a lab for Frank’s blood tests. Several blocks long, the Hillcrest Farmers Market is the place to be on Saturdays. Frank’s favorite was the Philly cheesesteak and each week, we stocked up on cartons of the unbelievably tasty kefir yogurt! How can something that delicious be good for you? (I wish it was available back home!)
Yes, they were THAT good!
Little Italy
Our favorite area (go figure) was Little Italy. We enjoyed some wonderful meals at the Busalacchi restaurants, which brought back fond memories of Frank’s Teamster days. In addition to Italian grocery stores and restaurants, Little Italy has its own Saturday Farmers Market. And where else but an Italian barber would Frank go for a haircut?
Look who drove us to church one Saturday night?!!! One of the Busalacchi restaurants Little Italy Little Italy
Balboa Park
In the middle of the city is the twelve-hundred acre Balboa Park. The historic urban cultural park is home to green spaces, gardens, an art center, museums and San Diego’s famous zoo. We visited several times as it is ginormous and there is so much to see!
San Diego Zoo San Diego Zoo Natural History Museum Balboa Park Air and Space Museum Automobile Museum Balboa Park Balboa Park
Coronado Island
Over the bridge is Coronado Island Hotel Del Coronado Coronado Island
Point Loma Liberty Station
Liberty Station is a mixed use development on the site of San Diego’s former Naval Training Center. It features an arts district, a food market/restaurant court and a Women’s Museum.
Liberty Station Liberty Station
Sights and mini road trips
San Diego Mission & Old Town San Diego
Faye, Frank and I took a trip back in time to a historic mission and Old Town San Diego. Built in 1769, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala was the first of twenty one great California missions, marking the birthplace of Christianity on the west coast. Since it was Saturday, we decided to catch Mass by crashing a wedding! Old Town San Diego is a bit kitschy but worth a quick stop.
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala Old Town San Diego Old Town San Diego
Cabrillo National Monument
Eddie drove us to Cabrillo National Monument. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo led the first European expedition to explore what is now the west coast of the United States. The skies were clear and we saw some beautiful scenery. Pam also wanted to stop at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, which was very impressive (over 100,000 gravesites). We ended the afternoon with sunset at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park.
Cabrillo National Monument Cabrillo National Monument Old Point Loma Lighthouse Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Dana Point
The four of us traveled up the coast to visit Frank and Eddie’s friend Jim O’Neill. Jim and his wife Kathy have a lovely home in Dana Point.
Balboa Island
Another trip with Eddie and Pam to Balboa Island. It’s a charming area and it was fun to see residents proudly flying their college colors.
Balboa Island Balboa Island
Road Trip to Rancho Mirage
Frank and I took a road trip to Rancho Mirage in Coachella Valley. Our friend Bud Selig was speaking at a Writers Conference and we went to surprise him. It was a beautiful ride through the mountains. The festival itself was amazing. Writer/historian Doris Kearns Goodwin interviewed Bud. Afterwards, we had the privilege of meeting her.
Mustang Sally Temecula for breakfast Coachella Valley “Fan-girling” with Doris Kearns Goodwin and the Commissioner