San Diego is known as “America’s Finest City” for a number of reasons—mostly because there’s so much to see and do along with the perfect weather to enjoy it year round. (Pete Wilson, a former mayor came up with the moniker “America’s Finest City” after we were snubbed for a major convention in the early 1970s.) Now millions come to visit our fine city annually. We’re thrilled CUNA is coming to town and taking over the Convention Center for America’s Credit Union Conference—but it wasn’t always this way.
Several years ago locals started sporting bumper stickers that read: “Welcome to San Diego . . . now go home”. Our city was getting inundated with new residents and bursting at the seems—and locals were very protective of their secret spots. That’s changed in recent years with more people visiting and less moving here. So this is the perfect time to share some of the spots us locals love (and few tourists ever see) so your trip to San Diego is one to remember. (And if you want to relocate, that’s okay, too.)
Since most of you will be spending your time in and around the Convention Center (which is conveniently located near Seaport Village, the Gaslamp District, and several attractions) we won’t worry about things to do downtown—although, East Village Tavern and Bowl is a cool place to go if you get a chance. (Think: Upscale bowling.) We also won’t cover the obvious tourist destinations like SeaWorld and The San Diego Zoo—but both are worth experiencing. Instead we’ll focus on more obscure places for those of you who want to get away from the crowds.
For each locale we’ll look at what to see, what to do, and where to eat. We’ll head out from Downtown San Diego in all directions so depending on what you decide to do and how far you want to go, you’ll find something new.
Mission Bay is a big part of Mission Beach. It’s the largest man made recreational body of water in the country. On your way into Mission Beach you’ll see a roller coaster. There are rides and games here along with the Wave House. If you want to surf but don’t want to actually go into the ocean, this man-made wave is for you (or just have bite to eat, listen to live music and watch others attempt to tame the Flow Rider.) Also in Mission beach is Santa Clara Point which has free parking (something hard to find here) as well as stand up paddle board rentals (very popular) and sailboats and other watercraft you can ply in the calm waters of the bay. Wind and Sea Surf Shop rents bikes, boards, and beach chairs if you plan to spend the day. For surf lessons, the Surfari Surf School is the place to go. For a nice dinner in Mission Beach, Saska’s is a must. If you just want to party like a local, try The Pennant or the Surfcomber—which you can ride to on your rental bike—using the lengthy boardwalk. Lastly, a great place to hang out for coffee and cake is Cafe Mono (and they serve breakfast, too.)
Just north of Mission Beach is Pacific Beach. One of the best breakfasts can be found next to Crystal Pier (which you can walk out on and see the surf) at a place called Konos. (Tip: Order your food and sit in the seats overlooking the ocean.) For the best view of San Diego drive up Lamont Street to Kate Sessions Park. It’s the perfect place for a picnic on the grass as you take in the stunning scenery. Pacific Beach has so many bars up and down Garnet Avenue it’s hard to recommend just one. But the best burger at the beach is an easy call, you’ll find that at Rocky’s on Ingram. It is no longer legal to drink alcohol on the beaches in San Diego, but it you go to Lahaina’s your feet are almost in the sand and you can legally have a cocktail . . . or three.
San Diego has a strong military history (visit the Midway Museum and see) but it is a former military base that has become a park that holds a special place for San Diegans. It’s called Liberty Station which has the one and only Navy training ship that never went to sea. (You’ll understand if you make it here.) There is a walking path along the water that is perfect—plus at one end is the Corvette Diner and the other end is home to several eateries. In the middle of your walk you can visit the brand new Stone Brewing Bar and Bistro. (San Diego is a hotbed of micro breweries and this is the best.) Point Loma is also home to Shelter Island and the Bali Hai restaurant. The Polynesian design makes it a local landmark—and the food makes it a local favorite. (Try a Mai Tai at the bar. You’ll see what I mean when you do. Wow!)
We all love Coronado. The main street is Orange Avenue and it’s worth seeing. But to really enjoy Coronado like a local visit the Old Ferry Landing. You can take a boat across from downtown San Diego or drive over the Coronado Bay Bridge. Once there, rent a bike, a kite, or just walk along the waterfront. There are several places to eat in the Landing, and a few more at the north end of Orange Avenue (away from most tourists.) If you want to see the famous Hotel Del Coronado, it’s hard to miss—and the beach out front is spectacular. But for real scenery take Orange Avenue and drive past “The Dell”, past the base where the Navy Seals train, and past The Strand State Beach to Imperial Beach. Follow the signs until you see pier. The best bar here is the Ye Olde Plank as well as IB Forum—the most south westerly bar and grill in the USA.
Now that Mitt Romney owns a home in the Bird Rock area of La Jolla, it’s becoming more known. Everyone has heard of La Jolla Cove and Prospect Avenue (try Brockton Villa Restaurant if you go) but Bird Rock was a hidden gem of a town. One of the best beaches that nobody knows about is there, (Wind an Sea), the coolest coffee house in the area (Bird Rock Coffee Roasters), and Beaumont’s, the perfect place for dinner.
North County encompasses a lot of land, but if you want to see the coast and get there in style, take the train from downtown to Solana Beach. From the train station there are several places to walk to for a bite to eat—especially Pizza Port. The Belly Up is where locals go to hear live music and it’s within walking distance. There is an excellent beach and park at the end of Lomas Santa Fe that is well worth the short walk. If you drive to North County take Highway 101 and go past Solana Beach to Encinitas. If you are inquisitive, visit the Self Realization Fellowship and Gardens. If you are just interested in a good, healthy meal visit Swami’s Cafe. Walk down to Swami’s Beach and on low tide take a stroll along the coast and witness the best surf in San Diego. Just up the coast is Moonlight Beach and beyond that is the town of Leucadia.
Comment for your chance to win:
We want to hear from all of you coming to this year’s America’s Credit Union Conference. What San Diego hot spot are you hoping to check out while in town or would you recommend others don’t miss? 6 lucky commenters will receive a gift card to one of the local favorites mentioned in this post.
CONTEST NOTES: Contest begins today and ends on Wed., June 13th at 11:59PM (ct). Winners will be chosen by a random number generator. Make sure you leave an email address where you can be contacted. The odds of winning depend on the number of entrants received. No purchase necessary to win. Void where prohibited. This competition is offered by Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and is open to anyone who comments on this post and is at least 18 years of age. Employees of CUNA and family members of such employees are not eligible to enter. CUNA shall not have any liability for any malfunction of or damage to the prize. The award winner may be responsible for applicable state or federal taxes on the value of the contest prize


From Beth Stetenfeld:



Were any of us expecting the surge of public outcry against big banks when Bank of America made that little announcement of charging a monthly $5 fee on debit cards? Come on, really…it’s not like they haven’t added new fees or increased fee charges before.




In the modern, globalized, intensely interconnected world, however, the flexibility of many people’s careers and lives means there are few large, geographically stable communities in which they are deeply invested that can be tapped by credit unions for social capital. Community still exists, of course, but its webs of trust and obligation are widely distributed and far more protean than in previous eras.