2 days in San-Diego

We arrived to San-Diego in late April 2017. We have been to San-Diego about 10 years ago when the kids were teenagers. This time we didn't bring the kids so we decided to skip San-Diego zoo and Sea-world. 

We arrived in the late afternoon, so we  just rented the car, settled in the hotel did some shopping, and went to sleep early to overcome the jet leg.

Day 1: Balboa Park and Coronado

We started the day at Balboa Park.  "Balboa Park is made up of more than 1,000 acres and offers 15 museums, various gardens, arts and international culture associations, as well as the San Diego Zoo. All this makes it a place that offers something historical, horticultural, educational and recreational for everyone. Many of the museums along Balboa Park's Prado are housed in magnificent Spanish Colonial Revival buildings, originally constructed for the 1915-1916 Panama-California Exposition. It was the first time that this richly decorated, highly ornamental architectural style had ever been used in the United States." (https://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/balboa") . 

 Map of Balboa Park

We entered the park from Laurel ST, crossed the Cabrillo bridge, and walked till the Desert and Rose garden across the Park BLVD.

Atrctions on the way:

Cabrillo bridg: The Bridge, built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, was the first cantilevered, multiple-arched bridge to be built in Southern California. It is nearly 1,500 feet long and nearly 125 feet high.

 San Diego Museum of Man (We didn't enter) : 

The Sculpture Garden: 

 The Botanical Building: 

 The Rose Garden:

 The Desert Garden:

From There we went to Coronado Beach.

Coronado Beach is popular with families and couples alike thanks to its peaceful atmosphere and idyllic location .there are plenty of picturesque scenery to admire: magnificent mansions sit behind the beach on Ocean Boulevard. And the historic Hotel del Coronado — a 120-year-old National Historic Landmark — is perched just beyond the sand. 

We parked olong Ocean BLVD,  near Hotel del Coronado, and from there, walked along the beautiful waterfront.

Hotel del Coronado

On our way back, We saw practices of Red-Bull Air Race scheduled for the next day.  We stopped along the shore and watched the practices: 

 We ended the day at Point Loma Seafood's restaurant. It's a was great. 

Day 2: La Jolla, Old Town and  Seaport Village

We started the day at La Jolla. La Jolla occupies seven miles of curving coastline jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. Although officially a part of San Diego, it retains its own small-town atmosphere, its own civic pride, and its own La Jolla postmark. It is an elegant, exclusive shopping community, filled with boutiques, import shops, gourmet restaurants and stores that carry only the best. And it is a luxurious residential community, where beautiful homes, surrounded by lush subtropical plants, cover the hillsides overlooking the Pacific. (http://www.carolmendelmaps.com/walking-tours/la-jolla/)

We found on the internet a self guided walking tour of la Jolla. The starting point was La Jolla Caves. The walk was great. We had a very good weather and had a wonderful time. We so lot's of Pelicans and Seals and took a lot of pictures. 

Seals at Children's Pool

We had lunch at El Oescador Fish Market. We looked at TripAdvisor for recommendation and we were not disappointed. 

From La Jolla we went to San-Diego Old Town. Old Town San Diego marks the site of the first Spanish settlement on the U.S. West Coast and features 12 acres of Mexican heritage and historical sites, colorful shops, early-California-style restaurants, museums, a theater and the restored Cosmopolitan Hotel (https://www.sandiego.org/articles/old-town/old-town-san-diego.aspx).

The place was nice, but it was too hot day and we stayed a couple of hours and drove to the Seaport village. 

Pictures from San-Diego Old Town:

Seaport Village

Information: (https://www.sandiego.com/seaport-village)

Seaport Village San Diego is kind of like a mix between an outdoor mall and an art and wine festival, but better. Admission is free.

Parking: Validated parking with a $10 minimum purchase is $3 for the first two hours and $2 every 30 minutes after. Non-validated parking is $8 per hour.

We arrived to the Seaport Village when the Red-Bull Air-race started. it was Saturday afternoon so the place was crowded, with a very good atmosphere. 

We saw the Air-Race and than walked along the water front toward the USS Midway. It is the longest-serving American aircraft carrier of the 20th century which was turned to a museum. 

USS Midway

Near The USS Midway, There is a huge statue called 'Unconditional Surrender'. It is an oversized recreation of a famous photograph from the end of the war celebration in Times Square. The nameless serviceman dipped an unknown nurse for a kiss to celebrate the end of the World War II on August 14, 1945. The statue is impressive, and there are a lot of couples who come there and take pictures of themselves kissing with the statue. 

You can read the full story of the statue in the following link:  http://www.midway.org/save-the-kiss

 Unconditional Surrender Statue

We ended the day in a great Spanish Restaurant 'Cafe Coyote' In San-Diego Old Town. The Old Town area is completly different at night and changes to very nice entertainment area, full of restaurants . 

General Tips: 

• We rented a car when we arrived to San-Diego. I think that it is a must, because  the attractions there are scattered. 

• We  dine in two restaurants that are Fish Market. It means that you buy the fish or seafood over the counter and decide how you want it made (grilled, cooked...). We liked the concept. It is chipper and faster than a regular restaurant.

useful links: 

• Balboa Park web site: https://www.balboapark.org/

• Coronado Beach: https://www.sandiego.org/explore/things-to-do/beaches-bays/coronado.aspx

• Point Loma Seafood's restaurant:   http://www.pointlomaseafoods.com/

• La Jolla self guided Walking Tour: http://www.carolmendelmaps.com/walking-tours/la-jolla/

• El Oescador Fish Market: http://elpescadorfishmarket.com/

• TripAdvisor recommendation for El Oescador Fish Market:  https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g32578-d1088743-Reviews-El_Pescador_Fish_Market-La_Jolla_San_Diego_California.html

• Cafe Coyote: http://www.cafecoyoteoldtown.com/