{"id":174041,"date":"2023-02-17T14:29:42","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T21:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inbusinessphx.com\/?p=174041"},"modified":"2023-02-17T14:29:42","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T21:29:42","slug":"san-diego-summer-of-2021-things-to-do-to-enjoy-post-covid-and-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/?p=174041","title":{"rendered":"San Diego Summer of 2021 – Things to do to Enjoy (Post COVID and All)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"With San Diego turning 250 in 2019, the city and its surrounds have been shaping up a massive year of openings, new attractions and familiar favourites that ensure the coastal Southern Californian destination remains at the top of everyone\u2019s vacation lists, as we head into Summer 2021. Here\u2019s a guide to what you need to be doing this Summer in San Diego.<\/p>\n

Have a Mezcal experience at Tahona<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With the city sitting around 30 kilometres from Tijuana and the Mexican border, it should come as little surprise that this is one of the best cities in America to find great Mexican food and drink. A refugee resettlement city, some 44% of the population is from Mexico (and, interestingly, 12% from the Philippines), in what is the 8th most populated city in America.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a fan of Mezcal \u2013 the national spirit of Mexico (it\u2019s not Tequila, though both come from the Agave plant) \u2013 one of the best spots to visit is the Tahona Bar & Tasting room<\/a> (2414 San Diego Ave), where they serve up no less than 120 types of Mezcal and offer up tasting experiences.<\/p>\n

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They\u2019ve very much designed this place to make it feel like you\u2019re at home from the minute that you walk in. They even offer a private mezcal locker program. So they \u2013 and the locals who come here \u2013 take this all very seriously. But if Mezcal isn\u2019t your jam, don\u2019t worry \u2013 you\u2019ll have more than enough food to enjoy here too. This is some of the best upmarket Mexican food I\u2019ve ever had. The Pulpo (Grilled Ocotpus), with pipi\u00e1n mole, is among the best dishes I\u2019ve had in my life.<\/p>\n

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The people behind this amazing bar also just opened a speakeasy called \u201cOculto 477<\/a><\/strong>\u201c. Oculto translates to \u201chidden\u201d, while the number refers to the amount of bodies buried in the nearby cemetery. So expect a pretty unique time in this Prohibition-style bar.<\/p>\n

Have a night out in the Gaslamp Quarter<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Speaking of Prohibition-style bars, while you\u2019re in San Diego, head to the Gaslamp Quarter and treat yourself to an amazing cocktail at the city\u2019s long running speakeasy Prohibition<\/strong><\/em><\/a> (548 Fifth Avenue). Celebrating its ten year anniversary last year, they pride themselves on being the first modern speakeasy in San Diego, offering great live music (Shane Hall was performing when I visited, and was an amazing artist to see live), and incredible cocktails.<\/p>\n

The head bartender Ryan Andrews really takes pride in classics like the Old Fashioned \u2013 which was absolutely perfect \u2013 using their own bitters, alongside some more unique cocktails of their own concoction.<\/p>\n

If you are looking for a straighter drink, then a short walk away is The Whiskey House<\/strong><\/em><\/a> (420 Third Ave), who, with more than 3,300 whiskeys on offer in what is the most comically large alcohol menu you\u2019ve ever seen, hold the Guinness World Record for the most Whiskeys for sale.<\/p>\n

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And if you\u2019re looking for a good meal in the area, enjoy the farm-to-table Mediterranean cuisine at Cafe 21<\/strong><\/em><\/a> (802 Fifth Avenue). The brussel sprouts were to die for, and we also enjoyed some live music courtesy of\u00a0lounge crooner Roman Palacio<\/strong> delivering some standards.<\/p>\n

Hang with the Sea Life in La Jolla<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Head to the San Diego seaside district of La Jolla to visit the only sea cave on the California Coast you can access from land \u2013 the Sunny Jim Sea Cave<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The 100+ year old tunnel takes you right down through the cliffs of La Jolla Cove into a sea cave, over 145 steps. It\u2019s a unique experience that every visitor to the area who\u2019s physically able needs to enjoy. Though there\u2019s amazing action against the waterfront all over the town. There are seals just about everywhere \u2013 and a smell that follows them too.<\/p>\n

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And while there, try and get a seat on the roof at George\u2019s at the Cove<\/a>, one of La Jolla\u2019s best restaurants, with a view to boot!<\/p>\n

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And I know I was raving about the octopus at Tahona earlier in this article, but the dishes here are almost as good. Here though it\u2019s under the banner of \u201cNew American Cuisine\u201d from renowned chef Trey Foshee.<\/p>\n

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And that\u2019s not all that you can do in La Jolla. While it\u2019s been cancelled in 2020 and 2021, La Jolla Concours d\u2019Elegance<\/a>, will run April 22-24, 2022, and draw vintage car enthusiasts to the luxury seaside village. Look out for cocktail parties, VIP Steam Punk parties and the signature Concours d\u2019Elegance car show. It\u2019s all held at Scripps Park overlooking scenic La Jolla Cove.<\/p>\n

And the Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse<\/a> on the campus of the University of California San Diego, will return with live performances from September 21st, 2021, with the world premiere of The Garden<\/em>, by Charlayne Woodard. Another world premiere play will follow, with To The Yellow House from November 16th. Find the full details of the upcoming season here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For more information about the region, head to\u00a0lajollabythesea.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Take a ride on some of the oldest and newest roller coasters in America<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Like many major cities in California, San Diego has its fair share of theme parks. In fact, this Summer you could ride one of the oldest roller coasters and newest in the same day! Start out on Mission Beach, with its three mile boardwalk and Belmont Park<\/strong><\/a> (3146 Mission Blvd) \u2013 which opened on July 4th, 1925. The Giant Dipper \u2013 also known as the Mission Beach Roller Coaster \u2013 was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978, one of only two historic wooden coasters on the West Coast (the other is the Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz, which was built the year prior). It remains a truly fun coaster and you can ride it for $7 or by way of a day pass that starts at $56 for adults and $46 for kids.<\/p>\n

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And it\u2019s not the only coaster you\u2019ll want to ride this year. SeaWorld San Diego<\/strong> is opening a new dive coaster this year. Named \u201cEmperor\u201d, after the world\u2019s largest penguin, it will be the tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster in California and the only floorless dive coaster in the state, mimicking the species\u2019 amazing underwater diving ability.<\/p>\n

Climbing to 153 feet with feet dangling in the air, riders will be suspended on a 45-degree angle at the crown of the ride before plunging down a 143-foot facedown vertical drop while accelerating to more than 60 miles per hour. Riders will also experience inversions, a barrel roll, Immelmann loop, hammerhead turn and flat spin as they race along the nearly 2,500 feet of track. Find out more about the ride HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Take a trip to Legoland<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While on the subject of theme parks, about 40 minutes away from San Diego, in the city of Carlsbad is Legoland, who just enjoyed the biggest expansion in the park\u2019s 21 year history.<\/p>\n

The LEGO Movie World<\/a> opened its doors on May 27th, 2021, based on the films of the same name. Expect to be fully immersed onto the streets of Bricksburg, with rides like Masters of Flight, where guests hop aboard Emmet\u2019s triple decker flying couch for a thrill-seeking adventure. And there\u2019s Unikitty\u2019s Disco Drop, which will see you launched to the top of Cloud Cuckoo Land and then dropped, spun and bounced down to earth. Additionally, guests can explore Benny\u2019s Play Ship, ride a fully reimagined carousel, and meet Emmet and friends in Emmet\u2019s Super Suite apartment.<\/p>\n

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Guests can also check out the sets from the second film, which are on display at the park. The park is one of 8 Legolands worldwide (with a 9th soon to open this Summer in New York State), and the Californian location has been enjoying a wide range of updates in the last couple of years.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s been the addition of a Submarine ride, the Deep Sea Adventure, and a new hotel (The \u201cCastle Hotel\u201d) which both opened in April 2018. And you can always find their dragon coaster, and some 35 million bricks making up their \u201cMiniland\u201d, which sees their resident master builders re-create iconic cityscapes from around the world. For 8 years they even had a section dedicated to Star Wars<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

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Not everyone was made to last, however \u2013 the Star Wars Miniland, pictured, closed at the end of 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Last year the parked turned 20 and had a LEGO cake for your enjoyment at the entrance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Oh and you can\u2019t leave without having some of Granny\u2019s Apple Fries. The whipped cream is not optional. And yes, they are doused in cinnamon sugar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And also in Carlsbad, if you\u2019re looking for more family fun, the beautiful Flower Fields<\/a> are on display March 1 through May 10, 2022, featuring 80 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers on coastal farmland overlooking the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n

Explore the museums at Balboa Park<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Back in San Diego, no trip to the city is complete without a visit to Balboa Park. The 1,200 acre urban cultural park \u2013 the largest in all of the USA \u2013 is home to more than 16 museums, ensuring it rivals the Smithsonian on the East Coast.<\/p>\n

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The Air & Space Museum<\/strong> (open everyday 10am-4:30pm) could keep you occupied for hours, and the Automotive Museum<\/strong> (open Tues-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm) which was celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2019 has a lot of treats, including one of the 9,200 produced 1981 Deloreans. And then there\u2019s the Natural History Museum<\/strong> (open 10am-4pm, Fri-Tues), which has a rooftop bar \u2013 and there\u2019s even an escape room!<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s also arts venues, beautiful parks, trails and more. Learn more about everything on offer HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Explore the\u00a0<\/strong>Arts District Liberty Station<\/h3>\n

And finally, you have to spend some time at the former Navy Training Station, turned arts and culture precinct, the Arts District Liberty Station<\/strong><\/a>. The first buildings here reopened ten years ago, following three years of physical restoration \u2013 a process which continues to this day \u2013 and almost a decade of efforts to fund the project. All of this has saved some incredible 1923 California Architecture, as well as a big part of the city\u2019s navy history, all for a new destination for arts culture and creativity. How good is that!<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s truly a remarkable achievement, with the facilities \u2013 which stopped being used by the Navy in 1997 \u2013 being turned into a six screen cinema complex, museums, food halls, galleries, dance spaces, and Michelin star restaurants. They put on outdoor concerts and movies here, install an ice rink to the holidays \u2013 with plenty of room to do just about anything. There\u2019s 125 acres of green space, 100 acres for the art district (which is literally covered in art \u2013 as you\u2019ll see in the headline image of the article \u2013 even the benches are painted!), and still quite a lot of land that has yet to be re-developed. Still to come are projects like a new performing arts centre, and a hotel in the old barracks.<\/p>\n

The museums on site include the Visions Art Museum<\/strong> (open Thurs-Sat 10am-2pm), which has four exhibitions a year featuring artists from all over the world (including Australia). The New Americans Museum<\/strong> (open Wed-Sun 11am-5pm) has two galleries \u2013 when I visited this included \u201cChildren of Immigrants\u201d, part of the Museum\u2019s focus to emphasise positive messaging about immigration, and making sure immigrants feel they belong, that they\u2019re part of the American story. Given this is a city with a large refugee population, this makes a lot of sense. The other exhibition was \u201cBetween 2 Worlds\u201d, which told stories of refugees from Laos.<\/p>\n

Also check out the San Diego Watercolour Society Gallery<\/strong> (open Fri-Sun 11am-3pm), with new shows every month. There\u2019s also the Women\u2019s Gallery of California<\/strong> (open Sat-Sun 10am-5pm) and the MK Envision Photographic Gallery<\/strong> (open Sat-Sun 12-4pm) in one of the barracks building (#17) \u2013 an original structure from 1923. Here, they feature San Diego photographers as much as possible, and San Diego life.<\/p>\n

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And then there\u2019s the Liberty Public Market<\/strong>, where you\u2019ll find some of the best food in San Diego, and Stone Brewing<\/a> (open Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm) \u2013 where you\u2019ll find some of the best beer. You\u2019ll find plenty of local beer in the Mess Hall Bar<\/a> (open Sun-Thurs 11am-7pm, Fri-Sat 11am-8pm, happy hour everyday 3-6pm) at the markets, including Modern Times\u2019 Ice, which is one of my favourite beers from the region \u2013 an exceptional Pilsner. Come with an appetite, because you\u2019re going to want to eat and drink everything you see there.<\/p>\n

Getting around San Diego<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You can easily jump in an Uber or a Lyft in San Diego, and there\u2019s ample public transport options. It\u2019s $2.50 for one way trips or $6 for a day pass on the efficient tram network, with most lines seeming to run every 15 minutes.<\/p>\n

And make sure to take a cruise around San Diego Harbour. You never know what you\u2019re going to see. In our case, it was dolphins and seals \u2013 lots of them! And Navy ships, of course.<\/p>\n

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Getting to San Diego<\/strong><\/h2>\n

At the time of printing, casual international travel for Australians is not possible nor recommended until mid-2022.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re flying into LAX, you can get the FlyAway shuttle to Union Station and get a regular train service to San Diego \u2013 on the Pacific Surfliner. It\u2019s one of the most scenic rides in the world, and highly recommended. You can also fly direct to San Diego via Honolulu with Hawaiian Airlines, and many other US airlines will offer internal flights directly to San Diego Airport.<\/p>\n

This trip was made possible with the support of San Diego Tourism. While in San Diego we stayed at the Intercontinental San Diego<\/strong><\/a> hotel. All photos by the author unless listed otherwise. All prices (in US$) and links were correct at the time of printing.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With San Diego turning 250 in 2019, the city and its surrounds have been shaping up a massive year of openings, new attractions and familiar favourites that ensure the coastal Southern Californian destination remains at the top of everyone\u2019s vacation lists, as we head into Summer 2021. Here\u2019s a guide to what you need to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":174042,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-174041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-leisure"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174041","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=174041"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174041\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=174041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=174041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=174041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}