What to do in San Diego & LA

[syee]

Well, I've got 13 "use it or lose it" vacation days at work and have decided to take a short trip out to San Diego and LA since I haven't been to San Diego since I was 7.

I'm planning to fly to San Diego and spend a few days there, then drive up to LA and spend a few days there before driving back to SD and flying home. I'm planning to probably split the days 50/50 unless there's more things I want to do in a particular area, and probably will spend about 7-8 days altogether for both places.

I'm looking for suggestions on where to go during those days. I don't have family in either place so it's basically tourist stuff both days. So far, I've come up with the following places:

San Diego Things to Do: (5 days?)
*San Diego Zoo
*Seaworld
*Balboa Park
*Mission Beach
*USS Midway
*Ocean Beach/Sunset Cliffs
*Coronado (maybe)
*Torrey Pines State Park
*Wild Animal Park
*La Jolla Kayak & Snorkel tour


Los Angeles Things to Do: (3 days?)
*Disneyland
*Universal Studios
*Hollywood
*Santa Monica
*Warner Bros studio tour

Las Vegas: (3-4 days)
*Hoover Dam
*Grand Canyon/Zion
*LV strip


Are there any other places worth checking out? The ones I listed are pretty much your standard fare tourist trap type places (which I'm fine with going to just to experience them). I'll be renting a car so mobility isn't an issue. I also don't mind something scenic as I want to get an opportunity to play around with my new dSLR and get some nice scenic shots as well.

EDIT: Added LV as a destination. It will be my final stop before flying home. Route will be fly to San Diego, Drive to Los Angeles, then drive to Las Vegas

 

[K1052]

San Diego: tour the USS Midway and visit Coronado.

 

[bobross419]

Find some busted up looking Mexican joints and have amazing food

 

[cirrrocco]

La jolla : Nice beach
Glider port
also they have a bice bike ride all the way from the hill/mountain down to pacific beach and some caves. A++++++ totally enjoyed that
Plus the state park also has nice trails with spectacular views of the ocean high up on the cliffs

 

[syee]

Originally posted by: cirrrocco
La jolla : Nice beach
Glider port
also they have a bice bike ride all the way from the hill/mountain down to pacific beach and some caves. A++++++ totally enjoyed that
Plus the state park also has nice trails with spectacular views of the ocean high up on the cliffs

Which park is this? Is this at La Jolla?

Thanks guys for the suggestions! Keep them coming! How about in LA? What's good out there?

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: syee

Originally posted by: cirrrocco
La jolla : Nice beach
Glider port
also they have a bice bike ride all the way from the hill/mountain down to pacific beach and some caves. A++++++ totally enjoyed that
Plus the state park also has nice trails with spectacular views of the ocean high up on the cliffs

Which park is this? Is this at La Jolla?

Thanks guys for the suggestions! Keep them coming! How about in LA? What's good out there?

Eat.

Santa Monica/Venice is probably worth a trip, just for shits and giggles

 

[QueBert]

San Digeo...

Donnovan's Steak House in La Jolla if you want an incredible steak, there's one in the Gas Lamp district now too.

Bronx Pizzaif you want some authentic NY style pizza, I like this place a lot. Not very big or fancy at all, but good pizza.

LA

Venice Beach is fun, Melrose AVE has some interesting shops and every kind of person you could imagine.

gotta throw in mentioning In-N-Out & Tommy's Dunno if you like fast food, but both are LA legends. Pinks on Hollywood is another spot if you like hot dogs.

If you're going to be in SD and have a passport just go a few miles more south and check out Tia Juana, there's no place like it anywhere. 3 for 1 Margaritas is never a bad thing lol.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: syee


San Diego:
*San Diego Zoo
*Seaworld
*Balboa Park
*Mission Beach

LA:
*Disneyland (maybe)*Universal Studios
*Hollywood
*Santa Monica

Boooooo! OC is not LA* *throws tomato*




*unless you own the Angles and want to try and sell more tshirts to the residents of LA so you call your team the LA Angles

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: QueBert
San Digeo...

Donnovan's Steak House in La Jolla if you want an incredible steak, there's one in the Gas Lamp district now too.

Bronx Pizzaif you want some authentic NY style pizza, I like this place a lot. Not very big or fancy at all, but good pizza.

LA

Venice Beach is fun, Melrose AVE has some interesting shops and every kind of person you could imagine.

gotta throw in mentioning In-N-Out & Tommy's Dunno if you like fast food, but both are LA legends. Pinks on Hollywood is another spot if you like hot dogs.

If you're going to be in SD and have a passport just go a few miles more south and check out Tia Juana, there's no place like it anywhere. 3 for 1 Margaritas is never a bad thing lol.

Don't eat at Pinks. For the love of all that is tasty, don't go to Pinks.

 

[BZeto]

Ocean Beach was good. Go to Coronado for sure.
Someone here suggested an awesome BBQ place in San Diego called Phil's BBQ. It was indeed amazing.

 

[QueBert]

You speak badly about teh pinks!?! I remember going one time and Bruce Mother Fucking Willis was in front of me. The line was super long as usual, I was like "oh shit Bruce Willis!" I didn't say anything since I know he gets harassed enough by common folk.

what exactly don't you like about Pinks?

 

[jacob0401]

Yea let's hear more about LA, I'm at USC currently visiting my sister for Thanksgiving and need stuff to do/eat/see.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: QueBert
You speak badly about teh pinks!?! I remember going one time and Bruce Mother Fucking Willis was in front of me. The line was super long as usual, I was like "oh shit Bruce Willis!" I didn't say anything since I know he gets harassed enough by common folk.

what exactly don't you like about Pinks?

ok, let's start with the GOOD

- tasty casing
....


Ok, let's continue onto the bad
- ridiculous line anytime of the day or night
- stupid ass line system
- subpar ingredients
- subpar combination of ingredients

Combine all these subpar ingredients together, pile it on a mile high, charge people 6 bucks for "the experience", and in the end you get a giant mess that tastes like shit


This review is on the money

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: jacob0401
Yea let's hear more about LA, I'm at USC currently visiting my sister for Thanksgiving and need stuff to do/eat/see.

Around USC
- go to the fountains by the quad and stare at hot girls
- on Saturday, repeat, except move from quad to Coliseum or Tailgate!

- Little Tokyo + MOCA, you guys can take the F dash (or maybe it's the B dash, not sure)
- Good spots in LT - izayoi, sushi gen, yogurtland, weilands, senor fish

- Griffith Park
- Griffith Observatory

- Take the 10 -> Venice
- Take the 101 -> Hollywood

- Take Vermont SOUTH to Carson if you want to live out the music video for Gin & Juice

** Go to Langers, and get a #19 (or maybe it's the #21? Anyway, it's their most popular). Best pastrami ever (have not tried Katz)

Langers is on Alvarado/6th I believe

Also hit up El Taurino. If you're by 'SC you have GREAT mexican food options.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: syee

Originally posted by: cirrrocco
La jolla : Nice beach
Glider port
also they have a bice bike ride all the way from the hill/mountain down to pacific beach and some caves. A++++++ totally enjoyed that
Plus the state park also has nice trails with spectacular views of the ocean high up on the cliffs

Which park is this? Is this at La Jolla?

Thanks guys for the suggestions! Keep them coming! How about in LA? What's good out there?

Torrey Pines State Park. That place is beautiful. Donovan's is a great joint (right around the corner from my work). Ocean Beach/Sunset Cliffs is a great spot to take photos/check out the sunset. I second Phil's Bbq as well. The only one that's open now is on Sports Arena Blvd. To check out more beach life, do hit up Mission Beach. If you want more low key go to Pacific Beach. La Jolla Cove is a nice tourist destination as well. San Diego has a pretty good nightlife as well, just head to the Gaslamp District in Downtown. Or if you prefer the beach community, head over to Garnet Street in Pacific Beach. There are some preety good bars and clubs there.

 

[syee]

Cool, thanks for the clarification. Not really into the food thing - I could eat a burger for dinner and call it a day. It's just not really my thing. Is there anything specific in Coronado to see? It looks like it's mostly beaches out there.

Thanks for the suggestions on Torrey Pines State Park. I'll check it out to see what's good out there.

Originally posted by: Ocguy31

Boooooo! OC is not LA* *throws tomato*

*unless you own the Angles and want to try and sell more tshirts to the residents of LA so you call your team the LA Angles

haha...OK...my bad. I guess I just think of that whole general area as LA.

 

[brunell8]

Try the Corvette Diner in San Diego. Used to love going there when I lived in San Diego. Good eats and a fun place to go.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: syee
Cool, thanks for the clarification. Not really into the food thing - I could eat a burger for dinner and call it a day. It's just not really my thing. Is there anything specific in Coronado to see? It looks like it's mostly beaches out there.

Thanks for the suggestions on Torrey Pines State Park. I'll check it out to see what's good out there.

Originally posted by: Ocguy31

Boooooo! OC is not LA* *throws tomato*

*unless you own the Angles and want to try and sell more tshirts to the residents of LA so you call your team the LA Angles

haha...OK...my bad. I guess I just think of that whole general area as LA.

tbh, coronado is a boring place. there's not much to it except that it's a mad made island with rich folk and the military. you're better off sightseeing else where. there's seaport village as a nice little tourist destination as well, if youre into hiking, check out cowles mountain in mission gorge. if you are ok with a slightly vigorous walk you can check out san diego's very own nude beach (Black's Beach, great surf site ) i wouldn't expect to see much boobie though, but you'll get a few of them

 

[quikah]

I think the Wild Animal park is better than the zoo in SD. I don't think there is really anything in Hollywood worth going for, but you could go see a movie at the Chinese theater I guess.

 

[zoiks]

San Diego is boring. More stuff to do further up in LA.

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: quikah
I think the Wild Animal park is better than the zoo in SD. I don't think there is really anything in Hollywood worth going for, but you could go see a movie at the Chinese theater I guess.

i agree, the wild animal park is waaaaaaayyyy better than the sd zoo. do both if you must but if you think thats overkill or only have time to do one, make it the wild animal park. take the tram tour to see the open-range enclosures.

 

[syee]

hmm...OK. Wild Animal Park is on the list. San Diego Zoo is now a maybe.

Yeah, I couldn't really think of anything in Hollywood to see. Just see the stars on the ground.

I was actually thinking about taking one of the Gray Line tours that drive you around everywhere as a starter when I hit each city. That way I can see what's around to see, and then drive out to the selected locations if I want to spend more time at each place.

As it stands, here's my list:
San Diego Things to Do:
*San Diego Zoo
*Seaworld
*Balboa Park
*Mission Beach
*USS Midway
*Ocean Beach/Sunset Cliffs is a great spot to take photos/check out the sunset
*Coronado (maybe)
*Torrey Pines State Park
*Wild Animal Park

Los Angeles Things to Do:
*Disneyland
*Universal Studios
*Hollywood
*Santa Monica

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: K1052
San Diego: tour the USS Midway and visit Coronado.

The USS Midway was awesome. One of my favorite tours of all time.

 

[aircooled]

Wild Animal Park is better than SD Zoo. (In fact I think SD zoo is over-rated)

Universal Studio's I enjoyed more than Disney, but both are worth doing.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: bobross419
Find some busted up looking Mexican joints and have amazing food

that

oh and fish tacos/wet burritos FTW!