Just 5 days after I got home from Los Angeles, we left for San Diego. This is the 2nd year in a row that we’ve been to San Diego in November and it’s been great! The beaches are practically deserted.
Proof:
In the summer months, the beaches are super crowded. It’s almost impossible to get a picture of just the beach and water with no humans in it.
On our first day, we drove to Coronado. I love the hotel there.
We had a drink on the patio outside then walked around inside. I love these old black and white photos they have hanging. PS - if you haven't seen 'Some Like It Hot', go watch it right now. Marilyn at her best!
Then we found an Italian place for lunch. We ate outside on the patio. It was just beautiful out!
Then we drove to Horton Plaza to walk around and kill some time before seeing a movie. We saw ‘The Martian’. It was really good. I had read the book and the movie stays super close to the book. A great film!
On Sunday we got up early and drove to Anaheim (about 90 miles away). We went to Disneyland! I had been there as a child, but my husband had never been.
We read the ‘Disney tips and tricks’ online and hit all of the ‘big’ stuff first thing after we got there. We did the Star Tours ride and then headed over to Adventureland where we rode the Big Thunder Railroad (rollercoaster). Then we did the Indiana Jones ride (my personal favorite). Those are the ‘biggies’ there. Oh, and Space Mountain, but it was closed for refurbishment. We did more walking, did the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and had lunch at a café in the New Orleans section.
I tried a Monte Christo sandwich for the first time in my life. It was….interesting. I couldn’t decide if it was a desert or an actual meal. It’s a strange combo (meat, cheese, jelly, powdered sugar?) but it works somehow.
After we got throughly soaked on Splash Mountain, we got a famous Dole Whip (sooooo good) after waiting in a VERY long line. Totally worth it though.
Our last stop was Starbucks in Downtown Disney so my husband could get a mug. He was laughing and joking with the baristas there, and they gave us free Mickey cookies. He’s very charming!
It was a lot of fun. We left just before it got dark. We were there from about 9:00 until 5:00. The park stayed open until midnight but we didn’t want to be driving back to San Diego that late and we just wanted to make it a somewhat early evening.
We slept in on Monday and had breakfast at our favorite little Mexican dive about 4 blocks from our hotel. Then we drove to Seaport Village so my husband could go to Crazy Shirts. They are shirt company that dyes shirts out of various things (coffee, wine, money, etc.) They are super high quality and never shrink and never fade. We went last year and he bought 2. This year he bought 3 more.
Then we went back to the hotel and it was time to get ready for the game! I wore my Chargers t-shirt but put my Bears hoodie over it.
We took the trolley from Old Town again this year. It’s just so easy…you park your car, pay $5 for a trolley day pass and hop on and 10 minutes later you’re dropped off at the front door of the stadium. We had club seats so we got in early. We went to the top so I could get a birds eye pic (above). There was no one there, it was great! We then found our seats and enjoyed each other’s company. Then the stadium started filling up. There were just as many (if not more) Bears fans there than Chargers fans.
It was a great game. The Bears came from behind to win it 22-19. I screamed so much I was a little hoarse.
Tuesday we walked to Kono’s, a super popular breakfast joint right on Pacific Beach. There’s usually a line out the door. But shockingly there was no line when we got there.
Then we made our way back to the harbor to go to the USS Midway museum. We found a Groupon deal for it (just $15 per person). It was totally worth it. The place is HUGE! I mean…it’s an aircraft carrier, so obviously it’s huge, but it’s REALLY huge. We toured as much of it as we could.
The beds were not made for tall people.
After that we wanted pizza for dinner so we walked to a ‘make your own’ pizza place downtown.
And then I saw Chunk doing the truffle shuffle on the wall. Every time I would glance up at it I would burst out laughing. His facial expressions!
So my loving husband bought it for me. He is now hanging at home in our hallway. At first I thought I would put him in the office, but we hardly ever go in there and we keep the door shut! So I hung him in the hallway so that I could bust out laughing each time I went by.
Wednesday morning we drove to La Jolla for breakfast and then sat on the exact same bench we sat on last year to watch the seals for a bit.
Then we drove up the coast to Del Mar. Del Mar is my favorite beach in California. I went there so many times with my aunt and uncle to boogie board and just hang out. So we went to CVS beforehand and bought some cheap throws, spread out our blankets and just relaxed. We walked a bit and found some pretty shells.
Then we drove up the coast to Del Mar. Del Mar is my favorite beach in California. I went there so many times with my aunt and uncle to boogie board and just hang out. So we went to CVS beforehand and bought some cheap throws, spread out our blankets and just relaxed. We walked a bit and found some pretty shells.
Then we found a movie theater. Yes, we saw TWO movies on this vacation! We saw Bridge of Spies. It also was really good and based on a true story (unlike the Martian ha ha). The movie theater was one of those ones where the seats each reclined completely and there was food service at the touch of a button. So relaxing!
After that we had dinner at In-n-Out burger (husband had never been there and wanted to try it…he was underwhelmed…..as was I. I’ve been there before but have NEVER understood the fascination with that place….I mean, sure, it’s good, but I wouldn’t wait in a drive through line of 20-30 cars (which is usually what the drive through line is).
We got home Thursday around 1:00. I came right into work to try to get a little organized. Then I unpacked everything when I got home and started on the laundry.
It was a nice, relaxing trip. Until next time, San Diego. I love you!!
