California - Travlling to San Diego - Advice! :)

Hey FT community, hoping that the San Diego natives along with regulars there could chime in on some advice for a trip me and 3 buddies have planned next weekend!

4 guys, on a guys trip, and here is our plan thus far: (We are all 23)

We will have a rental convertible (hope weather is nice).
Staying at the Ivy Hotel.

Thursday: Arrive 10:30 AM

Daytime: We are thinking we might rent Jet Ski's somewhere for 4 hours, and do a tour up/down the coast and visit small towns/beaches. Is this possible? Can you go "beach hopping" along the coast, where we can get off our jet ski's and go explore towns/beaches, then hop back on our jet ski's and go further up/down the coast?
Other suggestions that may be better?

Night: Dinner at the Ivy Hotel restaurant, and bottle service at Eden rooftop at Ivy.

Friday: Deep sea fishing (Dana's Landing) 7:00 am - 5 pm 3/4 day (hoping for a marlin1!!)

Dinner: unsure?
Night out: Unsure?
Suggestions - based on our first night, we are looking for upscale dinner, and a fun club.

Saturday: Surfing lessons in the morning with Kahuna Bob's
Afternoon free (suggestion)?
Dinner/Evening - unsure -

Sunday: Pats/Chargers football game. Is there good tailgating? Can we expect to show up 4 hours early and just be able to walk the parking lots with beer in a backpack and visit with people?
Dinner/Evening - unsure

Monday - Golf Torrey Pines (already have tee time) and depart.


So looking for suggestions for our Saturday afternoon (about 4-5 hours free), and our Thursday afternoon if you don't think our jet ski plan is feasible. And then any must see/eat clubs/restaurants.

P.S. This isn't a budget vacation - we don't get much time off work and plan to have a fairly high roller weekend :)

Thanks

Please continue this discussion in the California forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz moderator

You can't just take the jetskis up the coast--I don't know of any rental place that would allow them in the open ocean. You'll be stuck to the bays (San Diego or Mission). You could walk from the Ivy to the Marriott and rent some there and get a couple hours' fun anyway.

Based on your ages and the fact that you're staying at Ivy, I'd suggest Stingaree for dinner and a little clubbing and then the Altitude Sky Lounge to end the night.

You can't just take the jetskis up the coast--I don't know of any rental place that would allow them in the open ocean. You'll be stuck to the bays (San Diego or Mission). You could walk from the Ivy to the Marriott and rent some there and get a couple hours' fun anyway.


This has been what I have seen as well. If you want to jetski, do that for some time and then head out. If you are interested in heading up the coast, take the drive up the 101 from La Jolla/Torrey Pines up to Carlsbad or Oceanside. This will give you a decent overview of coastal San Diego. Just beware, if you do not time it right you will have traffic going up and back.

I have heard good things about the Hard Rock downtown but it had not opened when I moved and I was too busy the times I have been back. Alternately depending on what you want to do on Saturday night I enjoyed Bully's in Del Mar a few years ago. Not a clubber so I can't help there.

You can't just take the jetskis up the coast--I don't know of any rental place that would allow them in the open ocean. You'll be stuck to the bays (San Diego or Mission). You could walk from the Ivy to the Marriott and rent some there and get a couple hours' fun anyway.



Thats what I was worried about. We all have jet ski'd alot, so dont know if it would be worth our time in San diego if they just make us stay in the bay. We were hoping to explore and use it as a cool mode of transportation. I think we will find something else to do now. Maybe the zoo?

Thats what I was worried about. We all have jet ski'd alot, so dont know if it would be worth our time in San diego if they just make us stay in the bay. We were hoping to explore and use it as a cool mode of transportation. I think we will find something else to do now. Maybe the zoo?

I'd go to Sea World before I went to the zoo.

No trip to Tijuana or Rosarito Beach, MX?

I'd go to Sea World before I went to the zoo.

No trip to Tijuana or Rosarito Beach, MX?

No i heard Tijuana isnt that good, and we only have 5 hours.

Thats what I was worried about. We all have jet ski'd alot, so dont know if it would be worth our time in San diego if they just make us stay in the bay. We were hoping to explore and use it as a cool mode of transportation. I think we will find something else to do now. Maybe the zoo?

Are you relatively in shape? What about kayaking? If you head out of La Jolla (you can rent kayaks) there are plenty of areas to explore, plus you also have the chance to free dive the kelp beds.

The Fish Market, get a window table for dinner. Great seafood, simply prepared.

http://www.thefishmarket.com/

What about exploring Cornado? Iremember being there as a kid and LOVED it.. but maybe it was cause I was a kid.

Monday - Golf Torrey Pines (already have tee time)

That's one great golf course! Have fun ^

Jet Skis--drop this idea. You will not be able to go out of the bay and there is no way you can go up the coast on them. As for Surf lessons--Bob will take care of you but remember the water is getting cold (around 66 degrees right now and dropping--so Maybe 64 when you are here) You never know this time of year when a cold current will move through the area--dropping the temp down to 58. We Surfers welcome this colder water since it usually means that the North swells are starting to show up bringing with them bigger wintertime surf. And it chases the Kooks out of the water who tend to stick with the warmer water seasons. Bob will have wet suits but I was telling you this because some people think this is like Hawaii here and sun and warm water. Sun yes--warm water (almost never).

As for Fishing--you are going on the 3/4 day boat so the biggest fish you will catch will be around 10lbs if you are lucky. There are a few game fish (yellowtail etc) hanging around still by the islands, but the water is getting tooo cold for them to hang out much longer. Mostly Kelp bass and whitefish, some sculpin, Red snapper, etc. But it will still be fun.

As for a group of 23 year old guys hanging out and having a good time there are two places to go out Down town (gaslamp area--where you are staying) and Pacific Beach (PB). PB near Crystal pier area has some great places to be on a Friday or Sat night--drinking, girls, etc. (but then so does the Gaslamp area). Getting to PB is the trick--it is a long cab ride (40$) each way from your hotel to PB. Teh clubs downtown are packed close together and the bars are everywhere--you should not have to leave down town for action. for the downtown bars and clubs--dress nice and bring cash. No jeans and tennis shoes. Think Vegas.

Thanks - we will xnay the jet skiing.

Any suggesions for what we should do all day thursday, and for 5 hours on saturday?

you need suggestions for Thursday? how about this:
http://www.wavehouse.com/
perfect for a group of guys--beer Wave machine--good times to be had by all. Right on the beach so plenty of girls hanging out. This part of San Diego is a beach scene--not the black shirt black pants and shades group of downtown. PB is more flip flops and open button down shirt. Dont get caught witha beer on the beach though--you will get fined. Do the Wave house and then head over to Longboard bar and grill--you will really enjoy the scene.

As for tailgating at the stadium--3 hours or more ahead of time is good. There will be plenty of Pats fans there to hang out with. San Diego is not one of those twons that is so Die hard that you see few opposing fans. you should see about 25% Pats fans. Sad but True. You should see it when My Broncos coem to town (50%!). To get to the stadium you can take the trolly from downtown--much better than trying to park a car there, which can take an extra 1-2 hours to park and get into the stadium.

Have fun--spend money---Then leave. Dont fall in love with our city and wan tto stay (traffic is bad enough already)

:cool:

Thanks - we will xnay the jet skiing.

Any suggesions for what we should do all day thursday, and for 5 hours on saturday?

Play golf at Steel Canyon, was there last week, nice course. I was lucky enough to play Rancho Santa Fe as well, that was proper good but without a member I think difficult to get on.