theDIBB - San Diego Resources and Links

Hello Dibbers! I am a San Diego local, born and raised, who loves my hometown and enjoys helping others plan their visit here. I started this thread because I have noticed how many Dibbers there seem to be who are planning trips here in the near future and have no idea where to start, or what to do here. I hope this thread helps with your planning, but if there is anything you don't see here that you are wondering about, please feel free to post your questions here or send me a private message. I'm always glad to help answer as much as I can!

A few general facts and information about San Diego

San Diego is located in the southwest corner of California on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. With a population of about 3 million, it is the second largest city in California and the eight largest city in the United States, renowned for it's ideal climate and 70 miles of beaches. Discovered in 1542 by explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, San Diego became the site of the first European settlement on the west coast and is known as the birthplace of California. Long associated with the U.S.Navy, San Diego is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet. San Diego is a very family-friendly town with a relaxed, laid-back vibe.

Distance to other major cities of interest

San Diego is approximately 120 miles from the city of Los Angeles, 97 miles from Anaheim (Disneyland), 330 miles from Las Vegas and 20 miles north of the border of Mexico.

Weather

San Diego makes an ideal travel destination as it enjoys a beautiful, mild climate year-round. The average daily temperature is just above 70 F (21 C), with warm summers and mild winters. Humidity is low and the weather tends to be mostly dry with low rainfall averages, typically between 9-13 inches per year, with most of the rain falling from December through March. Although days are mostly sunny and warm, evenings can be cool in the city, even in summer. The least amount of sunny days occur during what locals call the May Gray and June Gloom months.

Busiest times of the year in San Diego: the summer months from Memorial Day weekend (last weekend in May) through Labor Day weekend (first weekend in September). Local kids are out of school for most of these months and this is when the tourist season is the heaviest. Beaches are at their most crowded in the summer, as well as the theme parks like Sea World, the Zoo, Legoland. etc. Generally, any school holiday times will be very busy at the popular attractions and the beaches.

Major airport

San Diego International Airport
http://www.san.org/
Located approximately 3 miles from downtown. British Airways is now offering direct flights from Heathrow to San Diego. Terminal 2 services all international flights.

Car Rentals/Hires from San Diego Airport

All car rental pick-ups and drop-offs that service the airport are located off the property at the Consolidated Rental Car Center. Free shuttle buses are available to transport people from the terminals to the rental center. Check this page out for a listing of the rental agencies that are currently available at the rental center:
https://www.san.org/to-from/Rental-C...ental-agencies

There are several ride share companies that also service the airport. Check here to find out where to find the pick up locations for ride shares: https://www.san.org/to-from/ride-share

Hotels

San Diego offers a wide variety of accommodations from full-service hotels and resorts to bed & breakfasts, budget hotels and motels, and vacation home rentals. Summer rates will be the most expensive as that is the height of tourist season, followed by holiday seasons such as Christmas and spring break/Easter time. San Diego is a popular city for conventions, so rates at hotels in the downtown area where the Convention Center is located will fluctuate up and down as conventions are in town. In general, the lowest rates will be in late fall and the winter months. Comic Con, which is held over a weekend in July, draws the largest amount of visitors and hotel prices around downtown will double in price that weekend.

Since I am always asked for hotel recommendations, below are just a few of my personal picks...

Downtown San Diego Hotels (including Gaslamp Quarter)
There are some benefits to staying downtown (city center): it's a 15-20 minute drive to all the major attractions such as the Zoo, Balboa Park, Sea World, Old Town, beaches and Coronado Island. There is a lot of action downtown: harbor cruises, the USS Midway Museum, a wide variety of restaurants and bars in the Gaslamp Quarter, and the airport is only 3 miles away. If you are visiting during baseball season, San Diego's professional team, the Padres, play home games at their stadium Petco Park which is located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown. Another plus for staying in the city center is there are more public transportation options with the city bus system and red trolley, it's also the best location for non-drivers or people who just want to have more restaurants and some sightseeing within walking distance from their hotel. But, there are also a few drawbacks to staying downtown that should be weighed into your decision on where to stay: hotels and parking are generally more expensive than elsewhere in San Diego. Like many other large cities in California, there are also a number of homeless around downtown and if you worry that it could be too unsettling, you may want to give careful consideration before booking a hotel in the city center. I don't want to discourage anyone from staying downtown if that is where they really want to be, but I would just encourage everyone to use common sense as you would when you are visiting any unfamiliar city.

Embassy Suites San Diego Bay
http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_...ornia/index.do
Hard Rock Hotel
http://www.hardrockhotelsd.com
Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel
http://www.hiltonsandiegobayfront.com
Manchester Grand Hyatt
http://www.manchestergrand.hyatt.com
San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...is-and-marina/
Omni Hotel
https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/san-diego
Marriott Residence Inn Gaslamp Quarter (all-suite hotel in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter. Free hot breakfast buffet included plus all suites have a full kitchen)
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...slamp-quarter/
Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/cal...QHF/index.html
SpringHill Suites San Diego Downtown/Bayfront
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...3-75b66089dd79
San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter (located right next to Petco Park baseball stadium)
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...3-75b66089dd79

Shelter Island/Harbor Island Hotels
Both Shelter Island and Harbor Island are small peninsulas on San Diego bay, and many of the hotels here have water views or are surrounded by boat marinas. These areas are across the road from the airport and are scenic locations to stay, although Shelter Island is my preferred location of the two. Both Shelter and Harbor Island are a reasonably quick drive to the beaches, Sea World, the Zoo and downtown is only ten minutes away.

Shelter Island hotels:
Humphrey's Half Moon Inn (popular hotel, also home to summer concerts by big name entertainers)
http://www.halfmooninn.com/
Best Western Island Palms (highly recommended)
http://islandpalms.com/
Kona Kai Resort
http://www.resortkonakai.com/

Harbor Island hotels:
Sheraton Harbor Island & Marina
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sherat...language=en_US
Hilton San Diego Airport Harbor Island
http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/cal...HHF/index.htmlLiberty Station (community near Shelter Island)
Liberty Station is a large residential and business neighborhood that was formerly the site of a Naval training base. The Navy sold the property to the city and the buildings were converted into restaurants, art studios and retail shops. They added some condos and hotels, turning it into a neighborhood with a very lovely atmosphere. This is a favorite community of mine that is very close to the airport and downtown.

Courtyard Liberty Station
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...berty-station/
Homewood Suites (all-suites that include kitchens)
http://homewoodsuites3.hilton.com/en...SHW/index.html

Coronado
Coronado is a peninsula attached off the coast near downtown San Diego. It can be reached by a drive over the massive Coronado bridge which spans San Diego bay and links with downtown. It can also be visited via the Coronado ferry: https://www.flagshipsd.com/cruises/coronado-ferry. Coronado is a wealthy community of beautiful homes that has retained a small town feel and it has one of the nicest beaches in San Diego: Coronado Beach (where the Hotel Del is located). Half of Coronado is also home to the North Island Naval Air Base.

Hotel Del Coronado: the crown jewel of San Diego, the Del is a historic Victorian era beachfront hotel with a long list of famous visitors. It was also the filming location for the Marilyn Monroe film "Some Like It Hot". The Del is worth a visit, even if you're not staying here. It is said that some of the Grand Floridian hotel in WDW was modeled after the Hotel Del.
http://www.hoteldel.com/
Glorietta Bay Inn
http://www.gloriettabayinn.com/
Loews Coronado Bay Resort
http://www.loewshotels.com/Coronado-Bay-Resort
Marriott Coronado Island Resort
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...esort-and-spa/
1906 Lodge (historic B&B)
http://www.1906lodge.com/
La Avenida Inn (hotel in short walking distance from the beach)
http://laavenidainn.com/
Best Western Plus Coronado
https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/bo...ode.05481.html

Old Town/Mission Valley
This most central area of San Diego is just 10 minutes drive from downtown and the airport and is mainly a home for budget-friendly hotels, businesses and two large shopping malls. Mission Valley is a heavily trafficked area as a few of the major highways intersect and run through and around here. The drawback is that the hotels closest to the freeways may have some noise issues from traffic, so you may want to request rooms away from the front of the hotel if you are a light sleeper. The plus to Mission Valley is that hotels are less expensive here than those downtown, and due to it's central location you can get to most of the big attractions like the Zoo, Sea World, the beaches, and Old Town State Park in a few minutes.

Courtyard Mission Valley
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...-hotel-circle/
Sheraton Mission Valley
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sherat...language=en_US
Holiday Inn Express Mission Valley (free breakfast incl)
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpres...bp/hoteldetail
Springhill Suites Mission Valley (brand new hotel, offers free breakfast buffet)
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...ission-valley/
Hilton San Diego Mission Valley
http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hote...ornia/index.do
La Quinta Inn Old Town
http://www.laquintaoldtown.com/
Residence Inn Mission Valley (free breakfast incl)
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...ission-valley/
Hilton Garden Inn (Old Town)
http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/e...WGI/index.html

Mission Bay/Pacific Beach/Mission Beach
This is the location of some of the most popular beaches in San Diego: Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. Sea world is also located here and it's a quick drive to downtown, Balboa Park and the Zoo. If you want to get a real taste of San Diego's beach-town vibe, this is where you'll find it- but as with any area that is close to the beaches, hotels are a little more expensive here than those just a few minutes away in Mission Valley. Also, a lot of young adults frequent the beach bars and clubs in this area, so if your hotel is located on the beach, it can get a little noisy in the evenings, especially during the summer and other school breaks.

Crystal Pier Hotel (historic cottages on top of the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach- if you choose to stay here be advised they book up 6 months and more in advance)
http://www.crystalpier.com/
Pacific Terrace Hotel
http://www.pacificterrace.com/
Paradise Point Resort (popular place with families on Mission Bay, right next to Sea World)
http://www.paradisepoint.com/
The Catamaran Hotel
https://www.catamaranresort.com/
The Dana on Mission Bay (also close to Sea World)
http://www.thedana.com/
Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa
http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/cal...IHF/index.html
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay
http://missionbay.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

La Jolla
La Jolla is an upscale, wealthy beach town and one of the prettiest locations in San Diego county. The beaches here are beautiful...La Jolla Shores, the Cove, Torrey Pines State Beach...there are a lot of great restaurants and boutique shops in the downtown area of La Jolla, which locals call The Village. La Jolla is not real far from the attractions in San Diego either, it's located about 20 minutes north of downtown San Diego.

La Jolla Shores Hotel (beachfront hotel)
http://www.ljshoreshotel.com/
La Valencia Hotel
http://www.lavalencia.com/
Estancia La Jolla Hotel
http://www.estancialajolla.com/
The Lodge at Torrey Pines (Golf resort)
http://www.lodgetorreypines.com/resort.php#page=page-1
La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club
http://www.ljbtc.com/
Empress Hotel
http://www.empress-hotel.com/
Pantai Inn
http://www.pantai.com/
Hyatt Regency La Jolla
https://lajolla.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

Rental Homes & Villas
As of this writing, October 2020, vacation rentals such as Airbnb, VRBO, Home Away and others are still legal to operate in San Diego.

For a list of B&Bs in town, check out the San Diego Bed & Breakfast Guild website:
http://bandbguildsandiego.org/

San Diego Visitors Information Center

https://www.sandiegovisit.org/
Downtown on the Embarcadero. 996 N. Harbor Drive on the Southwest corner of N. Harbor Drive & West Broadway. It's located in a transparent, colorful glass building near the cruise terminal.
Hours of Operation:
Open 7 days a week - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Discounted attraction and tour tickets and maps available at this location. There's a very friendly staff of locals that will help answer questions and give recommendations and tips for things to see, dining etc.

Attractions and Amusement Parks

San Diego Zoo
http://www.sandiegozoo.org * Every October, children ages 11 and younger get free admission both to the zoo and the San Diego Safari Park for the entire month.
Sea World
http://www.seaworld.com/sandiego
San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Escondido, about 45 min north of downtown)
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/park/index2010
Legoland (Carlsbad, about 35 min north of downtown San Diego) In addition to the theme park, there is also a Legoland Aquarium next door and a Legoland water park- both require a separate admission.
http://california.legoland.com
Belmont Park (beachfront amusement park with the historic Giant Dipper wooden rollercoaster)
http://www.belmontpark.com

Water Parks

Legoland Water Park
https://www.legoland.com/california/...d-attractions/
Sea World's Aquatica
http://seaworldparks.com/seaworld-sa...ica-California

Aquariums

Legoland Sea Life Aquarium
https://www.visitsealife.com/california/
Birch Aquarium (La Jolla)
http://aquarium.ucsd.edu

The Birch Aquarium

State Parks and City Parks

Old Town Historic State Park (considered the birthplace of the city of San Diego)
http://oldtownsandiego.org

Old Town State Park

Cabrillo National Monument & Point Loma Lighthouse (national park) http://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm

Point Loma Lighthouse

Balboa Park- San Diego's pride and joy, Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the U.S. It contains fifteen museums, the San Diego Zoo, numerous gardens and award winning theatres including the Old Globe Theatre which hosts a Shakespeare festival each summer. At the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, there are free organ concerts year round on Sundays at 2 pm on one of the largest outdoor pipe organs in the world.
http://www.balboapark.org

The Botanical House in Balboa Park

Mission Bay Park
https://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-re...nal/missionbay

Museums

USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum
http://www.midway.org
San Diego Maritime Museum
http://www.sdmaritime.org
Children's Museum
http://www.thinkplaycreate.org
Mission San Diego de Alcala (the first of 21 California missions founded by Spanish missionary Junipero Serra, built in 1769. It still functions as an active parish)
http://www.missionsandiego.com

Recommended Museums in Balboa Park:
San Diego Natural History Museum
http://www.sdnhm.org
San Diego Museum of Man
http://www.museumofman.org
San Diego History Center
http://www.sandiegohistory.org
San Diego Air & Space Museum
http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org
San Diego Museum of Art
http://www.sdmart.org
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center & IMAX Theater
http://www.rhfleet.org
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
http://www.sdmrm.org
House of Pacific Relations: International Cottages
http://www.sdhpr.org

Tours

Old Town Trolley Tours (narrated, hop on/hop off) http://www.trolleytours.com/san-diego
San Diego Seal Tours
http://www.sealtours.com/index.asp
Speed Boat Tours (guided and narrated- you drive your own speedboat)
http://www.speedboatadventures.com
San Diego Harbor Tours
http://www.flagshipsd.com/harbor-tours/harbor-tour
Whale Watching Tours (winter and spring seasons) http://www.flagshipsd.com/harbor-tours/whale-watching
La Jolla Sea Cave Kayak Tours http://www.lajollaseacavekayaks.com
San Diego Bike Tours
http://bike-tours.com
Bite San Diego Food Walking Tour
http://www.bitesandiego.com/
Adventure Rib Rides (dolphin & whale watching on a high-speed former Navy SEAL rigid inflatable boat) http://www.adventureribrides.com
San Diego GoCar Tours
https://www.gocartours.com/san-diego-tours/
Little Italy Food Tours (downtown San Diego) http://www.littleitalytours.com
Gondola Boat Rides (Coronado Island)
http://www.gondolacompany.com
Another Side of San Diego Tours (various sightseeing tours, food tours, hiking tours, bike tours, and Segway tours)
http://anothersideofsandiegotours.com/
San Diego Ghosts and Gravestones Tour (Closed the month of December and runs limited nights in November)
http://www.ghostsandgravestones.com/san-diego/

San Diego's Old Town Trolley Tours, a great introduction to San Diego, especially for first-time visitors or those who are here for a brief time. This is the location in Old Town State Historic Park, which is the official starting location of the tour, although you can also begin the tour at any of the stops along the way.

San Diego Beaches
*It should be noted that alcohol is not allowed at any San Diego beach or shore park, including Mission Bay Park. As with most beaches in San Diego, parking spaces are limited and can be hard to come by, so it's always wise to get to the beaches as early as possible in the day to get a space.

Pacific Beach- or "P.B." as the locals call it...probably one of the most popular beaches in San Diego, especially with young adults. There is a busy, heavily trafficked 3 mile long boardwalk here with many bars, restaurants and shops populating the area. A lot of families tend to prefer North Pacific Beach (pictured below, running north from the Crystal Pier) as it's a bit quieter there. Parking around Pacific Beach is hard to find, you're pretty much left to finding street parking where you can get it- so it's a good idea to arrive as early in the day as possible, especially in the summer.
Map & directions to Pacific Beach:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...6faef60db73d9f

Pacific Beach and the Crystal Pier

Mission Beach- another popular beach located just to the south of Pacific Beach. There's a funky vibe to the beachgoers here, most of them university students and other young adults. This is a great place for people watching, along with Pacific Beach. Mission Beach is close to other attractions such as Sea World, Mission Bay Park and Belmont Park with the historic Giant Dipper wooden rollercoaster. Parking can be hard to find here- your best bet is the public lot at Belmont Park.
Map & directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...,0.038495&z=15

Mission Beach

La Jolla Shores (pictures below)- a lovely beach located in the beautiful city of La Jolla, it's one of my personal favorites and popular with families. The waves here are usually gentle and make a good location for swimming. There is a grassy area called Kellogg Park and fire rings available for evening fires on the beach. There are also a lot of restaurants and shops within walking distance, including places where you can rent surfing and diving equipment. La Jolla Shores beach has a large parking lot but it fills up quickly during the summer or on any warm day- it's best to arrive before 10 am if possible, or come late in the afternoon (after 4 pm) and stay to watch a beautiful sunset. Further south of La Jolla Shores beach is a scenic coastal area called the cove, popular with swimmers and snorkelers. The Cove is also a great place to watch sea lions, as they gather here in great numbers.
Map & directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...,0.019248&z=16

La Jolla Shores beach

La Jolla Cove

Sea lions at La Jolla Cove

Torrey Pines State Beach (pictures below)- another personal favorite beach, Torrey Pines is located between La Jolla to the south and Del Mar to the north. This beach is administered by the state park system. It's a beautiful sandy beach bordered by tall cliffs and is a favorite with surfers. There are two options here for parking: 1. Free parking along the shoulder of the Pacific Coast Highway that runs adjacent to the beach- very limited, so get there early for best chance. 2. Paid parking in a large, beachside parking lot just past the entrance gate to the Torrey Pines State Park. You pay at the kiosk at the gate, current parking fees (as of April 2017) are Mon-Thur: $10-12 and Fri-Sun and holidays: $12-20. The gate opens at 7:15 am and closes at sunset daily. If you drive past the paid parking lot and up towards the top of the cliffs you will find the Torrey Pines State Park, a 1700 acre reserve with hiking trails and beautiful views of the ocean from the tops of the cliffs. This reserve is dedicated to the preservation of the Torrey Pine tree, which only grows in two locations in the world- here and on Santa Rosa Island.
Map & directions:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/To...4d-117.2614258
*Helpful tip #1: do not sit at the bottom of the cliffs that line a part of this beach. Due to erosion, they are unstable and have been known to collapse without warning.
*Helpful tip #2: Torrey Pines beach is easily accessible except during times of high tide. It is usually a good idea to check the tide predictions before planning a day at this beach. A good place to check would be here for La Jolla:
http://www.tides.info/?command=view&...C%20California

North Torrey Pines State Beach with the Pacific Coast Highway running past.The parking you see along the shoulder of the road is the free parking.

The entrance to Torrey Pines State Beach and Reserve. Look for this entrance for the paid, beachside parking lot as well as the road leading up to the state reserve with hiking trails and fantastic views from the cliffs.

Coronado Beach- yet another personal favorite of mine. Coronado Beach is located on Coronado Island and is one of the cleanest, family-friendly beaches you will find anywhere with the widest expanse of sand of any of the San Diego beaches. It is well patrolled by lifeguards and is close to restaurants, shops and parks. The south end portion of this beach runs alongside the famous Hotel Del Coronado. The north end of the beach will bring you close to North Island Naval Air Station, and sometimes you can watch Navy jets flying in formation from the base. Fire rings are available on Coronado beach if you want an evening fire, but get there early in the day to grab one because they are first-come, first-served.
Map & directions:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Co...4d-117.1878115

Coronado Beach

Professional and other Team Sports

Baseball: San Diego Padres (regular season runs April-September) http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=sd
College Basketball: San Diego Aztecs (Nov-March)
http://www.goaztecs.com/sports/m-bas...skbl-body.html
Minor League Hockey: San Diego Gulls (Oct- April)
http://www.sandiegogulls.com/home/
Soccer: San Diego Sockers (Oct- March)
http://sdsockers.com
Del Mar Horse Racing (season runs mid-July-early Sept. They have family fun days on the weekends)
http://www.dmtc.com

Adventurous Activities

Hang Gliding and Paragliding (offers tandem flights with experienced pilots)
http://sandiegofreeflight.com/jm170/
Patriot Jet Boat High speed boat ride on San Diego bay with twists and turns- you will get wet!
http://www.flagshipsd.com/cruises/pa...at-thrill-ride
Jetpack America
http://www.jetpacksandiego.com/index.html
La Jolla Zip Zoom (California's longest zip line, on the La Jolla Indian Reservation)
http://www.lajollazipzoom.com/
San Diego Surfing Academy (surfing lessons for all ages)
http://sandiegosurfingacademy.com/
Surf Diva (don't be put off by the name- they offer surfing and standup paddleboard lessons for men as well as women, and also for all ages)
https://www.surfdiva.com/

Discount Cards for Attractions

Southern California City Pass (includes admission to Sea World San Diego, Legoland and 3 day Park Hopper tickets to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. You can also add-on San Diego Zoo or Safari Park)
http://www.citypass.com/southern-california
Go San Diego Card (access to more 40+ San Diego attractions, for a choice of 1,2,3,5 or 7 days)
http://www.smartdestinations.com/san...ss=Sdo_Prod_Go

Shopping Centers

Carlsbad Premium Outlets (city of Carlsbad, about 35 min north of downtown San Diego)
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=66
Seaport Village (waterfront shopping and dining in downtown area)
http://www.seaportvillage.com/

Seaport Village
Coronado Ferry Landing
http://www.coronadoferrylandingshops.com/
Westfield Horton Plaza (downtown)
http://westfield.com/hortonplaza
Fashion Valley & Mission Valley Malls Two adjacent shopping malls, Fashion Valley has more of the high-end shops. Located in Mission Valley, near Old Town State Park.
Mission Valley Mall: https://www.westfield.com/missionvalley
Fashion Valley Mall: http://www.simon.com/mall/fashion-valley
Westfield University Towne Center (La Jolla)
http://www.westfield.com/utc/
Las Americas Premium Outlet (near Mexico border crossing)
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=76
Westfield North County Mall (City of Escondido, close to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
http://www.westfield.com/northcounty/

Annual Events

San Diego County Fair (runs mid-June through July 4th)
http://www.sdfair.com
MCAS Miramar Naval Air Show (September)
http://www.miramarairshow.com
San Diego International Comic Con (July)
http://comic-con.org
San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival (November)
http://www.sandiegowineclassic.com/
San Diego Bayfair (powerboat racing on Mission Bay, near Sea World. September)
http://www.sandiegobayfair.org
San Diego Film Festival (downtown, October)
http://www.sdff.org
The Holiday Bowl (college football bowl game, held in late December. The game brings a large crowd of fans of the playing teams into town, so attractions will get busy and hotel prices will usually go up around the date of the game)
http://www.sandiegobowlgames.com/

Public Transportation

Metropolitan Transit (includes trolley, buses, Sprinter and Coaster trains)
http://www.sdcommute.com
Amtrak Trains (national train)
http://www.amtrak.com
Ferries and Water Taxis
http://www.flagshipsd.com/cruises/coronado-ferry
http://www.flagshipsd.com/cruises/san-diego-water-taxi

Dining Recommendations
San Diego has a lot of the large chain restaurants that you may be familiar with if you've been to Florida...Denny's, Cheesecake Factory, Chili's, Black Angus, Souplantation (same place as Sweet Tomatoes, only with a different name on the west coast), Outback Steakhouse, Red Lobster etc.

Below are listed some of my other personal recommendations:

Breakfast Republic Mainly breakfast menu, served until 3 pm (then the restaurant closes). Good variety on the menu with a few creative twists. Several locations...Liberty Station is closest to the airport, North Park closest to the Zoo and East Village is located downtown.
http://www.breakfastrepublic.com/
Lolita's Mexican Food (several locations, the one I go to is downtown on Park Blvd., right next to Petco Park baseball stadium)
http://lolitasmexicanfood.com/
Brian's 24 (American comfort food, open 24 hours, downtown location in the Gaslamp Quarter)
http://www.brians24.com/
Cafe Coyote (Mexican food, in Old Town Historic State Park)
http://www.cafecoyoteoldtown.com/
Corvette Diner (1950's style American diner, wait staff dress in 50's costume and are entertaining, tend to be sassy and have been known to suddenly burst into song, lol. Fun place to take kids if you don't mind a loud, over the top atmosphere P.S. The malts and shakes here are fabulous!)
http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/menu-...orvette-diner/
Pizza Bella Italian Bistro(Old Town State Park)
http://pizzabellasd.com/
Fireside by the Patio (Liberty Station, near the airport)
http://www.firesidesd.com/
The Original Pancake House
http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/phloc_sandiego.html
Phil's BBQ (Ridiculously good bbq food, counterservice style. Featured on Man vs. Food, Point Loma area near downtown) Closed on Mondays.
http://www.philsbbq.net
*Tip: the lines at Phil's tend to get very long, so if you are short on time or just wish to avoid waiting with the crowds, you can phone your order ahead and pick it up at the restaurant at a separate window, then head back to your hotel or maybe to nearby Mission Bay Park for a picnic.
Kansas City Barbeque Downtown across from Seaport Village, known for being the filming location for the bar scenes in the "Top Gun" movie. The food here is ok, but IMO Phil's BBQ is much better. However, there is a draw to Kansas City for the Top Gun movie memorabilia.
http://www.kcbbq.net
Filippi's Pizza Grotto (downtown)
http://www.realcheesepizza.com/web/locations/SD.html
The Fish Market (really fresh seafood, lovely setting downtown on the bay. Located next to the USS Midway museum. I would highly recommend making reservations ahead for dinner, this is a very popular restaurant)
https://www.thefishmarket.com/locations.aspx?id=6
Carnitas Snack Shack Small outdoor eatery on the harbor downtown, on the boardwalk near the USS Midway museum. They specialize in pork dishes, a lot of those with a Mexican flair. Lots of yummy items!
http://carnitassnackshack.com/locati...dero-location/
The Donut Bar Very popular donut bakery downtown with some very creative, over-the-top donut creations. People line up early here! They also serve beer, as the "bar" in the name states.
https://www.donutbar.com/
Liberty Public Market Located in the Liberty Station community in Point Loma, near the airport. This is an indoor marketplace with lots of food stalls featuring different restaurants, coffee bars, specialty cheeses, bakeries etc. You can find all kinds of food here including southern soul food (and beignets!), Argentinian empanadas, Thai food, Maine lobster rolls, sausage sandwiches, ice cream, sweets...the list goes on and they are always adding new vendors. Check out their website for a current list of what's there. It does get busy in here, especially on weekends.
http://libertypublicmarket.com/
Hodad's (consistently voted best hamburgers in San Diego, featured on Diners, Drive Ins & Dives). If you are attending a Padres baseball game, there is also a Hodad's inside Petco Park stadium.
http://hodadies.com/home/
Bubba's Smokehouse BBQ (La Jolla)
http://www.bubbassmokehousebbq.com/
The Cottage (La Jolla) Breakfast and lunch restaurant, cute little place in the heart of downtown La Jolla.
http://www.cottagelajolla.com/
Snooze (Hillcrest, not far from the Zoo) Funky, hipster breakfast spot. The menu is creative and large!
http://snoozeeatery.com/locations/hillcrest/
Kono's Surf Club (Pacific Beach across from the Crystal Pier) If you're looking for a good breakfast spot by the beach, this is the best. They also do lunch. The menu is simple, very inexpensive and portions are large- very good value. Very casual spot, popular with surfers and beachgoers. They don't do reservations and the line gets long by late morning, so go early for breakfast. Important note: bring cash! Unless things have changed recently, Kono's only takes cash- no credit cards.
http://www.konoscafe.com/location-1
Shakespeare Pub and Grille (Downtown, near the airport. British pub for those of you craving a taste of home and you can watch the football games here ;) )
http://shakespearepub.com/index.php