San Diego Shines
San Diego shines. With nearly constant sunshine dancing on the bay, the city has a kind of luster only light combined with water can produce. Throw in obliging temperatures and you can quickly understand San Diego’s appeal. As one longtime resident said, “What’s not to like?”
Here’s another bonus, you won’t soon run out of sightseeing options in San Diego. The list is long and the choices diverse.
The Gaslamp Quarter is a 16-block area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Victorian-era buildings have become home to more than 70 of the city’s pubs, boutiques, art galleries and restaurants, assuring the on-going vitality of the Quarter.
Look for Croce’s Restaurant on the corner of Fifth and F streets. As a tribute to her late husband, singer Jim Croce, Ingrid Croce opened this excellent eatery.
If you prefer to lodge in the Quarter as I did, the Hilton Gaslamp Quarter is ideal. As the first new hotel built in the Gaslamp Quarter in more than 100 years, (it opened in 2000) the Hilton met the challenge of producing an exterior consistent with the surrounding buildings. Although it carries the Hilton name, it’s boutique in style and represents the best in modern design.
The warm, residential feel of the lobby is inviting. High, woodbeam ceilings accent a rich wood and brick interior, decorated in a cozy living room style. The over-all effect might be best described as urban sophistication. Muted, earth tones create a soothing sensation.
The Hilton sits next to the waterfront Convention Center, with trolley tracks in between. A grassy area adorned with palm trees, and popular with dog-walkers extends out from the front. Along the green space is a beautifully landscaped walkway called Martin Luther King Jr. Way. His thought-provoking quotations are etched on the stone path.
Save one day for the Old Town trolley tour. The trolley does a continuous circuit around San Diego, with eight stops. You can hop off and back on as needed, but remember you only get one full circuit. Stop No. 6 is near the Hotel Del Coronado, a famous historic hotel. Located on Coronado island, the Del is one of the few remaining seaside hotels of her age. I have a real fondness for old hotels, so the Del was a must for me.
The “Grand Lady” proved she had not lost her allure when in 1958 Hollywood director Billy Wilder set his comedy Some Like It Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, at the Del. Over the years, dozens of movies and television shows have been filmed there.
Another stop on the trolley is the Old Town area, which is now a state historic park. Wander through La Casa de Estudillo, begun in 1827. At first L-shaped, the house later grew into a U-shape as it is today. As you tour the casa, you’ll be introduced to the lifestyle of a prominent early San Diego family. The rooms are fully furnished in period style. Other historic buildings in Old Town include a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, San Diego’s first newspaper office and a stable with a carriage collection.
A short walk from the Old Town area is the Whaley House, known as the most haunted house in San Diego. Ghost hunters come from far and wide to visit this historic home, and it’s been featured on the History Channel and the Discovery Channel. Aside from the resident ghosts, the Whaley House is interesting in its own right. As you enter, pick up a printed history and a description of the rooms. The interpretive period of the home is from 1856 to 1885. Alas, I saw no ghosts, but not for lack of trying.
For a majestic view of the San Diego area, with a dash of history, drive to the Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma. The point forms a natural protective barrier at the entrance of San Diego Bay. Basically a sandstone rampart jutting into the sea, the peninsula rises 422 feet. Get your bearings at the Visitor Center, where you can watch a short film and browse their small museum.
In September 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed into San Diego Bay. His visit marked the first time Europeans had set foot on what later became the west coast of the United States. Commanding three vessels, Cabrillo sailed north from Mexico, seeking a passage that connected the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. He had no luck there, obviously. There is some mystery about this explorer, since historians don’t know for certain where Cabrillo was born or where he is buried.
If you visit during January and February, you may be lucky enough to spot gray whales off Point Loma. These whales pass the point during their annual round-trip migration. They leave Arctic summer feeding grounds in September and travel to the bays of Baja California, Mexico, where calves are born. It’s estimated that 25,000 gray whales migrate on this route.
While San Diego admits to being the second-largest city in California, it also claims to be the site of the nation’s largest city park, Balboa Park (1,158 acres) topping New York City’s Central Park (840 acres). Within Balboa Park are 15 museums, making it more like a city within a city rather than a park.
After five sunny and action-packed days in San Diego, I can only chime-in, “what’s not to like?”
