What a weekend, wow. First off hello my name is Garrett. I’m a new intern here at So Diego Tours. I’m the one from Nebraska, so a lot of this is new to me. But man what a weekend! I was sitting at home wondering what to do, when snorkeling came into the conversation. Now i’ve heard La Jolla has some of the best snorkeling in southern california. Its called ”the jewel” for a reason right?  So i’m pumped, we pack up and head to La Jolla cove.

In less then 15 min the ocean is in sight, parking not so much. There are a few places if your willing to pay that you can park. There are no parking meters in La Jolla, just one to two hour parking along the street. But be warned, law enforcement watches parking like a hawk. Your best bet is to find a parking garage, they are hidden around the area.  For example turn downhill onto Coast Blvd. from Prospect and you’ll find one the left, across from the Cave Store. Most parking ranges from ten to fifteen dollars for the whole day.

So once you handle that small and always fun obstacle it’s off to the cove. I was informed that there are two places to go snorkeling around the cove. One is the actual cove, which sits right below Scripps Park, the other is a cliff face right on the back side of the cave store. We went into the actual cove for this adventure. Down in the cove is nice, we went on a somewhat cold day but the cliffs blocked a  lot of the wind and the water was fairly calm. Staying in the shallow you can find a few fish, but the real fun is a little deeper. Huge submerged rocks and sea grass make for a great environment to see all sorts of wild life. From rockfish, yellowtail and the orange garibaldi. Which by the way is the California state fish, a little knowledge for ya there. There is also a small cave to climb around in. Just afore warning though, don’t be in there when the tide comes in, learned that one the hard way. After about and hour or two we decided to go grab a bite to eat.

The beaches and shopping are all within walking distance, so not having to move the car was a bonus. Plus the walk helps you dry off. We ended up grabbing burgers at the burger lounge, it was a juicy burger for a decent price. After that we decided to check out the caves under the cave store. We scampered down the cliff to find a nice ledge with many other beach participants. This place was awesome. You take a jump straight into 10 to 15 feet of water. Now depending on how adventurous you are you can swim along the cliffs and explore caves and the wildlife. Me, well coming from a land locked state i took full advantage of this experience. And man, what a cool experience! With all the fish and plants, it’s another world. Oh, and not to mention the seals. Thats right! Seals, the young ones have no problem jumping into the water with you. One young pup got within feet of me!

We ended our day with drinks over looking the ocean, each reliving our experience. The moment was awe inspiring for this midwest kid. After a few drinks we started planning next weekends outing, between learning to surf or swimming with sharks. I voted surfing, but of course my friends all voted on me facing my fear of sharks. Apparently thats a hobby for people around here, swimming with sharks. I was told that La Jolla shores has areas just for people crazy enough to enter shark infested water. I don’t care that they are only leopard sharks, a shark is a shark my friend. So here is looking forward to next weekend, stay classy San Diego.   -Garrett out-

A Night Out in the Gaslamp Quarter

OH, how I love to go out!  I love getting ready, meeting new people, and dancing the night away.  Going out in the Gaslamp Quarter is never dull.  There are so many pubs, clubs, lounges, and wine bars within walking distance, and people fill the streets from walking place to place.  You can even hang out at a coffee shop and just people watch, and that’s even fun! 

Last Friday my girlfriends and I went out to the newest nightclub, FLUXX.  The place is phenominal!  It’s built in a the historic building of Ah Quin who was the mayor of the Chinese district in San Diego at the turn of the 19th century.  The facade is an olive-colored, Spanish-type structure, but when you go inside, it’s a wonderous world of color, fantasy, nature, and glamour! 

As you walk into the lobby area, the walls are covered in shrubbery, and a there are several fountains of the famous Belgian boy peeing.  The club is designed around the dancefloor.  All of the VIP table face the center of the venue, there are gorgeous girl dancing all over, and frost shoots down on you when you least expect it…FROST!!!  If you decide to come here on a weekend night, however, get there EARLY!  I can’t stress it enough!

After we had a few dances and some crazy-expensive drinks ($18 for a Red Bull Greygoose!), we headed to meet some other girls at Quality Social, a new dive-feeling bar with the ambiance of a downtown lounge.  On our walk, we decided to check out Side Bar.  It had been a while since I checked out SB on a weekend night (I’m very fond of their Wednesday Industry Nights), so we went in for a drink.  Side Bar will always be on my top 3 favorite places to party in SD.  The staff is awesome, music is amazing, and the decor is extremely sexy!  After a couple of sip of tequila, we were off to Quality Social.

Quality Social is a new loungy bar on 6th and F.  My friend suggested I order the h: cocktail, and OMG…it was amazing!  Ever since I got back from Israel, I haven’t been able to find a decent cucumber cocktail in the city, and alas, I have found one!  The limey deliciousness of the cool cucumber and soda drink blew my mind!  They even include a long slice of cucumber inside the drink to snack on when you’re done with your drink!!! 

We made our rounds at Quality Social, and then we headed to the Andaz Hotel to the Ivy Nightclubs.  Our friends were on the rooftop.  I can honestly say the The Ivy Rooftop is among the most beautiful bars in San Diego.  The sleek and sexy furniture along with the natural materials of the furniture and garden wall make you feel as though you’ve stepped into the Garden of Eden.  They entertain guests by bringing in the occassional trumpet player to accompany the DJ, and phenominal dancers.  The Ivy never dissappoints for a good night out. 

I was looking forward to ending my night here, and relaxing and mingling with friends.  A night out on the town can get a bit tiresome, especially after several drinks!   But there’s nothing like enjoying a weekend evening in my beautiful hometown!  There is always something new brewing in SD. 

If you want a VIP San Diego experience planned for you or your party, give me a call!  I’d love to help you out!  (619) 233-8687

La Jolla Restaurant Hop

I consider myself a Downtown girl.  I eat, breathe, sleep, play, and work Downtown San Diego.  There is so much to do and see, and I get my nerdy history fix with all of the tourist attractions such as the William Heath Davis House, the architecture and stories of The Gaslamp Quarter’s past, the U.S.S. Midway and Maritime Museum, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade.  I can’t get enough of the nightlife and dining options…so many things to do!!  BUT, it’s important to get out of my comfort zone every once in a while, hence, the reason I started Restaurant Hops in La Jolla and North Park.  Both amazing neighborhoods with so much to offer!

I recently hosted my first La Jolla Hop a few days ago for a group of girls celebrating a bachelorette party.  They were from Noth County San Diego, and like many people, didn’t really venture out of their respective neighborhoods to explore.  Hanging out in other ‘hoods makes you feel as if you’re taking a mini vacay.  If I was stuck in San Diego for the rest of my life with no means of traveling to another city, I wouldn’t complain.   

Anyway, they requested that I plan a Restaurant Hop closer to where they were coming from, so I proposed to take them to La Jolla!  La Jolla is known as the “Jewel” of Southern California.  Geographically, it is breathtaking with the cove, cliffs, and 7 caves you can kayak into, and since the beginning of its development back in the 1880′s, the village has developed into what most people refer to it as the Beverly Hills of San Diego.  The streets are lined with art galleries, fine dining restaurants, and great shopping boutiques!

We started off the tour at the oh, so cute Whisknladle Bar & Bistro.  If this restaurant were a cute chubby-cheeked kid, I’d pinch the cheeks right off of it!  The dining room is situated on a covered patio right on Wall and Girard Avenue, and as you walk  into the building, the bar and kitchen take over the rest of the space.  It’s a small restaurant, but you really feel like your in someone’s patio.  I love it!  The girls arrived in their matching pink necklaces, and I escorted them to their table.  We got them 2 pitchers of sangria to kick off the night, and soon after the food was out!  I got them the signature Caesar Salad which is prepared with their home made dressing, the flat breads that are baked daily a la chef’s will, and the Tagliatelle Bolognese, a must-try!  The staff was amazing, and we were soon on our way to the next restaurant!

We walked accross Girard Ave., the “Rodeo Drive” of La Jolla, and through a beautifully lit arcade that resembled an old Spanish mission.  The girls took some pictures, and then we arrived at the second stop, Vigilucci’s, an elegant Italian restaurant on the second floor on Prospect. 

This restaurant is gorgeous with views to the water, and it doesn’t hurt that the super Italian men are so quick to compliment and kiss familiar faces on each cheek.  They really know how to make a girl feel special!    We had an area where we sat and sipped on wine and beer and tasted their delicious bruschetta with vegetables that had a medly of mushrooms and peppers, the light and fresh penne con spinaci, and a homemade meatball that literally melts in your mouth.  I felt like I was in Italy in this restaurant.  They even have a beautiful wine room and a waterfall on the way to the restroom. 

After Vigilucci’s, I had planned for the girls to finish the night off at Prospect Bar and Grill.  It’s another second story restaurant with a beautiful patio with views to the ocean.  When we arrived, there was a girl playing the acoustic guitar and singing on the patio. The amiance in this restaurant is relaxed and modern.  On Fridays, a local radio station throws a party there, so people were arriving little by little.  You could definitely sense that “the night’s gonna be a good night.” 

Once the girl finished her set, they started the DJ with some good reggae beats…people’s heads started boobing and laughter and cheer filled the air.  The girls ordered from a choice of well drinks, wine, or beer.  They were served the yummy caprese salad, bites of probably the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever tasted, the Chicken Pesto Sandwich, and the cevice, a mixture of raw fish, pico de callo, and lime juice.  Yum!  The night was still young, and the girls were just getting warmed up.  They were having fun, and couldn’t thank me enough for the fun night!  My job there was done, and after seeing all of them chowing down on the food, I was pretty hungry myself (I don’t participate on the hops    ).

I headed to Old Town to Harney Sushi because they serve dinner until midnight.  Ate, laughed with my friend, and called it a night.  Entertaining could be exhausting!  Wheew…

If you would like me to plan your “outing” with friends or coworkers, give me a call!  I love doing it!  (619) 233-8687

Breathtaking Ride (literally) to the Cabrillo National Monument

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, and my buddy and I had decided to take the day off for some fun in the sun.  Since he never really hangs out in Downtown San Diego during the day (many people know my ‘hood for nightlife fun of bars, clubs, and restaurants), I decided to be his personal tour guide and show him some of my favorite spots!

We decided to rent some bikes from Wheel Fun Rentals on Harbor Drive and Ash Street.  I knew they were reasonable, and they’re located right on the Embarcadero across from Anthony’s Fish Grotto.

My favorite thing in the world is being a tourist!  I know it’s a bit cheesy, but what’s life all about if you think you know everything about a place??  I was grilling the poor bike guy about what there was to see, and he gave us the idea to make the ride to either Ocean Beach, or the lighthouse at the Cabrillo National Monument.  Normally, I would think to just ride along the bay front and maybe take the ferry across, but something new was definitely called for.    We mounted our beach cruisers and headed NorthWest on Harbor Dr.

The ride along Harbor Drive is gorgeous!  There are so many beautiful trees and the pathway along the water/marina makes it easy to head to Point Loma.  I was surprised, however, at how many bums hang around the strip.  Actually, I shouldn’t be suprised…I mean, look at this city!!  If you make this ride, just make sure to hold your breath when you pass a super tan man with dirty clothes.

We rode for about half hour before arriving at Point Loma Sea Foods on Scott and Emerson.  This place was sooo cool!  They had so much fresh fish, smoked fish, shell-fish.  For a second there, I had the weirdest urge to want to learn how to cook, but then it went away…Anyway, we devoured our mosterous tacos, and set out once again to CNM!

Point Loma is so pretty.  The homes are so classic and neat, and the town feels like so quaint.  I found myself marveling at the homes too much for my own good, that we veered off our route.  I whipped out my iPhone to find the best route to get to the Monument, and off we were…up Talbot (Tall Butt)…the nightmare of my life!

Talbot street could have been the death of me that afternoon.  The street resembled a street in San Francisco.  You know, the kind that you’d almost be better off crawling up rather than attempting to walk up?  Yeah…we were on bikes.  BEACH CRUISERS for that matter!  It wasn’t the best decision of my life, but I wasn’t going to give up.  I was wearing jeans and a super cute top, and riding up was brutal!  Poor Bryan was sweating, even on his forearms, and I knew that he was hating the position I had put him in – hungover and all!  Haha!  Woopsy!  >:)

Looking over the Pacific

We finally made it to Cabrillo Monument two hours later, parched and wobbly from the ride.  But, what a spectacular view!  I felt like I was on top of the world!  There were daisies in bloom and the cool ocean breeze felt so good against my damp shirt.

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

Cabrillo National Monument was named after Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, famous for being the first European to set foot on the West Coast of the United States back in 1542.  He charted maps and led an expedition up along the coast.  There’s a pretty cool statue of him at the top, you mustn’t miss!

Point Loma Lighthouse also sits at the top of the point.  It was built in 1855 to help navigate the sailors into our bay.  You can go inside and see what it was like to live as the lighthouse worker in such tiny quarters.  It’s set up like it used to be in the 1800′s.  Big Man Bryan kept bumping his head on the ceiling every time we climbed up the stairs. haha!  I don’t know who would have EVER wanted the job of a lighthouse worker. It seemed so lonely looking across the big bay at the San Diego skyline.

You can even go inside the lighthouse assistant’s house where you can learn a bit more about the history of the lighthouse and its tenants.  I loved every bit of it!

After getting our culture and history fix, we were ready to head back.  We cruised happily down the point passing the navy cemetary and navy base, and then back to The Embarcadero.  As we were locking the bikes up, I couldn’t help but wonder what life must have been like in San Diego in the 1800′s.  Rough, dirty, dusty, fishy, sweaty.  Much like how I felt at the time.  Get this girl a shower!

Padre’s Kick off the season with a BANG!!

There’s something about the words, “Opening Day” that get me so excited!!  Maybe it’s the fact that it’s the first day of a long period of events coming to town, or perhaps its the fact that sooo many people feel the need to party like it’s 1999 on a beautiful Monday in Spring.  Whatever the reason…the buzz in the air is impossible to ignore! 

Yesterday was the first of 162 games that the Padre’s will play this season.  That’s right…162 games!!!!  Really?!  Are there any fans out there that will watch even half of those?!  It’s hard to believe, but i like to think that there are…

So, Opening Day was huge!  SD showed plenty of love to our beloved Friars.  By the way…isn’t our mascot kind of odd?  a FRIAR!!  I mean, I get it…San Diego was somewhat founded by Spanish friars and military men, so it’s fitting, but you’ve got to admit that having a bald old man as a baseball team mascot is kind of unconventional.  Good thing our football team isn’t the Padres!  hehe!

The streets were flooded with people when we got to The Gaslamp!  There were bands playing, sponsored street parties, and promo girls all over!  We ended up at La Puerta for a qucik bite and some deliciously spicy Bloody Marys, and then we were off to go shopping for an Opning Day HAT!  I ended up getting a shiny, satiny Padre’s hat at the Sport Palace on 7th and J!  yay!  I was decked, and ready to rumble!

If you’ve ever been to a Padre’s game, you’ll know that San Diegans don’t necessarily go for the game.  We have a gorgeous stadium with some fantastic bars, all in the heart of Downtown San Diego!  What more can you ask for?  Opening Day is just a huge party.  It helped that our team killed the Braves 17-2…people were in good spirits, and the drinks were flowing!  I could not believe how many people were GOING ALL OUT!  As if it were the middle of summer on a Saturday day!

We started our adventure at The Western Metal Co bar…a historic brick building that was preserved and stands as one of the bars within the modern stadium, Petco Park.  Saw some friends there, and then it was off to our seats!

The game was pretty fun as soon as we sat down because the Padres scored I believe it was 10 points in one inning?!  I’m not much of a BaseBall fan, but I don’t think I had ever heard of that happening.  Later I found out that it’s common for teams to do great one game and then completely flop the day after playing the same team.  Who can keep up with it?

We got our baseball watching in after 2 innings, then headed to the Omni Bar – The Premier Club.  Party, party, party, without music!  But it was fun!

A few spilt drinks later, and a victory from the Padres, and we headed to Altitude Lounge.  I absolutely love this bar!  It’s up on the 20-something floor of the Marriott Gaslamp, and it looks right into the ballpark.  As we marveld at the view and sat by the fire pit, we witnessed a now empty Petco Park shutting down for the night.  It was relaxing, yet satisfying to know that I had witness such a victorious game for Opening Day 2010. ..aahhh…what a life I live!

We weren’t ready to hit the sack quite yet, so we ended up at the Se Hotel – a gorgeous boutique hotel on 5th and Broadway that is impeccably designed.  The lounge has an indoor wall garden, and everything from the ceiling and pilars, to the furniture and fire in the wall is absolutely worth the drink prices.  We had some late night sliders and phenominal red wine, and called it a night!

I knew waking up Tuesday morning was going to be a pain…literally.  Sooo worth it!