ALONG COMES MARY

Happy Summer! In this mini series of posts, I thought it would be fun to tell you about some California destinations that are especially perfect for those like myself who reside in Los Angeles. Kicking this series off will be at the border of our golden state: San Diego! San Diego is such a diverse, eclectic city loaded with much to do & home to one of the greatest weeks ever (Hello, Comic Con!). San Diego is also where some awesome people reside, like my friend, Lauren 🙂 Read on to discover some of my personal faves to check out in this city.

STAY
Step back in time to the old wild, wild west & bunk up at The Cosmopolitan Hotel, located in Old Town San Diego. You will literally feel like you’ve been transformed back to the 1800’s. One of California’s oldest hotels, there is a delicious restaurant & continental breakfast that’s also in store for you at The Cosmopolitan. Park your car once & you’ve got enough to keep you entertained walking the old Mexican heritage streets of this historic landmark.

Or, need somewhere a bit more modern, maybe kid-friendly? While Legoland California is a great resort for young children, young & old alike will love a stay at their new hotel. “Everything is awesome” as you enter The Legoland Hotel, located 30 minutes out of San Diego in Carlsbad. Between a restaurant, cafe, bar, pool & life-size Lego rooms, I would gladly stay here just with my boyfriend.

EAT
Believe it or not, my best meals in & around San Diego have been that of Asian cuisine. In beautiful Oceanside, I absolutely love The Wok Inn (511 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92054, 760-754-2167); a small ‘hole in the wall’ style diner, The Wok Inn is family owned & operated & I love to stop in for a bottle of sake & their Buddha’s Feast.
Another local favorite is The Orient Thai Cafe, when Mike & I met Lauren here awhile back, it was amusing as he questioned if it would be any good for carnivores as he was against  2 vegetarians. The verdict for us all? Its amazing. Great service, food & ambience.

You also will have countless restaurants, both chain & locally owned, in The Gas Lamp District. Theres bars, clubs, stores & more all at your fingertips. Perfect for some night life.

PLAY
Balboa Park is where it’s at. Its larger than New York’s Central Park & is home to The San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, The Japanese Friendship Garden, The Natural History Museum (Make sure to check out their current Dr. Seuss exhibit!) & The San Diego Museum of Art. You could even simply walk around this park & be entertained. I also adore The Globe Theatre, one of the gorgeous buildings highlighting the town’s rich architecture.

The Coronado Hotel is a great must-see for tourists & film buffs alike. Probably most famous for the filming location of Marilyn Monroe’s Some Like it Hot, this would be a wonderful place to get some pictures of your trip or simply hone your photography skills as the views are breathtaking. If you think you hear something, yet no one is around, don’t fret, as that is just their resident ghost, Kate! 😉

Want to catch a concert while over looking the marina? Look no further than Humphrey’s by the Bay, located in Shelter Island. All Summer long, Humphreys not only rents rooms, they also host top name performers like Lyle Lovett & The B-52’s.

This is only a small beginning of what San Diego County has to offer. What did I miss that you love? xo