Let's Talk about San Diego!

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

I'm headed to San Diego for a few days of beach and badminton. One of my non-hiking friends would like to do something outdoorsy and athletic.....I'm thinking that means HIKING!

I'm looking at sites right now that have some trails but I'm wondering iffn any of you might have some personal favorites you would consider sharing. I'm all ears...............

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

azbackpackr · Posted: 6/4/2007, 7:43 pm Post subject:

San Diego is my home town. (I was actually born there, unlike most people who live there.) My first backpacking trip ever was in Coyote canyon in Anza Borrego State Park. I used to love backpacking and hiking in the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, but it pretty much got burned over several years ago. I think most of the trails are open again, though. I haven't checked their website for awhile. The Laguna Mtns. have some neat trails, but it's a 2 hour drive from town. Closer to town the Torrey Pines State Park has both hiking trails and beach! Neat area!

Out on the end of Point Loma, the Cabrillo National Monument has two lighthouses and a couple of short hiking trails, plus some awesome tidepools. Neat views there of the ocean and the city--gorgeous place, gotta go there! It's also near the famous, extremely seedy and quintessentially Californian, Ocean Beach. (Have you seen all those OB stickers on people's cars? That's where they got them!) I grew up about a mile from there. Gotta go there!

When in Point Loma take a stroll along the end of Shelter Island, a very pretty place. There is a big Japanese bell there in a pagoda. I used to go there late at night with my dates and try to get them to jump across this moat and run up the steps and ring that bell for me. (You are not supposed to do this and the bell is VERY LOUD! It has this huge log suspended from cables and you swing the log against the bell, which is very thick metal.) Gotta go there, too!

Go to South Mission Beach and hike out to the end of the jetty that sticks out into the ocean there. The waves might try to wash you away. It's fun.

In the summer we never went to the mtns. or the desert because it was too hot--even the mtns. are sort of hot. We went to the beach.

Okay, now I'm homesick.

RedRoxx44 · Queen of the Walkabout Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 1167

Don't go to Black' Beach, the unofficial nudist hang out. People are forever falling off the cliffs there trying to get a looksee.
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azbackpackr · Posted: 6/4/2007, 7:50 pm Post subject:

It really is a great beach though! Used to be, around 1975 or so, sometimes as many as 10,000 people would go skinny dipping there on a sunny Saturday.

azbackpackr · Posted: 6/4/2007, 7:58 pm Post subject:

Forgot to mention that North County still has some nice places, such as Leucadia, a neat beach town. And Palomar Mtn. is an interesting drive. Plenty of hiking up there, too. I went up there a couple of years ago, for the first time in over 30 years.

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

azbackpackr · Posted: 6/4/2007, 8:41 pm Post subject:

Yikes, Suz, when are you going? Lousy weather forecast, unusual for June--drizzle. It's usually cloudy along the coast in June, but it doesn't usually rain.

One thing Zonies never seem to get: May and June coastal weather in Sandy Eggo sucks. It's cloudy, cloudy and more cloudy. And too cold to swim comfortably without a wetsuit. Water temp there today is 63 degrees.

July and August is when the weather generally warms up on the coast and the water gets to 70 degrees or so.

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

I'm leaving in a couple of days. I did check out the forecast already 67 degrees!.........and I've picked out my Mexican food places in Old Town. Got a place on the beach----it's always good for walking--rain, clouds or sun. Nothing like walking on the beach!

Thanks for all the info----I'm getting good at weather related back up plans........ Rolling Eyes

IGO · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 4144 Location: Las Vegas

I was also born in San Diego Elizabeth!
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Matt Hoffman · Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 701 Location: Grantham, NH

WOW! What a perfect forum topic! My girlfriend and I are planning to go to San Diego in a few weeks! Neither of us have ever been there. I guess I have to do a little research; I have no idea where to stay or what to do. I want to go boogie-boarding for sure, but it looks like our trip will have to wait till next month if the water is so cold.
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threedogz · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 668 Location: Chandler

Sounds fun!

We are going to San Diego in July, staying in Old Town again and going to head out to Sea World on one of the days there.
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Shawn · Posted: 6/5/2007, 6:33 am Post subject:

For me San Diego = boot camp, 1970, not a good time to be there! I drove over there a few years ago and saw what was then the HUGE base, now it looks so tiny, and it isn't even a military base anymore.
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Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

threedogz- I've done that same trip your doing a few times. Just don't go over a holiday weekend.

I saw the Padres play over Memorial Day weekend, it's a nice ballpark, something to do for a couple of hours if they are in town. Trevor Hoffman is only a save or two away from 500.

AFScout80 · Joined: 16 May 2007 Posts: 82 Location: Colorado

you should definetely try surfing while you are there suz. it is my favorite thing to do ever.
oh and matt hoffman... i'm in the west valley and have a 3.2mm fullsuit. if you would like to borrow it so you can boogie board in the cold water just shoot me a line. I'm a big guy, 6'2" and 205 lbs so don't know if it will fit. let me know though
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