SoCal Recs

[leeawalden]

I am going to be in Palm Springs for a meeting coming up around Presidents Day and I have decided to drive over to San Diego and do some work with one of our sales people out there after my meeting.

Having never been to California at all I thought it would be fun to drive it and see some country.

Any recs, food, sites, etc for the trip from Palm Springs to San Diego? I'll basically have an afternoon to make the drive.

I am also flying my wife out for the weekend before heading back. We will have Friday afternoon until we catch a flight on Sunday.

Any recs on what to do in San Diego over the weekend?

Thanks in advance!

 

[LRflip]

In - n - out

 

[kk88rrc]

In - n - out

x10

Find time to check out Joshua Tree.

 

[garrett]

In-N-Out is good, but I never got why people got hards on for it. I'd say Hodads is way better, has way better shakes and cooler too. Kris has one in OB and the one in downtown San Diego is pretty cool and walking distance to 5th Ave.

 

[leeawalden]

In n out Is usually the first stop on the way from the airport.

 

[p m]

Lee - screw In-N-Out, there's so much great Mexican food in SoCal that it just doesn't make much sense unless you're into cheap burger thing.

If you have a whole afternoon to get from Palm Springs to San Diego - do yourself a favor: drive through Idyllwild.
You can take 10 West to 243, climb to Idyllwild, and then take 74 West to 15 and fly to San Diego.
Or you can take 111 or 10 East to 74, turn to 371 to Aguanga, then take 79 South through Warner Springs to Santa Ysabel, then 78 to Ramona, 67 all the way to I-8, and you're in San Diego.
If you're in Santa Ysabel before 5pm, stop by the bakery and get yourself some apple strudel.
Other two alternatives through Anza-Borrego desert:
Take 10 East to 86, then drive on 86 by Salton Sea. You can take S-22 West to Borrego Springs (then on to S-2, 79 South to Santa Ysabel, and so on). This road takes you by Truckhaven Hills, Font's Point, and Borrego Springs.
Or you can take 78 West to Julian, enjoy dinner in Julian Cafe, and follow 78 to Ramona, 67 to I-8, etc.

These drives are between 3 and 4 hours, and they are by far more scenic than traffic on 215 or 15.

 

[cornercase]

If you like to wheel, you could head up to Big Bear (pending it not being buried in snow). And, if you're out near Joshua Tree anyway, there's a fun little watering hole out in the desert called Pappy and Harriett's. We always head out there when we're in the area. I also second Idyllwild. Also, hit up some Mexican food joints. It's hard to go wrong in SoCal with Mexican.

 

[p m]

Big Bear is buried in snow.
Took us 3 hours to get there last Sunday, 2 hours to drive two miles of 3N16, and 4 hours to get back to San Diego.

Edit: Come to think of it... If you decide to go to Idyllwild, check road conditions on these roads - chains may be required.

 

[Mike_Rupp]

Listen to PM. One can find a good burger anywhere, but the Mexican food in San Diego is insanely good.

 

[Tugela]

Last time I was in SD I went to Rustic Meatballs in the Gaslamp district. It's about 2 blocks from the baseball stadium. At the time (April 2014) you could get a meatball sandwich and pint of Duvel for $5. It was so good I went out of my way to go back. If you're in that neighborhood it's worth checking out, but given the congestion downtown perhaps not worth a special trip.

 

[leeawalden]

Thanks for all of the recs.

I am flying into Ontario and driving over to Palm Springs on a Friday and doing work stuff in Palm springs until the following Wednesday. Probably play golf a day or two and one day they signed us up for one of those jeep tours. In N Out will be once and basically during the drive from Ontario over to Palm Springs.

Wednesday I'll free up around 2-3 and make the drive. I want the most scenic route that won't take forever. I'll be by myself and in a rental SUV so wheeling isn't really possible in that time frame. I'll have to work Thursday and my wife is flying out Thursday night and we will have the weekend to take in San Diego.

 

[adriatic04]

where are you staying in San Diego? If you are a beer guy and looking for a good dinner, hit up any of the Stone Brewing Gardens. Closest one to downtown is across the bay in Liberty Station. I second the other comments on the Mexican food, great burrito shops.

Also, great pizza/beer hangout is Pizza Port, great atmosphere (very casual, not a business type location, think Mellow Mushroom).

As for Palm Springs, the drive from San Diego is cool but then once you are there it is a highly overrated place, IMO. Plenty of golf but even the golf I find to be very resorty. Weather is the plus for Palm Springs, finding a good restaurant is a challenge.

edit: if you are a beer guy like I mention above, let me know. It is plentiful but there are some really awesome places you want to hit up. Let me know if you need beer recs, I do San Diego/LA about once a month.

 

[emmodg]

I second the Mexican food in San Diego!

As an aside - I'm more of a Fatburger fan...

 

[leeawalden]

Eh I still haven't booked my SD hotel. I am working with a rep out there and he suggested the Hyatt mission hills which is conducive to his route.

We are doing our national sales meeting in Palm Springs so that's already set. Since I'm out there I figured I'd work with the rep and fly my wife out for the weekend.

I am a fan of stone and green flash so maybe we can check those out

What are some recs for must see shit in SD?

 

[Keanan]

What type of vehicle will you be driving? A rental car? Take main roads to San Diego.
If you are in a 4x4 there is some great wheeling in Truckhaven and Anza Borrego. In one day you could get a decent overview of the area.

If you pitch in for fuel you could easily convince me to come give you a tour of the area.

 

[jymmiejamz]

Best mexican is Chipotle Mexican grill. I would equate it to as good as my favorite mom and pop pizza joint in NYC called Sbarro which is located in Times Square.