LOCAL WALLYFIRST THINGS FIRST!
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Established 1997 and Updated 2006
You're pouring over your tour guide books,
dreaming of waking to the sound of the crashing
waves, walking hand in hand with your loved one, picking up a shell and making a wish,
and sipping a glass of chardonnay as you watch a sunset of bright orange and gold fill the
sky over the Pacific..... ahhhhh, you can almost close your eyes and smell the salty air....
WELL SNAP OUT OF IT! If you don't do a little
homework, your dream vacation could be a trip to Touristland,
forever standing in lines and visiting sites that locals wouldn't
be caught dead at! Local Wally to the rescue! I'll take you step by step to help you plan the best vacation ever. The good news is that planning your vacation isn't like planning a trip to Europe. It's easy to have a great trip in paradise... if you follow Wally's advice.
You see, Local Wally is your friend - perhaps your only friend when it comes to giving you the straight scoop on hotels and attractions. Let's face it. There are a ton of, hmmm, let's say truth-challenged individuals on the internet. These folks have no problem presenting a Photoshop'd enhanced image of their quaint hotel that sounds like it's' right on the water and close to the attractions. Only problem is that it's next to a couple of topless joints. That's great for some, but Wally thinks that's unfair. You deserve better, and trust Wally to give it to you.
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How do you use the Local Wally website? Start here to learn a bit more about the town and your options, and ponder the Frequently Asked Questions. Then move on over to the hotel booking section and start shaping your vacation - you want a great resort with palm trees and ocean view, or a clean place near the key attractions? Then continue to attractions and pick the ones you won't want to miss. This is the hard part, but know that Local Wally only lists the good stuff. If it's not listed, it's not essential. |
Along the way, take some time to check out the Local Wally Message Board to see what others liked - and disliked - in San Diego. Don't forget, it's your civic responsibility to add your comments when you return to keep the content new and fresh. Besides, it's fun to add some notes to the internet when you return, so go ahead...make my day.
So without further adieu, let's begin our journey.
You've got to be smart about when you visit our city. While it's true that we don't get seasons like, say North Dakota, there are better times of the year to visit. A lot of tourists pick June to visit, and that's a huge mistake. Why? Because June is famous for "June Gloom", a thick marine layer that likes to sit over the beaches until around noon. It's caused by the deserts heating up and sucking the moist ocean air over the land mass. (Bet you didn't think LOCAL WALLY would be give you a science lesson, huh?) June Gloom usually arrives the last week of May and lasts until the first part of July. But let me warn you - it's not unusual for June Gloom to last all the way through July! If you are staying on the coast and are coming in early summer, bring a sweater. You might get lucky and get the sun, but chances are you won't. Look, you have to believe me on this - JUNE WEATHER SUCKS AT THE BEACH! Of course, you can stay inland if the clouds move in and it's usually sunny at, say, The Wild Animal Park in Escondido, but you didn't come to San Diego to stay inland, did you? So repeat after me..."I WILL NOT BLAME LOCAL WALLY FOR BAD WEATHER IF I PLAN MY VACATION IN JUNE."
June Gloom hovering over Moonlight Beach. Poor tourists!So Wally, when is the best time to visit?
Our rainy season is pretty short, but beware if you are planning a trip during January through about mid-March. The good news is
that it usually doesn't rain more than a few days in a row before giving you back the sunshine you paid for. And to keep it in
perspective, usually when we get rain the rest of the country is in torrential flooding, hurricanes, tornados with flying houses or scarecrows, or really cold stuff called snow. So maybe you still can't lose. Besides, this is the best time to watch for whales as they
make their migration towards Mexico. So - not bad to come this time of year, but riskier.
Moving into late March through May, we normally have fantastic weather. Some might suggest it's the best time to visit then because the tourists are not here yet, the flower fields in Carlsbad are blooming, and the attractions are less busy. Wally likes the Spring for these very reasons.
The summer months brings the tourists and the traffic. Lots of traffic. And it's a huge bummer of a vacation if you get traffic but no sunshine. So avoid June altogether, and try to avoid early July as well. I know, the 4th of July in San Diego just seems right, doesn't it? But you're taking your chances with weather.
My vote is to come in August or Sept. The ocean will finally be warm enough to swim in, the margaritas will be cold, and the smell of suntan lotion will be in the air. For a tropical sort of vacation, this is the time to visit. This is the San Diego you've dreamed about with hot days, warm nights, and nice ocean temps.
But here's a tip: You come late September or October, and you will be blown away. That's when the weather turns perfect, the tourists are gone (hey, we love you but you know what I mean) and the beaches and attractions are nice and quiet. It's really nice during those months. Really nice.
If coming in Fall doesn't work out, then just rememnber this. Our rainy season is January to February, March is tentative, April and May are nice, June to mid-July are gloomy, mid-July to end of September are great, October is sunny but gets cold at night, November and December are colder (you won't find me at the beach) but usually way better than other parts of the US. Somehow high-60 degree weather doesn't seem that cold when it's snowing back home.
Thinking of spending Thanksgiving or Christmas in San Diego? Gotta tell you, it's pretty cool being warm when it's cold and stormy back home, and walking on the beach on Christmas day in shorts is pretty awesome. And while there's no guarantee, it is nearly always sunny on Christmas day. Yes, the holidays are pretty nice here in paradise. The ocean is a bit too cold for swimming, but the sun and the sand are usually cooperating just fine.
Take a Break from all this reading and check out the, LIVE
VIDEO SHOTS of various spots around San Diego from our friends at Camzone! With links to the PandaCam at the zoo and the
ShamuCam at SeaWorld, this is by far the best place to see live shots around San Diego. Hey, you're not wasting time - this is
"research"!
OK, this all sounds good - but now you got questions. And Wally has the answers!
If you can't get a car because you are a) too young, b) too afraid, or c) skeptical of Wally's advice, then one option you have is to buy a day pass on the Old Town Trolley. Forget trying to look cool, forget trying to pass yourself off as a local, if you are on this fake trolley with rubber tires, you will forever be labeled as a TOURIST! But hey, if you don't have wheels, what are you going to do? The Old Town Trolley stops at the bulk of the tourist spots, allowing you to get on and off as you please. But it will not take you to the beach, Cabrillo Monument, or La Jolla so make sure you plan alternate transportation to see these "must do" sites.
BUT WALLY, I CAN'T GET A CAR AND THE IDEA OF A TOURIST TROLLEY MAKES MY SKIN CRAWL! OK, I realize that some of you are too cool for the tourist trolley and perhaps are banned from renting cars after your last road trip, so the bus is your only option. Use the Bus Route Quick Trip Planner to find your way around. It's not bad, but don't look for Wally sitting next to you. I hate the bus! Taxi's? Sure, you're on that expense account, right? Wrong! Remember, San Diego is very spread out so unless your name is Hilton (which means Paris is actually related to you), forget about it!
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Probably the best place to check out stuff happening now and in the near future is at The Reader for a great concert guide and discount coupons. You also might want to check out Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay, an outstanding setting for live shows right on the water that is the ultimate San Diego outdoor concert experience. Another good resource is Sign On San Diego. They have a very complete concert guide and restaurant reviews. Of course, only Wally gives honest advice, but then you already know that. |
When you get into town, also check out ARTS Tix, a little ticket booth in front of Horton Plaza (sometimes called Times Tix). Half off shows if you want to buy "day of event" tickets.
San Diego has lots of live stuff, from cheesy lite comedy for tourists in Old Town, to serious stuff at the world famous Old Globe. Concerts are everywhere, from small shows at places like Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, to giant Coors Amphitheatre. Yes, we have a House of Blues, a Cox Arena at San Diego State University, a Sports Arena for bigger shows... The list goes on and one, so make sure you check it all out by grabbing The Reader free newspaper when you get into town.
LOCAL WALLY HOT TICKET TIP: If you're coming in summer, you MUST check out Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay, a wonderfully small venue located on Shelter Island with views of San Diego Bay. Humphrey's has a dinner package that guarantees you a set in the first 5 or so rows. The food is first rate and served up in their very nice restaurant (really, it's very very nice), and while the selections are limited with this offer (usually a filet or fish option), the quality is excellent. Look, you're going to eat anyway so do the package and get a killer seat!
Here's the true story. I started Local Wally in 1996 when I was trying to get a job coding websites for a living. I wanted a topic that I knew so well that I would not have to look stuff up, and it was then I realized that a local site on my hometown would be pretty cool. I started when there were virtually NO sites on San Diego, before the big corporations took over the internet. Fast forward to 2006 and there are very few of the original players left - well, actually, just Local Wally! I was once interviewed by someone from one of those "F" tourbooks, and they she me why I did this - and suggested I stop because it was hurting their business. That's cool. You're paying enough for your vacation. Least I can do is give you some free advice. As for whether I got the job coding websites, well, I learned that I am better at giving advice than writing code, so I kept my other day job!
So do I get paid? Well, sort of. I get a few bucks whenever you book a hotel through me, and that helps me pay my hosting bills. I'm not getting rich off Local Wally, believe me! Call it a labor of love. So if you use the guide and find a great hotel because of Local Wally, hey, I appreciate your business.
This is by far the top 2 questions I get. Let's start with best time to visit. As I said earlier, do not come in June unless you like being fogged in at the beaches. Do not come in early July unless you absolutely have no other options, for the same reasons. August and September are my vote for best tourist time to visit. As for where to stay, I list my favorites in the hotels section, and even simplified it so you can find your best bets no matter whether you like just a clean room, or demand an ocean view with a resort sized pool.
Don't worry about earthquakes. The media greatly exagerates the impact of our occasional tremor. Most of the time you won't even know there was an earthquake until you read about it in the paper the next day. You have a better chance of your being attacked by a rabid panda bear than being swallowed up by an earthquake. Besides, at least we don't have hurricanes and tornados. No flying houses. No singing scarecrows. As for sharks, we have 'em but you probably won't see one! So try not to scream "EVERYONE OUT OF THE WATER" like Officer Brody did in JAWS if you see fins. Chances are they belong to a dolphin. No, your worst worry will be getting too tanned, or gaining a few pounds, or just falling in love with San Diego and not wanting to leave.
No doubt about it, San Diego is one romantic place. We got sunsets, we got beaches, we got live seals... wait a second! How about proposing in the Children's Beach Sea Wall in La Jolla? This is Wally's top pick for popping the question. Take a little stroll along the wall, look at the seals swimming in the calm water on one side, and the crashing waves on the other side. Take a deep breath and ... ask! It will be a moment to remember, and will make a great picture as well. Afterwards, dinner at one of my favorte restaurats, George's at the Cove right up the street will cap off a perfect day!
7. Now I'm engaged, thanks to you, Wally. Who's gonna help me plan this outdoor wedding now?
When it comes to planning weddings, especially outdoor ones, you need to visit my buddy over at San Diego Beach Weddings. It's the ultimate guide to beach weddings, and highly recommended by Local Wally. If you need lots of hotel rooms, yes, Wally can help you there as well. If you need a block of rooms, you can do that as well (if you get stuck, email me and I'll set you up). Don't forget to tell your wedding party to use Local Wally for "what to do" advice or you'll end up doing all the hard work.
Also check out Ellen Browning Scripps Park in La Jolla. This beautiful grassy area overlooking the breathtaking shoreline of La Jolla is the quintessential outdoor wedding location. Sure, you'll have plenty of lookie-loo's, and parking is going to be a nightmare for your guests, but it's a stunning, picture postcard perfect view.
To me, ocean view means you can actually SEE the ocean, so that means lunch. Dinner views are too often your own reflection in the glass windows, so take my advice and work the ultimate ocean view lunch into your agenda. My new favorite lunch restaurant is The Poseidon in Del Mar. It's the only restaurant that virtually sits on the beach. Nice and casually upscale, go there for sure if it's a nice sunny day and get a patio seat. You won't be disappointed - I saw dolphins in the ocean the last time I went. Second best is Georges at the Cove's Ocean Terrace. It's upstairs from the fancier restaurant and has views of, yes, La Jolla Cove. It's not right on the beach, but the view looks down on the ocean so you can watch all the people snorkel while you munch on top quality eats. Both are moderatly priced ($12 to $15 per person), food is excellent quality. Of course, going to Georges does have one more advantage - you're in La Jolla, so you can spend some time walking around after lunch and seeing the sights, which is a great way to spend an afternoon in San Diego.
10. Where can I camp on the beach?
When Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young came to town a few years back, CSN stayted at the ultra luxurious Four Seasons Resort. But not Neil. He stayed on the beach. If you're more like Neil than Nash, then San Diego beach camping might be for you. First, forget the idea of just putting your sleeping bag on the sand and crashing out. You can only camp in a designated campsite, and you must have reservations - make them months in advance and the secret is out and these things go fast. The campgrounds are on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, so the views are better than any hotel in San Diego. Sure, it can get a bit "Grapes of Wrath-ish" during the summer, but you'll never get a more pure San Diego experience than watching the sunset from a beach chair, falling asleep to crashing waves, and waking up early for a walk on the sand with a cup of coffee. There are two campsites in North San Diego:
Both campgrounds are located right off historic old Highway 101, so try to get the sites with the ocean view, not the ones facing the road.
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Site By Digital Popcorn and copyrighted 2006. The original local's guide to San Diego!
