oh, and don’t look anyone in the eye. Padres fans can be craaaaazy. Just kidding! We love hugs…lots of hugs.

And how long will you be in town? I’ll put together the perfect set of places to hit.

I haven’t purchased my tickets for the Tuesday Nationals/Padres game. Does Petco sell out, or does it bode me well to pre-purchase my ticket online? Does Petco have a lot of scalpers / resellers available outside the park?

My general assumption, was that nobody cares about the Nationals, and that it would be an easy game to get into… y’all should see how well they’re received when they come to Atlanta…

Can’t go wrong at the Gaslamp. Lots of clubs, bars, restaurants, although I’m failing to think of anything “novelty” at the moment, aside from the Kansas City BBQ (where the “Great Balls of Fire” scene was filmed in Top Gun). Also, other touristy-type stuff can be acquired at Seaport Village, along with good views of the bay. This stuff is all around walking distance in downtown SD.

Good view of the ocean? If you have time, take the 101 south starting from Carlsbad on through Del Mar. If you are the one driving, stop and get out, you will want to look for awhile. :)

You can get a little flavor of Vista near the Greyhound station in downtown SD by the 99c chinese food place, and on the other side of the ballpark near the shelter. Again, keep your doors locked and avoid eye contact.

It’s a beautiful park, and you don’t have to pay entrance to any of the museums if you don’t have much cash. Just walk around, and it’s close to Petco Park. It is the 2nd largest inner-city park in the US, second to Central Park in NYC.

Cabrillo National Monument is also amazing, but I agree with the other posters. Since you are only here a day or two, stick to Gaslamp.

But I think you oughta try a burrito from one of the hundreds of burrito shacks in town, like from a Roberto’s, Alberto’s, Adalberto’s Tacoberto’s, etc. Anyone with the -berto’s at the end will do. Try a California Burrito, a San Diego invention.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=california+burrito

Or go to Rubio’s Fish Tacos and try a fish taco, another SoCal delicacy. Yummy!

And along the road from Anaheim to San Diego, look out for an In n Out Burgers sign from the freeway. Once you spot one, immediately exit, go to the drive-thru and taste the most delicious burger you will ever have. Their menu is small, but they have a secret menu not listed. Here is some secret menu items you can try to order:

http://www.badmouth.net/in-n-outs-secret-menu/

And try an Arrogant Bastard Ale, a local brew…

San Diegans are mostly friendly and approachable. It has to do with living in the sun. I’ve been stuck in Sweden now for 3 years, and you can tell how much weather affects people’s mood. I’m getting homesick just writing this post.

And I know we get a lot of heat for being fair-weather fans, but a lot of us know our baseball and stick by our Padres no matter what…

You mentioned wanting to see the Pacific and you’ll have ample opportunities to do so coming down the highway – but the Torrey Pines State Beach/Del Mar area is a really nice spot to get out and walk on the beach.

You guys are awesome. I really appreciate the feedback y’all have provided for me.

I posted the exact same questions in Dodgers and Angels forums, since I am hitting up those two parks prior to Petco, and Dodgers fans have given me zero help, and the Angels blog won’t even let me post my question until tomorrow. On first impressions, I most certainly like Padres fans out of all the California teams. Only thing that would make it better is if I could see Maddux pitching when I go.

I’m getting an idea of things I’d like to do based on your suggestions – if anybody’s got more, keep ‘em coming! I really appreciate the help!

I think you could exit the I-5 a little early and drive past the Del Mar racetrack where Seabiscuit had his famous head-to-head race with Ligaroti. That’s the one War Admiral chickened out on. From there, you could actually continue down and through to see the beach and past the Torrey Pines golf course.

You might also consider taking a quick trip east on the 8 to see San Diego State University, where Tony Gwynn played and now coaches and then jump off the freeway again and take some surface streets to visit Hoover High School, where Ted Williams, the Splendid Splinter, and Ted Giannoulas, the Famous Chicken, went to high school. Two of the more famous baseball Teds from San Diego.

While on that same street, you could stop at El Asadero for an authentic carne asada burrito, which is another San Diego favorite.

...but I’d rather recommend Balboa Park, then Seaport Village, then walk over to Petco from there, stopping by somewhere in the Gaslamp for a brew before and after the game. He just doesn’t have the time to venture out to SDSU or Del Mar, Cabrillo or Torrey Pines, or any of the beaches.

So that would be my suggestion, and then find a Rubio’s or a burrito place for a carne asada or California burrito. You really oughta stay an extra day or two in SD, so much to see and do. But this would be my quick suggestion for a day.

You can find an Arrogant Bastard or any of the Stone beers at most liquor stores or grocery stores nowadays. Strong stuff though. I tried to have my friend bring a six pack of Stone with him when he came to visit me here, but it didn’t clear customs…

I’d stick to the downtown area. Hit Rubios for your fish tacos at the Ballpark and get some other good Mexican food outside the ballpark. For beaches, just cross over the Coronado bridge that is visible from the ballpark. Coronado beach was voted the best beach in the US several years back by the Travel Channel. Check out the Hotel Del Coronado for a Historic Landmark.

Check out Balboa Park and it’s museums and the San Diego Hall of Champions. Inside Balboa Park is the World Famous San Diego Zoo.

All of that stuff is within 5 miles.

I’ve heard that the border’s only like 30 min from the city. Anything worth checking out prior to enjoying what your fair city has to offer?

to let us know who had the best ideas. Just so we can gloat.

For example… The french dip sandwich was invented in Los Angeles and is close to Dodger Stadium. Here’s a map

but I’m Mexican-American, so I know the language and my way around. TJ can be awesome if you do it right. But man…you just don’t have the time!

and definitely take the scenic route along the west side of point loma.

I find your group chatter amusing, and I appreciate all the help and suggestions you’ve given me. I definitely look forward to the San Diego leg of my park travels, and I’d say that I’d buy some of you an overpriced beer at Petco if you were there, but that would involve all sorts of complicated ways of trying to seek a person out. Just realize that I’d offer if I knew you in person.

So pretty much, I’m thinking the following, based on all your kind suggestions.
-Fish tacos from Rubios.
-No Tijuana
-Any, preferrably seedy, *-berto’s restaurant for a burrito (I heart burritos.)
-Arrogant Bastard Ale
-The Harbor and Balboa Park (I’m staying near the airport/harbor)
-The Gaslamp definitely sounds interesting.
-and NO VISTA.
-and of course, baseball. Go Greg Maddux.

Additional Questions:
1. Torrey Pines/Del Mar vs. Coronado Beach – I know my time is sparse, but there is no way I’m going to California and not spending some time at a beach. I’m leaning towards Torrey Pines, based on your suggestions, but I thought I’d ask which is better head-to-head?
2. Nobody seemed to answer this question – does Petco have a typical array of scalpers outside? I’d rather deal with them and get a cheap ticket in a better area than pay box office…

Just a suggestion, you folks have given me a lot of great information – I’m not trying to critique your blog, but perhaps consider making a link off the main site for visitors like myself? Perhaps this information could be useful to other travelers aside from just myself. We in Atlanta have done such, and despite the fact that Atlanta doesn’t have a third of the cool things San Diego seems to have, a couple of us came together and found some decent things about our own city to recommend to the visitors.

You guys have been so helpful, I hope none of y’all mind me asking another question:

Any advice for driving through the desert? Namely I-15 from San Diego to Las Vegas? I know it’s a long and lonely stretch, and about places like Barstow, and Jean, NV. Anybody have any suggestions for interesting stops along the way, or if there is anything not really shown on a map that might be worth seeing?

Yeah, this is a swerve off of the topic of the pursuit of baseball. But you guys have been so helpful, I’m hoping you can assist me some more.

Thanks

you should check out Kearny Mesa and 99 Ranch Market.

I’m surprised I didn’t ask this close to the beginning…

Is there any particular one food that Petco Park is known for?

I’ve said it already, but since the thread is pretty much reaching its exhaustion point, I’ll wind things down.

Thank you all so much for your great information, ideas, and suggestions. I truly appreciate it all, and I’ve enjoyed all of your comments. If I had the disposable income (hey I’m spending it traveling!) I’d get the MLB package so I could watch more Padres games, and banter with you guys, ‘cuz you all seem pretty cool.

I’ve gotten a great amount of ideas of things that I’ll likely be doing in my brief stay in San Diego, and I wouldn’t be able to do it without you folks. Especially avoiding Tijuana and Vista.

If anyone’s interested, I’ll be happy to post pictures/game shots from my trip out, if not, I may still do it if I get bored at work or something. You folks were the biggest help out of all the city/teams I inquired to. Dodger fans hardly gave me anything to work with, and once I was allowed to post to the Angels, they were surprisingly helpful and almost as chatty as y’all were, but you guys came first, and that means something.

Anyway, like I said, I’ll wind it down, so thanks everyone for your wonderful help. If anyone is at the 5/27 Tuesday night game against the Nationals, and sees a person wearing an Atlanta Braves hat, and more distinguishing, a shirt that says “J. KOTSAY #21” on it, feel free to stop me, and let me know you were someone who helped me out – I’ll be happy to buy you a drink.

I forgot about that! So you can just knock Rubio’s off your list right at the game, that way you don’t have to hunt for one in the city and waste time. You might even be able to try an Arrogant Bastard in Petco if they have them there, but you won’t be able to take the bottle as a souvenir. And it would be like $11 for one if there is…

Torrey Pines is amazing, but I’d go to Coronado, just because it’s closer to everything, and you can drive over the bridge for the awesome view.

And a quick LA suggestion: Have breakfast at either Eat Well, or Millie’s on Sunset Blvd. They are always quite full, and a little artsy/grungy looking, but the food is excellent, and every time I’ve been there, I spot movie stars. They are hip, trendy hangouts…

And yeah, SD just doesn’t have the scalper scene. I remember how blown away I was when I was at Fenway for a regular season, unimportant match! Scalpers everywhere. Same at Shea Stadium. It’s practically non-existent in SD, except for maybe playoff time…