The Port of San Diego kicked off its 2012-13 cruise season last week
with the inaugural call of Disney Wonder.
As part of a new series of itineraries inspired by Pixar animated
movies, it was the first of four visits that the 2,700-passenger ship
will make to the Californian city in September and October.
Silversea, Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity,
Costa and Crystal also include San Diego on cruises to Mexico,
Alaska, Hawaii and the Panama Canal, usually on the way to or from
Los Angeles or San Francisco.
After three days here, following a ‘Mexican Riviera’ cruise on
Carnival Spirit, I can recommend my top seven things to see and do.
1. USS Midway
The first thing cruise passengers will notice is that theirs is not the
biggest vessel in port. Further along the pier is this massive aircraft
carrier, which was part of the US Navy fleet for 47 years, spanning
the Vietnam and Gulf Wars. Now open to the public as a museum,
the best part is the massive top deck, with 25 restored fighter jets
and bombers. See www.midway.org.
2. Balboa Park
One day is hardly enough to explore this site’s 15 museums, art
galleries and gardens. Highlights include the San Diego Zoo and
Smithsonian’s Air & Space Museum. This is a shore excursion worth
booking, or catch the jump-on-jump-off Old Town Trolley.
See www.balboapark.org or www.trolleytours.com/san-diego.
3. Gaslamp Quarter
At 4pm, head to 5th and 6th avenues for happy hour. The Gaslamp
Quarter is buzzing from early evening to late night at popular venues
such as Quality Social, Side Bar and Croces jazz club. I enjoyed the
seafood at Blue Point Coastal Cuisine. On your way back to the ship,
note the Victorian buildings, preserved from the days of the Wild
West. In the late 1800s, Wyatt Earp ran three gambling halls in this
former red-light district.
4. Coronado Island
Connected to the mainland by a long bridge, this resort town has an
excellent beach, shops and cafés and plenty of mansions to admire.
Hotel del Coronado, the world’s largest hotel when it was built in 1888,
provided the backdrop for the Marilyn Monroe film, Some Like It Hot.
5. Beach life
If you feel like a swim or a waterfront stroll, head to Pacific Beach
or Mission Beach. The two beaches are connected by a 5km
boardwalk, which is popular with bikini-clad roller-skaters and
shirtless joggers. Ocean Beach is more laidback and home to
Hodads’ legendary burgers and South Beach Bar & Grille’s selfproclaimed
world’s best fish taco.
6. Old Town
A touristy but lively district, with lots of restaurants, markets and
museums. Go here for lunch and souvenir shopping, then relax with
one of the great local craft beers or margaritas.
7. Point Loma
The Cabrillo National Monument marks the spot where the first
European explorers set foot on the United States west coast in 1542.
The lookout has unbeatable views of the city skyline, mountains and
Pacific Ocean, as well as a visitors centre and historic lighthouse.
For more information, see www.sandiego.org.
