dcdude

Oh, yeah I forgot about OB ("Old Bikers") My favorite spot is South Beach. The best soft tacos anywhere (fish, shrimp) combined with an ocean view.

+1 on Rocky's Pacific Beach. Superb hamburgers. Also, Downtown Johnny Brown's in the Civic Center.

cmfracer

You must go to the Air and Space Museum. Must see for anyone visiting San Diego. My dad is involved in the Austin Healy club in SD/National and they organize several road runs which are open to all. Let me know if you want more info.

-Steve

Martin S.

Balboa Park has some great old buildings...but my favorite is the Salk Institute in La Jolla, across from UCSD...this is a building that is a must see, overlooking Black's Beach, just south of the glider port.

curveraider

GOD I WANT TO GO BACK!!! I now live in the Bay Area, which is great for work and raising kids... but SD holds my heart. Like everybody else has said it is a great place to live. If you have the opportunity to move there, take it and never look back

mac993

If you plan to come down to the Gaslamp PM me. I run a restuarant/bar/nightclub down there and will happly take care of a fellow rennlister.

Martin S.

the weather. It never gets cold there. I moved to the Central Coast, paso Robles. It do get cold here. Forget about riding a bike year round, unless you really want to layer up...I don't. Another great excuse to sit on my butt!

We rented out our Solana Beach house...we'll be back to SD in 2008!

Bret928

Everyone had hit on a lot of great places & ideas. The wife & I (BK – before kids) used to hit OB, Old Town and the Gas Lamp all the time. We now take in a lot of the more family friendly stuff and let me tell ya there’s a lot of that. Anyway besides the beaches of course (Coronado by the Hotel Del is my favorite) we’ve got Sea Port Village (too touristy for me), the Embarcadero with the Star of India & the USS Midway, SeaWorld & Legoland, the “World Famous” Zoo & Wild Animal park and the Balboa Park Museums. Whatever your tastes are you’ll find something to float your boat. Culture & history, sport fishing, nightlife & good food everywhere.

Cost of living is the biggest hurtle – housing is two to three times the national average (some areas worse). An apartment in east county will run about $1400 a month for a shack while the average house in my neck of the woods Poway (20min to a half hour from down town San Diego) is about $500,000 & up. Closer to town more but the further out you live the cost drops off a bit. Oh sure you’ll find cheaper places nearer town but like anywhere else that probably means a crappy neighborhood.

Careful of the morning & afternoon commutes – as a half hour drive can grind down to two & a half hour crawl. Fuel prices are another issue I’ve found that the price at the pump here in San Diego can run $0.25 to $0.50 higher than the national average. During the major gas crunch we where paying about a buck more than most folks.

Oh and don’t forget to get a Fish Taco at Rubio’s.

ZombiePorsche44

I am a native San Diegian (grew up in South Mission Beach) and wouldn't ever move unless I was forced at gunpoint! This is the best place to live & work in th USA & we have so many attractions that are worthwhile that you will have to move here just so you have enough time to see it all.

Since I saw your plan to possibly visit Ocean Beach, I highly recommend the fish tacos/seafood at South Beach Bar & Grill right next to the pier, the super hot bartending "twins" will definately get your attention. As a matter of fact I'll meet you there and buy you a beer just so I can oogle them some more......LOL

ZP44

Martin S.

Bar Food at the Brigantine over looking the Del Mar racetrack is really good, especially the fish tacos and spinach salad. Fidel's Mexican Restaurant in Solana Beach is a fun place, good food...also have a great taco bar, at the bar. I prefer the Taco Bar to the restaurant, very fresh.

Check out the Village of Rancho Santa Fe. There are top restaurants there....you can spend a night at La Valencia for a treat, world class spa stuff...you may see Viper Bob there.

cgfen

[QUOTE=alpinadvl]1st, any "must do" events or places to go?
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what do you like to do?
Some people recommend the theme parks and the zoo.
I'd personally recommend The Pizza Port, a combination microbrewery and pizza palace. Located near the corner of PCH and Lomas Sante Fe in Solana Beach. By far the best pizza and beer combo i've found in many years of diligent research.
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2nd, what are your thoughts about living in San Diego?
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overall very positive.
I live here because it reliably offers the best weather for year round road cycling and skydiving.
Plenty-o-jobs too.
it's getting too crowded and not a cheap place to live, but no more expensive than many major metro areas and offers the superb weather.
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3rd, what does a 993 owner have to look out for in San Diego (as far as registration etc) ? <---- this last question is to make this post "993-relevant"
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at one point CA was charging out-of-staters a $300+ fee to bring their cars in.
it had something to do with meeting CA emission standards. This may have faded since most cars are 50 state compliant now.

Enjoy!

Craig

BC

And we aren't joking or exaggerating either. This is paradise, even if you can only afford a condo (Regular house in RP now, but we did that step).

Family, Beaches, Great Carne Asada, easy access to the great roads of rural LA county, 7 hours to Hawaii if you really wanted to go.

Randy V

Where are you moving from?

Not many places in the world like SD!

I snapped this pic off my patio several weeks ago. That's Catalina Island in the background.

alpinadvl

I am living in the "police state" of Maryland/Virginia/DC... just moved down here from New York.

I had a couple of friends move out from New York to San Diego, and they cant say enough good things. I am always a New Yorker.... but looking for a place to settle down.

I really appreciate everyone's comments ! I (and my gf) have read everything twice...and I am sure to read them again before we head out.

2ndof2

Lived there for about 13 years including college and although Santa Barbara is more beautiful because we're surrounded by state parks etc. I really do miss Diego. About the only thing I think SD doesn't meet or beat SB is in the hiking and mountain biking department. I like it in Diego so much that I've actually been considering a move back there. Lots and lots of things to do down there. Be sure to hit the gaslamp district when you go. Have fun!

maroonedlandshark

If you want to live here I hope you are financially set. The cost of living is off the charts. I have lived here for all of my 51 years and have seen a great many changes. This used to be a sleepy little Navy town, but now we are the 7th largest city in the US. Yes we have incredable weather, but we also have crime, gang violence, overcrowding, gridlock traffic and to top it off the city is broke. Pot holes don't get fixed, streetlights remain broken, trees don't get trimmed etc. because the city has had to cut services to try to get back in the black. The Gaslamp Quarter is a cool place, if you don't mind paying $8.00 for a draft beer and $20.00 to park your car for the evening. I'm not trying to sound bitter, but if you decide to move here make sure your tourist blinders are off and your eyes are wide open.