Swanson's Guidebook for San Diego

Patty
Swanson's Guidebook for San Diego

Essentials

Pocket mall with Walmart, Wells Fargo, Home Depot, Big 5, Starbucks, CVS, Bank of America, and mini-restaurants.
15 locals recommend
Vons
665 Saturn Blvd
15 locals recommend
Pocket mall with Walmart, Wells Fargo, Home Depot, Big 5, Starbucks, CVS, Bank of America, and mini-restaurants.
Target is great at covering all those little needs, from new socks to ice cream!
217 locals recommend
Target
3030 Grape Street
217 locals recommend
Target is great at covering all those little needs, from new socks to ice cream!
Local Hispanic market with wonderful produce, hot and cold deli items, bakery, and fresh meat/fish section. I get the best homemade salsa and avocados from them!
49 locals recommend
Northgate Market
1950 Main St
49 locals recommend
Local Hispanic market with wonderful produce, hot and cold deli items, bakery, and fresh meat/fish section. I get the best homemade salsa and avocados from them!
This Starbucks is in a mini mall with Vons, Home Depot, Walmart, iHop Restaurant, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, CVS, Big 5 and many small businesses and food establishments.
23 locals recommend
Starbucks
756 Dennery Rd
23 locals recommend
This Starbucks is in a mini mall with Vons, Home Depot, Walmart, iHop Restaurant, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, CVS, Big 5 and many small businesses and food establishments.
Local market with plenty of fresh produce and a big selection of organic items.
Sprouts Farmers Market
690 Third Avenue
Local market with plenty of fresh produce and a big selection of organic items.

Shopping

It has a little of everything you need.
45 locals recommend
Walmart
320 Av. Parque México Nte.
45 locals recommend
It has a little of everything you need.
Huge selection of stores with beautiful outdoor seating areas, play areas for children, restrooms, and many food choices.
138 locals recommend
Las Americas Premium Outlets
4211 Camino De La Plaza
138 locals recommend
Huge selection of stores with beautiful outdoor seating areas, play areas for children, restrooms, and many food choices.
If you have a membership, this is always a great place to grab an inexpensive meal or steaks for the BBQ.
13 locals recommend
Costco Wholesale
895 E H St
13 locals recommend
If you have a membership, this is always a great place to grab an inexpensive meal or steaks for the BBQ.

Everything Else

Financial Stops
My favorite financial institution.
Wells Fargo Bank
637 E San Ysidro Blvd
My favorite financial institution.
Bank is close by grocery store, Vons, Walmart, CVS, Starbucks and Home Depot.
Bank of America Financial Center
605 Saturn Blvd
Bank is close by grocery store, Vons, Walmart, CVS, Starbucks and Home Depot.

Food Scene

Coffee all day!
23 locals recommend
Starbucks
756 Dennery Rd
23 locals recommend
Coffee all day!
Sunny 180 degree view of waves while you dine or drink. New Seacoast Hotel sports a casual but modern style restaurant with tempting culinary treats.
69 locals recommend
SEA180
800 Seacoast Dr
69 locals recommend
Sunny 180 degree view of waves while you dine or drink. New Seacoast Hotel sports a casual but modern style restaurant with tempting culinary treats.
Yummy Thai food, eat in or take out.
23 locals recommend
Aroma Thai Restaurant
757 Seacoast Dr
23 locals recommend
Yummy Thai food, eat in or take out.
All you can eat fish and chips on Thursday! Outdoor seating, live band Friday through Sunday.
16 locals recommend
Galley At the Marina
550 Marina Pkwy
16 locals recommend
All you can eat fish and chips on Thursday! Outdoor seating, live band Friday through Sunday.
Spend the day on the harbor and fill up with some fabulous Mexican food!
85 locals recommend
Miguel's Cocina
2912 Shelter Island Dr
85 locals recommend
Spend the day on the harbor and fill up with some fabulous Mexican food!
It's newest location, just a block from the San Diego Harbor.
50 locals recommend
The Cheesecake Factory
7067 Friars Rd
50 locals recommend
It's newest location, just a block from the San Diego Harbor.
Wonderfully tasty and very easy to order to go or home delivered.
21 locals recommend
Siam Imperial Thai Kitchen
226 Palm Ave
21 locals recommend
Wonderfully tasty and very easy to order to go or home delivered.
Fresh and yummy! Choose your favorite toppings for tacos, salad, burrito, or bowl. Eat there and get it to go!
75 locals recommend
Chipotle Mexican Grill
8657 Villa La Jolla Dr
75 locals recommend
Fresh and yummy! Choose your favorite toppings for tacos, salad, burrito, or bowl. Eat there and get it to go!
Great food, big portions! Choose hamburgers, sandwiches, salads, fries and IPA beers. Eat inside, outside patio or take it to go! The beach is one block west!
55 locals recommend
Coronado Brewing Company | Imperial Beach Restaurant
875 Seacoast Dr
55 locals recommend
Great food, big portions! Choose hamburgers, sandwiches, salads, fries and IPA beers. Eat inside, outside patio or take it to go! The beach is one block west!
Same great food in a sports bar atmosphere about 20 minutes away in Coronado.
57 locals recommend
Coronado Brewing Company | Coronado Brew Pub
170 Orange Ave
57 locals recommend
Same great food in a sports bar atmosphere about 20 minutes away in Coronado.
The biggest, best hamburger, shake and fries in town! Loud music, license plates and surf boards accompany your chewing. Arrive before 11 a.m. or the line goes out the door and down the street!
291 locals recommend
Hodad's
5010 Newport Ave
291 locals recommend
The biggest, best hamburger, shake and fries in town! Loud music, license plates and surf boards accompany your chewing. Arrive before 11 a.m. or the line goes out the door and down the street!
My absolute favorite fish restaurant! Inside seating for small and large groups. Outdoor covered patio seating for small and large groups. Sports bar also has indoor and outdoor seating. Dogs can accompany you in the patio area.
22 locals recommend
King's Fish House
5625 Paseo Del Norte
22 locals recommend
My absolute favorite fish restaurant! Inside seating for small and large groups. Outdoor covered patio seating for small and large groups. Sports bar also has indoor and outdoor seating. Dogs can accompany you in the patio area.
Great food with a bustling atmosphere set right on the harbor. Watch ships motor and sail by as you eat. Several sushi bars and upstairs formal dining for dinner.
70 locals recommend
The Fish Market Valet
3 Tuna Ln
70 locals recommend
Great food with a bustling atmosphere set right on the harbor. Watch ships motor and sail by as you eat. Several sushi bars and upstairs formal dining for dinner.

Sightseeing

Enjoy the waves, the sand and the sun!
66 locals recommend
Imperial Beach
66 locals recommend
Enjoy the waves, the sand and the sun!
Scenic trails for short or long strolls.
14 locals recommend
Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
301 Caspian Way
14 locals recommend
Scenic trails for short or long strolls.
You've got to visit at least once to see the whales and dolphins.
1754 locals recommend
SeaWorld San Diego
500 Sea World Dr.
1754 locals recommend
You've got to visit at least once to see the whales and dolphins.
Beautiful, stately and boosts several stores and restaurants.
519 locals recommend
Hotel Del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave
519 locals recommend
Beautiful, stately and boosts several stores and restaurants.
Guess what? It boosts a Miguel's Mexican Restaurant too!
1070 locals recommend
Old Town
1070 locals recommend
Guess what? It boosts a Miguel's Mexican Restaurant too!
Beautiful and quaint town by the sea. It is not quick or easy to reach but worth it.
1327 locals recommend
La Jolla Cove
1100 Coast Blvd
1327 locals recommend
Beautiful and quaint town by the sea. It is not quick or easy to reach but worth it.
North of San Diego about 50 minutes is a rural area with huge expanses for larger animals to roam. Come visit the park and pet a giraffe!
967 locals recommend
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd
967 locals recommend
North of San Diego about 50 minutes is a rural area with huge expanses for larger animals to roam. Come visit the park and pet a giraffe!
Amazing 360 degree view of San Diego Bay, Ocean, downtown, Coronado and south to Tijuana.
238 locals recommend
Cabrillo National Monument
238 locals recommend
Amazing 360 degree view of San Diego Bay, Ocean, downtown, Coronado and south to Tijuana.
Stationary WWII aircraft carrier with old planes and plenty of memorabilia. Wear comfortable shoes and take plenty of water!
775 locals recommend
USS Midway Museum
910 N Harbor Dr
775 locals recommend
Stationary WWII aircraft carrier with old planes and plenty of memorabilia. Wear comfortable shoes and take plenty of water!
Wonderful jaunt to the end of the pier, then enjoy food at "The Tin Fish" fast food concession. Host of the yearly July "Sandcastles" competition. Usually the second weekend in July.
67 locals recommend
Imperial Beach Pier
67 locals recommend
Wonderful jaunt to the end of the pier, then enjoy food at "The Tin Fish" fast food concession. Host of the yearly July "Sandcastles" competition. Usually the second weekend in July.
Take a tour of the San Diego Harbor and see both north and south portions of the Harbor!
21 locals recommend
Flagship Cruises & Events
990 N Harbor Dr
21 locals recommend
Take a tour of the San Diego Harbor and see both north and south portions of the Harbor!
Before reaching La Jolla Village you pass the turn to the Shores. This was my favorite beach to visit while growing up in San Diego. A couple of miles north is Black Beach, the infamous nude beach. This is a beach that has both grass and sand areas available for families to picnic.
304 locals recommend
La Jolla Shores Hotel
8110 Camino Del Oro
304 locals recommend
Before reaching La Jolla Village you pass the turn to the Shores. This was my favorite beach to visit while growing up in San Diego. A couple of miles north is Black Beach, the infamous nude beach. This is a beach that has both grass and sand areas available for families to picnic.
Balboa Park is home to about 16 museums, the San Diego Zoo and El Prado Restaurant, along with smaller food venues.
3290 locals recommend
Balboa Park
3290 locals recommend
Balboa Park is home to about 16 museums, the San Diego Zoo and El Prado Restaurant, along with smaller food venues.
Science nerds--Don't miss this!
93 locals recommend
Fleet Science Center
1875 El Prado
93 locals recommend
Science nerds--Don't miss this!
Great fun to be had by all!
76 locals recommend
San Diego Air & Space Museum
2001 Pan American Plaza
76 locals recommend
Great fun to be had by all!
Dinosaurs, lions, tigers and bears! Oh my!
99 locals recommend
San Diego Natural History Museum
1788 El Prado
99 locals recommend
Dinosaurs, lions, tigers and bears! Oh my!
Lots of HO model railroad lines circle around the entire building. Fun for dad and kids alike!
21 locals recommend
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
1649 El Prado
21 locals recommend
Lots of HO model railroad lines circle around the entire building. Fun for dad and kids alike!

Arts & Culture

Nice theater, least expensive in the area. Still only $4.49 per person before 4 p.m. About $6 per person after 4 p.m.
12 locals recommend
AMC Palm Promenade 24
770 Dennery Rd
12 locals recommend
Nice theater, least expensive in the area. Still only $4.49 per person before 4 p.m. About $6 per person after 4 p.m.
Balboa Park is home to the San Diego Zoo, 16 museums and several restaurants.
3290 locals recommend
Balboa Park
3290 locals recommend
Balboa Park is home to the San Diego Zoo, 16 museums and several restaurants.
Always a new persepctive!
126 locals recommend
The San Diego Museum of Art
1450 El Prado
126 locals recommend
Always a new persepctive!
More visual fascinations! Always free!!
17 locals recommend
Timken Museum of Art
1500 El Prado
17 locals recommend
More visual fascinations! Always free!!
An historic building from the early 1900's built for the World's Fair in San Diego houses art displays.
San Diego Art Institute
1439 El Prado
An historic building from the early 1900's built for the World's Fair in San Diego houses art displays.
Click! Ahhhh, a masterpiece!
37 locals recommend
Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA)
1649 El Prado
37 locals recommend
Click! Ahhhh, a masterpiece!