Marina & Michael's San Diego Guidebook
Sightseeing
Our favorite place to start our Balboa Park adventures. The Spanish Village Art Center is an artists village where you can see real life working artists at work making art daily. The Spanish Village was established in 1936 and it continues to be a thriving community of over 200 local artisans who share their talent and the love of all things art with all the visitors. Local painters, sculptors, metalsmiths, jewelry designers, clay artists, gourd artists, photographers, printmakers, fiber artists, basket makers, mixed-media artists, glass artists, wood artists, enamel artists and many many more await you here. Also, it’s a great place to park your car in the adjacent free parking lot when exploring the rest of the cultural center of Balboa Park.
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Centro d'arte Spanish Village
1770 Village PlOur favorite place to start our Balboa Park adventures. The Spanish Village Art Center is an artists village where you can see real life working artists at work making art daily. The Spanish Village was established in 1936 and it continues to be a thriving community of over 200 local artisans who share their talent and the love of all things art with all the visitors. Local painters, sculptors, metalsmiths, jewelry designers, clay artists, gourd artists, photographers, printmakers, fiber artists, basket makers, mixed-media artists, glass artists, wood artists, enamel artists and many many more await you here. Also, it’s a great place to park your car in the adjacent free parking lot when exploring the rest of the cultural center of Balboa Park.
Balboa Park is simply the crown jewel of San Diego. It has 17 museums and cultural institutions as well as majestic gardens, walking, hiking, and biking paths and is a favorite place of almost all visitors to San Diego.
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Parco Balboa
Balboa Park is simply the crown jewel of San Diego. It has 17 museums and cultural institutions as well as majestic gardens, walking, hiking, and biking paths and is a favorite place of almost all visitors to San Diego.
Japanese Friendship Garden
2215 Pan American Rd EZoo di San Diego
2920 Zoo DrBaia di La Jolla
1100 Coast BlvdThis park in east county about a 20 minute drive from the house has the best breathtaking views of all of San Diego county all the way down to Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. If you love hilltop views we highly recommend visiting this place.
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Parco Mt. Helix
4901 Mt Helix DrThis park in east county about a 20 minute drive from the house has the best breathtaking views of all of San Diego county all the way down to Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. If you love hilltop views we highly recommend visiting this place.
SeaWorld San Diego
500 Sea World Dr.Old Town
Belmont Park
3146 Mission BlvdLEGOLAND California
One Legoland DrLittle Italy
Gaslamp Quarter
Parco Petco
100 Park BlvdGroceries
Some of the places to get groceries in the neighborhood.
Target is walking distance from the house, it also has parking in the back alley and has most everything you may need.
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Target
3030 Grape StreetTarget is walking distance from the house, it also has parking in the back alley and has most everything you may need.
Trader Joe’s is a local favorite and is about a 5 minute drive down University Ave toward the Hillcrest neighborhood with plenty of parking.
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Trader Joe's
1640 Garnet AveTrader Joe’s is a local favorite and is about a 5 minute drive down University Ave toward the Hillcrest neighborhood with plenty of parking.
Whole Foods has plenty of Organic produce, vegan options, and lots of prepared meals, meats and fish and everything else that it is known for. It is about a 7 minute drive west on University Ave. just past highway 163 in the Hillcrest neighborhood.
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Whole Foods Market
711 University AveWhole Foods has plenty of Organic produce, vegan options, and lots of prepared meals, meats and fish and everything else that it is known for. It is about a 7 minute drive west on University Ave. just past highway 163 in the Hillcrest neighborhood.
A great selection of produce and other essentials and just a 5 minute drive located on Park Blvd in the University Heights neighborhood.
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Sprouts Farmers Market
3015 Clairemont DrA great selection of produce and other essentials and just a 5 minute drive located on Park Blvd in the University Heights neighborhood.
Beaches
Spiaggia di Coronado
Mission Beach
3000 Mission BoulevardThis is our family’s favorite beach because there is also an adjacent children’s playground, plenty of clean bathrooms, a snack stand right on the beach, and parking is relatively easy to find.
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Spiaggia della Luce di Luna
400 B StThis is our family’s favorite beach because there is also an adjacent children’s playground, plenty of clean bathrooms, a snack stand right on the beach, and parking is relatively easy to find.
Pacific Beach
Neighborhood favorites
These our some of our favorite things to explore in the neighborhood.
A classy bookstore with a super curated selection of new and used books, a real neighborhood favorite. Every once in a while there is a book signing and also poetry readings.
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Verbatim Books
3793 30th StA classy bookstore with a super curated selection of new and used books, a real neighborhood favorite. Every once in a while there is a book signing and also poetry readings.
Not only is Morley Field sports complex walking distance from our house in North Park but it is also home to a world class tennis facility, an Olympic size community swimming pool(currently under renovation) disc golf, the Balboa Park Golf Course, baseball and softball fields, a children’s playground, a children’s nature exploration area, bocce ball, a velodrome for cycling and pretty much anytime type of outdoor activity you can think of in the perfect San Diego weather. We love spending time here with the kids.
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Morley Field Sports Complex
2221 Morley Field DrNot only is Morley Field sports complex walking distance from our house in North Park but it is also home to a world class tennis facility, an Olympic size community swimming pool(currently under renovation) disc golf, the Balboa Park Golf Course, baseball and softball fields, a children’s playground, a children’s nature exploration area, bocce ball, a velodrome for cycling and pretty much anytime type of outdoor activity you can think of in the perfect San Diego weather. We love spending time here with the kids.
If you are here in North Park on Thursday and enjoy outdoor farmers markets check out the Thursday Market just off of 30th street and North Park Way from 3pm to 7pm.
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North Park Thursday Market
3000 North Park WayIf you are here in North Park on Thursday and enjoy outdoor farmers markets check out the Thursday Market just off of 30th street and North Park Way from 3pm to 7pm.
We love this community swimming pool (currently being renovated) part of the Morley Field Sports complex that is just walking distance from the house, but also has plenty of parking.
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Bud Kearns Memorial Swimming Pool
2229 Morley Field DrWe love this community swimming pool (currently being renovated) part of the Morley Field Sports complex that is just walking distance from the house, but also has plenty of parking.
This local hotel and swim club will let you use their pool and lounge area for a small fee. Locals love this place and they have a great bar.
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The Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows
2223 El Cajon BlvdThis local hotel and swim club will let you use their pool and lounge area for a small fee. Locals love this place and they have a great bar.
Yoga Box believes in practice over perfection. A local favorite and just around the corner on University Ave. walking distance from the house.
Yoga Box
430 West Washington StreetYoga Box believes in practice over perfection. A local favorite and just around the corner on University Ave. walking distance from the house.
These guys deliver great quality bikes and helmets to your doorsteps and they also have children’s size bikes and helmets. Call ahead to reserve.
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Stay Classy Bikes
534 25th StThese guys deliver great quality bikes and helmets to your doorsteps and they also have children’s size bikes and helmets. Call ahead to reserve.
Food scene
A local favorite coffee place with great coffee, sandwiches and salads with outdoor and indoor seating.
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Communal Coffee
2335 University AveA local favorite coffee place with great coffee, sandwiches and salads with outdoor and indoor seating.
A local favorite authentic Italian Pizza place around the northeast corner of Balboa Park on 30th street.
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Alexander's
3391 30th StA local favorite authentic Italian Pizza place around the northeast corner of Balboa Park on 30th street.
A family favorite for smoothies, freshly made juices, and salads. It is about a ten minute walk from the house north on 30th street which has lots of shops, breakfast places and other restaurants.
Pure Press Juice Bar
4111 30th StreetA family favorite for smoothies, freshly made juices, and salads. It is about a ten minute walk from the house north on 30th street which has lots of shops, breakfast places and other restaurants.
Walking distance ( 2 minute walk) from the house and a local favorite that is always busy.
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Breakfast Republic
2730 University AveWalking distance ( 2 minute walk) from the house and a local favorite that is always busy.
A very popular breakfast place just steps from the house.
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The Mission North Park
2801 University AveA very popular breakfast place just steps from the house.
This is an authentic Sicilian/Italian restaurant that is quite popular and a neighborhood favorite.
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Cori Pastificio Trattoria
2977 Upas StThis is an authentic Sicilian/Italian restaurant that is quite popular and a neighborhood favorite.
Asian fusion restaurant known for their different types of Ramen noodles, sake, and ginger beer. A neighborhood hang out place.
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Underbelly North Park
3000 Upas StAsian fusion restaurant known for their different types of Ramen noodles, sake, and ginger beer. A neighborhood hang out place.
Everyone’s favorite French restaurant in the neighborhood.
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The Smoking Goat Restaurant
3408 30th StEveryone’s favorite French restaurant in the neighborhood.
Aburi Sushi
3396 30th StFresh fish, great service, and creative sushi chefs, a real neighborhood staple.
Authentic Mexican food with lots of vegetarian options.
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Ranchos Cocina
3910 30th StAuthentic Mexican food with lots of vegetarian options.
The quintessential Vegan/Vegetarian restaurant in San Diego. This restaurant in South Park has a loyal following and might require advance reservations.
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KINDRED
1503 30th StThe quintessential Vegan/Vegetarian restaurant in San Diego. This restaurant in South Park has a loyal following and might require advance reservations.
Breweries
North Park is well known for its great abundance of local microbreweries.
Eppig Brewing North Park
3794 30th StA great selection of beers, fresh pretzels, and lots of outdoor seating in the heart of the North Park arts district.
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California Tap Room - Pretzels & Pints
3812 Ray StA great selection of beers, fresh pretzels, and lots of outdoor seating in the heart of the North Park arts district.
Mike Hess Brewing, North Park
3812 Grim AveNorth Park Beer Company
3038 University AveRip Current Brewing North Park
4101 30th St