San Diego


How to make it feel exactly like San Jose in 3 easy steps

The S.O. and I just spent a brief two days in San Diego. And I was struck by how easy it is to behave as though you never left home if you follow 3 simple rules:

1. Bring your laptop, your cell phone you PDA etc. This way you can stay connected to all the spam, telemarketer calls and annoying beeps and alarms you would have at home.

2. Make sure to go when the weather in SJ is already mighty fine. Wow, what a bummer, you're leaving SJ, and it's one of the most beautiful days in weeks. Sunny, clear, bright blue skies. Never fear, you can step off the plane in SD and experience the same California perfection.

3. Only eat at chain restaurant that easily simulate your chain restaurants back home. Strangely enough, other than a meal at Friday's, we ate at chains that DON'T exist up here. Nonetheless, The Road House, Claim Jumper and Islands are eerily similar to such fine chains as Black Angus and Chili's. You'll be momentarily confused by the different logos and catchy names for side dishes. but you'll get used to it and feel right at home.

San Diego is another nice suburban city with great weather and lots of driving required. Its weather might be even more consistently great than San Jose's, except that I do prefer the Northern California almost-seasons we get here.

For a quick, comfortable get-away, San Diego can fit the bill. You can even go more upscale and stay in a lovely resort, or go more funky and head over the border for a day.

Most of all, if you've got kids, this place is heaven, what with LegoLand, Sea World, The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park and other attractions. It's like the Orlando of the West.

Posted: Sat - April 24, 2004 at 11:03 AM       EmailFeedback

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