San Diego



Places to go from San Diego

Mini-Vacation- 2 1/2 days

Fun for kids of all ages - Get away from work early and pick up your boat after lunch on Friday. Head for Mission Bay, where we'll arrange for a guest slip for you at the Hyatt Islandia Hotel. Enjoy all of the hotel amenities like lovely walking areas, fine restaurants, casual eateries and even entertainment for the adults at Happy Hour. For more privacy, you can anchor at Mariner's Cove overnight. On Saturday, a water taxi trip to Sea World for the young or young-at-heart, or try some of the other waterside restaurants on Mission Bay. After another good night's sleep on board your yacht, have a nice leisurely Sunday breakfast or brunch and spend Sunday sailing your return to Shelter Island. Your charter includes spending the night aboard at the beautiful Shelter Cove Marina or heading back home feeling like you've had a week's vacation.

Make The Most Of A Weekend - 2 Days

Request early boarding on Friday night, get yourself settled in before having a wonderful dinner at one of Shelter Island's fine restaurants (just a short romantic walk along the water's edge). Sleep in the comfortable marina and avail yourself of the new showers and restrooms, TV/Library or for the energetic ask about the Nautilus gym. Saturday morning after a brief checkout, take off for the Mexican Islas los Coronados (Coronados Islands) just 14 miles SSW of Point Loma. It is a pleasant anchorage and since you cannot board the islands (there is nothing there but a Mexican military base) you don't have to clear customs on your return. Enjoy your Sunday morning coffee while watching a beautiful sunrise before sailing back to civilization and the beautiful San Diego skyscape.

Short & Sweet - 1 Day

Schedule an early Sunday morning checkout and head south. After a beautiful bay sail including passing under the famous Coronado Bay Bridge and gliding past historical and futuristic Navy craft, you'll arrive a Jake's in Chula Vista marina in time for their fabulous brunch. Dock at one of their guest slips for an unforgettable treat including Champagne, barons of beef and ham and a dessert selection to tempt the strongest of us. Leisurely sail back up the bay passing sea life & waterfowl to arrive back at Shelter Island in time to get back home for work on Monday.

Winter Special - 1 Day

Bring the whole family for an education about this great ocean mammal. Have a leisurely breakfast ain one of the local restaurants and take a lunch along for a Whale Watching expedition. The Coronados Islands are an easy sail 14 miles SW of San Diego and a natural magnet to these wonderful migrants as they travel south.

Picnic at Anchor - 1 Day

Pack up your cooler and sail to either La Playa Cove or Glorietta Bay (both in San Diego bay) for an peaceful evening at anchor. Have us put a pulpit barbecue aboard and charcoal your steaks or chicken for a special treat. Spend the night either at anchor or come back to our beautiful marina for a night in your slip.

South of the Border To Ensenada - Min. 3 Days

Approximately 60 miles south of San Diego are the beautiful Todas Santos islands and the first port of entry in Mexico, exciting Ensenada. Get the real feel of Mexico by visiting Baja Naval or the newly opened El Coral Hotel. If you choose to get a slip at the hotel you're invited to use the hotels facilities (pool, restaurants, etc). Just a short taxi or bus ride to Ensenada, or pick up tours directly from the hotel.

Fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving are all available with the proper permits. About 12 hours each way with a convenient stop at Islas Coronados for the first or last evening. Mexican entry papers are required and a stop at the Custom's office on your return to San Diego.

Catalina Island Getaway - 4-5 days or a week

Start your sailing adventure sailing up the coast about 35 miles to Oceanside harbor. This is a great place to overnight in a guest slip, dine at one of the fine restaurants in the basin and enjoy some local entertainment. The next morning you will be on a great point of sail for Catalina Island about 40 miles. The Avalon harbor is a popular anchorage with ample moorings, dinghy docks and water taxi service to shore.

Restaurants, entertainment, golf, bike & scooter rentals, hiking, fishing trips, art galleries, botanical gardens or para-sailing. You can find lots to do on this island resort. Take a bus tour of the island (it's 18.5 miles long and up to 7 miles across) and discover the Arabian horse farm.

An additional destination at Catalina is the "backside". The Catalina Isthmus (also known as Two Harbors) is less commercialized than Avalon but certainly an interesting place for nature lovers to explore, Scuba dive or snorkel.

Use your last day sailing directly back to San Diego on a beam reach about 11 hours, in time for a nice relaxing dinner before returning home.

A Grand Tour - At least a week

Convenient 1 day hops up the coast for a sampling of all of Southern California's fine harbors. San Diego to Dana Point (about 55 miles and the longest day of the trip, if you want to stop half way at Oceanside that's another option), Dana Point to Long Beach (about 30 miles), Long Beach to Catalina for the night or two, then over to Marina del Rey Harbor, up to Ventura/Oxnard, back to Santa Cruz Island, Redondo Beach King Harbor, Newport Beach and back to San Diego. If this is too ambitious for you, obviously any part or parts of the trip will be just as wonderful.

Suggestiosn for eats

On and around Shelter Island

  1. Bali Hai - (right next door to the office) 2230 Shelter Island Drive. Spectacular view of the bay, great Mai Tai's & check out the new menu, it is very good oriental style food. Dinner every day and lunch every day ex Sat. Sunday brunch is very popular. * Discount (details below)
  2. Brigantine - (easy walking distance) 2725 Shelter Island Drive. Good happy hour & Oyster bar appetizers (also lunch & dinner) * Discount
  3. Fiddler's Green - (easy walking distance) 2760 Shelter Island Drive - All around menu and home made potatoe chips to die for. * Discount
  4. Red Sails Inn - (easy walk) All around good food, full bar. Opens 7AM for breakfast (also serve lunch & dinner)
  5. Humphrey's Piano Bar -(about 1/2 block) Good happy hour appetizers (also great omelets for breakfast) and Sunday brunch.
  6. Miguel's Cocina - (5 minute drive) Great Mexican food, and margaritas (don't miss the white sauce & tortilla chips). * Discount
  7. Boll Weavel - (easy walk) Very casual, excellent burgers, billiards & beer
  8. 99¢ Chinese - (5 minute drive) Quick, pretty good and very reasonable. Try Orange Chicken
  9. Luna Notte - A new Italian restaurant, very cozy and very good. * Discount
  10. Domino's Pizza - delivered to the marina. * Discount.
  11. Pearson's Fuel Dock -(easy walk) Closest deli to the marina, also some sundries & ice, beer, pop & chips.
  12. Point Loma Seafood - (5 minute drive) Take out or eat in. Famous fish & seafood restaurant and fish market.
  13. Santana's - (10 minute drive) Quick, inexpensive and pretty good Mexican takeout. Open 24 hrs. Check out their two handed burritos.
  14. Von's has groceries, ice, liquor & a pretty good deli and McDonalds right next door

Something unusual? Visit Old Town - Historic early San Diego village. Lots of choices for good Mexican food, entertainment & shops. About 3 miles east by either car or bus, ask for the easy directions (about a 15 minute drive).