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For today’s  Destination of the Week , TPG Contributor Casey Hatfield-Chiotti takes us to her hometown of San Diego , also sometimes known as America s Finest City (despite what happens in mayoral politics!) thanks to gorgeous weather, a beautiful downtown, great museums and a buzzing food scene.
Many regard San Diego as the “surfer dude” of cities, pretty on the outside but not much happening on the inside. It’s true San Diego is known for surfing and sunny weather (average daily temps are 70.5 degrees Fahrenheit), however, thanks to an influx of young creative types, the city’s eclectic neighborhoods are absolutely exploding with art galleries, breweries, and farm to tables restaurants. Chefs from around the country are choosing San Diego because of its year-round growing season.
Public and private investment has helped turn the once gritty cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals Gaslamp District into a thriving center for dining and nightlife. Major revitalization efforts are spreading west to the somewhat kitschy Waterfront cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals and to the East Village where the city’s $185 million Central Library will open at the end of September. Turns out, this sunny city is more than just a pretty face.
In addition to its 70 miles of pristine coastline San Diego’s best asset many be 1200-acre Balboa Park . The urban park was built for the World’s Fair in 1915 and is the city’s center for arts and culture. cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals The park boasts manicured gardens, 15 museums and the world-famous San Diego Zoo .
To experience cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals another beautiful public space and a bit of history, visitors should head to Presidio Park , the site of San Diego’s first fort and mission cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals established in 1769. None of the original buildings still stand but it’s now a beautiful public park with sweeping views of the city and a Mission-style museum that houses the San Diego History Center’s collection.
The military, which started establishing a presence cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals in San Diego in the mid to late 1800’s due to its strategic location on the Pacific Ocean, is an important part of San Diego’s history. The longest serving Naval aircraft carrier of the 20 th  century ,  the  USS Midway  is now a maritime museum cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals and can be visited in the San Diego Harbor. The Naval Training Center operated in Point Loma from the 1920’s to the 1990’s. The historic site is now a mixed-use development called  Liberty Station  and is filled with restaurants, art galleries and shopping.
In the summer San Diegans put on their finest and head North to the racetrack cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals in the upscale beach community of Del Mar. The historic Del Mar Racetrack , co-founded by Big Crosby, has horse races from July through September. cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals The racetrack has announced it will host two horse-racing seasons next year, one in the summer and one in the fall.
Surfing is a popular San Diego pastime. Beginners should head to Tourmaline in Pacific Beach for mellow waves and ample parking. The communities of Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and Coronado are all worth a visit if you want to stroll along a boardwalk or splash in the ocean.
San Diego has also become a mecca for craft brew. One of the brewery’s that put San Diego on the map, Stone Brewing recently opened a 10-barrel brewhouse in historic Liberty Station. The site also includes a restaurant, bocce ball court and landscaped cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals gardens. Ballast Point Brewing is worth a visit to try their award winning Sculpin IPA or to sample spirits like gin and rum. Thorn Street Brewery in North Park makes creative brews laced with ingredients like honey and orange peel. Boutique beer shop, Bottlecraft has locations in Little Italy and North Park and specializes in unique beers from all over the world, as well as San Diego. Beer bars like Tiger Tiger and Hamilton’s sell a variety of local brews on tap.
Not far from the airport, San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood offers a variety of dining options. The main drag, India Street, is lined with run-of-the-mill Italian restaurants, but look a little deeper to find some of the city’s best eats like upscale Milan-inspired restaurant Bencotto and its sister eatery Monello , which specializes in Italian-style street food.
Just down the street, hipsters line up at Japanese ramen bar Underbelly , and Prep Kitchen serves a fresh seasonal menu with dishes cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals like roasted pork belly with pickled rhubarb as well as Spanish tapas. Many of the restaurants in the Gaslamp tend towards touristy but Celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey’s comfort food eatery Searsucker makes delicious dishes that back up the buzz like whiskey-braised cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals pork with grilled peaches.
Head to some of San Diego’s outer boroughs for more quaint neighborhood restaurants like South Park’s Buona Forchetta an authentic Neapolitan style pizza place. In Kensington Heights, Fish Public is the seafood restaurant San Diego has been missing—simple but well executed dishes like charred cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals octopus with romesco served in a lively atmosphere. For San Diego’s favorite dish, the fish taco, head to South Beach Bar and Grill in Ocean Beach for tacos and tostadas piled high with fresh mahi-mahi.
Destination of the Week pieces are not meant to be comprehensive guides to destinations since we don’t have the time or funds to visit all these places in person and report back to you. Nor are they endorsements of all the hotels we mention. They are simply roundups of top destinations that we have specifically pinpointed for the opportunity they present to use your miles and points to get to and stay there. As always, we welcome  your comments  to help enrich the content here, provide  opinions and first-hand experiences  of these destinations.
The  San Diego International Airport  is the busiest single-runway commercial service airport in the nation, operating 600 nonstop and connecting flights daily. Southwest Airlines is SAN’s largest carrier, but Alaska Airlines has been increasing nonstop service to and from San Diego, and American Airlines, Delta, United, Virgin America, US Airways and JetBlue offer frequent flights. The airport is undergoing cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals an expansion and improvement project called cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals the Green Build . Ten new gates have been added to Terminal 2, and a concessions area that will showcase local gourmet food vendors is scheduled to open this month.
Located just 3 miles from downtown, getting from the airport cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals to most locations within the city is easy. Seven shuttle companies  offer service to and from the airport. The Route 992 Bus operates cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals between the airport and downtown. To catch a taxi follow signs to the Transportation Plaza. All the major car rental companies are represented.
Unfortunately there are no Club Carlson properties in downtown San Diego. There is a Country Inn Suites in Sorrento Valley near the beach community of La Jolla and a Radisson Hotel in Rancho Bernardo.
Hilton San Diego Bayfront : Located right on the waterfront, rooms at this 30-story hotel offer spectacular views of the San Diego bay and Coronado Island. The hotel is also home to the only heated saltwater infinity pool in the city and the recently renovated open-air poolside bar and lounge is the perfect place to enjoy tropical inspired drinks and small bites like Pineapple Mojitos and shrimp and mango ceviche. cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals Rooms feature clean modern lines and a sea inspired color palette. The hotel’s Spa, Spa Aquazul, offers treatments like bubbling mud wraps and natural seaweed soaks. With nearly 1200 rooms, this hotel feels a bit like a mini city with 6 eateries including a Starbucks and Sweet Things Frozen Yogurt. This is Category cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals 7 property and requires 40,000 HHonors points (30,000-60,000 seasonally) for a free night. Room rates start at $169 in August.
Hilton San Diego Resort Spa, Mission Bay : This 50-year-old resort sits on 18 lush acres overlooking Mission Bay. Each of the 357 rooms offers bright colors, luxury linens and designer furniture. With elegant archways and tiled roofs the architecture is California Coastal meets Spanish Colonial. The central location 6 miles from the airport is close to Balboa Park, Historic Old Town, and SeaWorld. The resort also offers a variety of seasonal cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals activities like poolside movies and hosted S’mores. Extended patio guestroom come with the added perk of outdoor fire pits. This is Category 7 property and requires 60,000 HHonors points  (30,000-60,000 seasonally)  for an award night. Room rates in August start at $199.
Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter : This urban hotel lies smack in the middle cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals of San Diego’s center for dining and nightlife the historic Gaslamp Quarter and is also the closest hotel to the San Diego Convention Center. Rooms feature contemporary cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals furnishings and pops of color like a bright orange wall or sunny yellow cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals pillows. For those who really want exclusivity, the Lofts on 5 th Ave. at the Hilton cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals is a “hotel within a hotel” and offer loft-style living with 14-foot tall ceilings, and whirlpool tubs. Guests can also enjoy an outdoor fire pit perfect for pre or post Gaslamp cocktails and free WiFi. Rooms start at $299 in August. This is Category 7 property and requires 50,000 HHonors points  (30,000-60,000 seasonally)  for an award night.
Andaz San Diego : This 5-star boutique hotel is a chic haven in downtown. The roof deck (the largest in San Diego) includes a pool, outdoor dining, fire pits and sweeping city views. Rooms feature sleek contemporary designs including rich woods and leather furniture, as well as free WiFi. Foodies take note, Philippe Starck-designed Japanese restaurant Katsuya is adjacent to the lobby. Rates in August start at $179. As a Category 5 property, award nights cozumel mexico car and scooter rentals are available for 18,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points.
Manchester Grand Hyatt : At 40 stories tall, this San Diego landmark, comprised of two towers, is SoCal’s largest hotel, with over 1,600 rooms, and amenities include two rooftop pools, and a full service spa and salon. Gue