If you have business to attend to at the Convention Center or a
yen to keep up with the Padres at the new Petco Park, you couldn’t
be better placed than at the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter www.sandiegogaslampquarter.hilton.com.
Although it has 282 rooms, the charm lies in the 30 roomed Enclave
Tower with its own access to and from the Gaslamp Quarter so you
can get the upscale pampering of Hilton’s celebrated Suite
Dreams Pillow Top mattresses, down comforters, whirlpool tubs, loft
ceilings, and have terrace dining and use the fitness center and
spa -- and still enjoy the small inn feel of the Enclave.
And outside, whereas Little Italy was funky the Gaslamp Quarter
is hip. From the high tech-looking Convention Center to the sounds
of music on the city’s coolest avenue and the pokey little
one room museum about Wyatt Earp run by the Cilch brothers on Market
Street www.wyattearpmuseum.com,
Fifth Avenue is at your feet. Restaurants, bars, shops you name
it. Check out the temporary San Diego Police Museum on G Street
at 2nd Avenue www.sdpolicemuseum.org.
And if all this downtown walking has been tiring, you’re pretty
close to a seat at Petco Park. It’s no sweat to stroll over
there and see if tickets are available for that day’s game.
They might not be because the Padres have enchanted their fans this
year. These days Petco Park is the friendliest place in town. sandiego.padres.mlb.com
If Balboa Park is more your style than Petco Park, a new country
inn (it’s too elegant to call a B & B) opened in February
of 2005 at Maple and 4th Avenue, two short blocks from the park.
Now called the Britt Scripps Inn www.brittscripps.com,
the beautifully restored Victorian was originally built around 1887
at a cost of $3,000, at that time the most expensive house in town.
It was restored at a price tag of $6 million -- you sure can see
where the money went. The nine bedroom multi-gabled inn delights
guests with its wrap around porch, 12-foot ceilings, hand carved
oak staircase and its two-story stained glass wall. Each room has
its own décor and identity from the Renaissance Room, perfect
for the anniversary occasion to the Gothic Room, medieval enough
to make any couple cling. All rooms have claw-foot baths and shower
combinations and, a pleasant surprise in so authentic a dwelling,
both flat screen TV and wireless broadband internet connection.
Rates include a full breakfast and wine with hors d'oeuvres in the
late afternoon. Several restaurants are within walking distance
and Hillcrest’s eateries are a three minute drive to the north.
The extra fun of walking over to Balboa Park is to be on foot and
not fretting about parking. When did you last have hours and hours
to explore the Park and maybe take in the IMAX show at the Reuben
H. Fleet Science Center? www.rhfleet.org
|
