May 28, 2007
“When the temperatures hover around 100, Tucsonans flock to the cooler climes of California. We asked travel writer Mary Peachin to share some of her favorite spots, as well as a few that are on her wish list..”
– By Mary Peachin
San Diego
Downtown’s Historic Gaslamp Quarter (www.gaslamp.org), which encompasses the area between 4th and 6th Avenues from Broadway to Harbor Drive, is packed with action. Pedicabs weave through the traffic, carrying visually overdosed gawkers. Old-fashioned streetlights beam over wide brick walkways. Scattered between renovated, Victorian-style hotels, built between 1873 and 1930, are more than 100 restaurants, offering every conceivable type of cuisine, and sharing space next to 35 nightclubs, bars and retail galore.
Dining & Drinking
Stingaree (www.stingsandiego.com) is located in a historic warehouse that stands three stories tall and features floor-to-ceiling waterfalls and translucent floating staircases that lead to a rooftop bar retreat. Side Bar (www.sidebarsd.com), a laid-back, retro, sophisticated lounge, is a favorite for hipsters looking for hot music and cool cocktails.