70 | CALIFORNIA’S SAN DIEGO
www.nitravelnews.com
September/October 2024
By Heidi McAlpin
WHERE California kisses Mexico sits the coastal city of San Diego. Rich in Hispanic culture and home to the US naval base immortalised in the iconic movie Top Gun, this is where we round off our two- week American adventure after time well spent in LA and Las Vegas.
Not one for taking the easy route, we embarked on a six-hour bus journey from Vegas back to LA, then a three-hour train trip to San Diego where a dual-centre stay combined a beachside retreat with two nights nestled in the city itself. With glimpses of the Pacific beckoning on our rail journey, lazing by the sea seemed just the ticket. Our first stop, the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa celebrates its Mission Bay location with easy access to an abundance of aquatic activities. The holiday feels
start at the
foyer where Gaugin prints, a palm-fringed waterfall and koi carp reflect the resort’s Polynesian aura. Our fabulously spacious Bayfront Suite with separate living room and bedroom opened onto a verdant lawn stretching all the way to the sparkling shore. After a much- needed night’s kip it was all I could do to tear myself away from this little slice of paradise
for a morning massage in the resort spa. Well, after that epic trip to get here, I felt I deserved nothing less. Ray and the children, meanwhile, said hiya to the resident birds of paradise and enjoyed a dip in the pretty pool. The hotel offers a variety of activities including trips on the Bahai Belle riverboat as it sedately glides around the 4,200-acre aquatic
park. We, however, opted for a
speedboat around the bay with Ray at the helm. Having once piloted a pedalo swan at
Pickie Park, I knew we were in safe hands. Duran Duran’s Rio ringing in my head, off we sped on an hour-long blast past the SeaWorld skyline - tomorrow’s destination - and back
Disney liner was decanting yet more eager tourists. Keen to explore more, we swapped our contemporary abode for a trip to a quite astounding visitor attraction right across the street.
The USS Midway is an aircraft carrier that saw service in in Vietnam and during the Cold War and Operation Desert Storm. In 2004 it found a permanent home as a floating museum in San Diego where it is the city’s top visitor attraction. US Military veterans who served on this gargantuan craft act as guides, sharing stories of derring do Tom
nearby Naval Base housing the nation’s navy elite that spawned an enduring Top Gun connection. Yet another insta-worthy moment awaits at nearby Navy Pier where the 27ft high ‘Kissing Statue’ depicts a sailor
to base, the California breeze whipping round our lugs.
A
d e l i g h t f u l evening meal in the hotel’s Oceana Coastal Kitchen
rounded off an invigorating start to San Diego. SeaWorld and San Diego Zoo dominate the
city’s visitor scene, and both attractions were must-sees on our trip. Across its sixty years, SeaWorld has re-focused its public message as a centre of animal conservation, rescue and rehabilitation. And it is this very ethos, alongside environmental awareness, that lies at the heart of each animal encounter. Crowd-pleasing orca, dolphin and seal shows celebrate these magnificent mammals while handlers explain the work being done to preserve and protect each species. Beyond the marine shows and displays, monster rollercoasters and less frenetic kiddie rides cater for all ages. While the SkyTower and Bayside Skyride cable car provide stunning views across Misson Bay and beyond to the San Diego skyline. As we said farewell to the aquatic leg of our San Diego stay, memories of killer whales, speedboat rides and a relaxing beachside stay
have already provided lasting
memories. It was time now, though, to head seven miles south to beautiful Downtown San Diego where yet more big hitters were ready to beguile. As US cities go, San Diego manages to retain a relaxed atmosphere even within its downtown hub. Ascending to our airy room at the InterContinental San Diego Hotel, floor to ceiling windows looked across to the pool and cruise ship terminal where a
Cruise could only dream of. From the Flight Deck’s abundance of impressive aircraft to Below Deck where sailors lived and engines powered this mighty beast, each space reveals a fascinating glimpse of US Navy life. Dubbed America’s Living Symbol of Freedom, USS Midway embodies the very essence of American military might. A fitting location with the
and nurse celebrating the end of WW2. There is so much to see and do in San
Diego and our only chance of skimming the city’s highlights was to follow our half day aboard the USS Midway with an Old Town
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