San Diego Convention Center – Experiences

There’s a lot to see and do in San Diego, and if you’re in town to attend an event at the San Diego Convention Center, chances are you won’t have much free time during your trip.

Don’t panic, though! Luckily for you, the San Diego Convention Center is located in the bustling Marina District of San Diego, near many of the city’s best attractions, restaurants, and more. For instance, Petco Park, the home of MLB’s San Diego Padres, is located less than a 10-minute walk from the San Diego Convention Center. How cool is that?

We’ve put together this travel guide in order to help you get the most out of your stay in beautiful San Diego, no matter how brief it may be. If you’ve got an entire day or more to yourself, great! If you’ve only got a few hours of free time during your trip, that’s fine too.

Thanks to the San Diego Convention Center’s central location, you can easily make the most of however much time you have to spend exploring this vibrant SoCal city. Just be sure to bring your most comfortable pair of walking shoes and, of course, plenty of sunscreen.

 

Morning

Noon

Night

 

Morning

Whether you’ll be spending most of the day at the San Diego Convention Center or out and about, the last thing you want to do is skip breakfast. You definitely need to be fueled up for all the walking you’re in store for. So, start your day off right with a breakfast that’ll keep you full and focused until lunchtime rolls around.

If you’re short on time or just want a quick, no-fuss sort of breakfast, there are three Starbucks inside the San Diego Convention Center that you can stop by. These Starbucks are conveniently located in Halls A, C, and E on the Ground Level of the San Diego Convention Center. They offer many of the beverages and pastries you’d expect to find at a typical Starbucks location, with the exception of hot foods such as sandwiches.

There are plenty of other Starbucks nearby though if you desperately need to satisfy your craving for a hearty breakfast sandwich piled high with the works. A Starbucks that also serves hot food can be found inside the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, which is only a five-minute walk from the San Diego Convention Center.

If you’ve got a little extra time on your hands and want to experience one of the best breakfasts this side of San Diego has to offer, head on over to the Lazy Hippo. Located less than a half-mile from the San Diego Convention Center in the city’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, the Lazy Hippo puts fun and flavorful twists on classic breakfast favorites.

San Diego Convention CenterThe menu at the Lazy Hippo is as varied as their food is delicious. On it you’ll find both sweet and savory offerings, ranging from lemon ricotta waffles topped with raspberry sauce and mascarpone cheese to a vegetable frittata made with red bell pepper, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, spinach, and fresh mozzarella.

They’ve got plenty of Mexican-inspired breakfast dishes on the menu too at the Lazy Hippo, which makes sense considering San Diego is situated right across the border from Tijuana. These south-of-the-border specialties include breakfast enchiladas filled with fluffy scrambled eggs, huevos rancheros and huevos divorciados, chilaquiles, and four types of breakfast burritos.

After breakfast, continue your San Diego adventure over at Embarcadero Marina Park. This scenic waterfront park is actually divided into two separate areas, Embarcadero Marina Park North and Embarcadero Marina Park South. The latter is the closer of the two to the San Diego Convention Center at less than a 10-minute walk away.

No matter which part of Embarcadero Marina Park you decide to visit, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of San Diego Bay and the city skyline, along with numerous amenities. Amenities offered at both parts of the park include bike paths, fishing piers, gazebos, picnic tables, and restrooms. Embarcadero Marina Park South also features basketball courts, concessions, and exercise stations. This world-class park is one of the best places in San Diego to stretch your legs and unwind before carrying on with the rest of your day.

 

Noon

As beautiful as Embarcadero Marina Park may be, try not to spend too much time there. You’ve still got so much more to see! The next stop on our San Diego excursion is Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.

San Diego Convention CenterOpened in 2004, Petco Park embodies all of the qualities we’ve come to expect from modern ballparks: marvelous architecture, perfect sightlines, and plenty of state-of-the-art amenities. As you could imagine, Petco Park is a real great place to catch a game of baseball.

Another exceptional part about Petco Park is its selection of eateries. Ditch the peanuts and Cracker Jack and instead get yourself a big, juicy burger from Hodad’s, a local institution that’s as San Diegan as sunshine and tan lines. Or maybe sample a slice from Pizza Port, another San Diego favorite. Try their beer while you’re at it too!

If you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, an ice cream sandwich from The Baked Bear is a must. Far from your average ice cream sandwich, they’re putting mountainous scoopfuls of their house-made ice cream between everything from warm, ooey-gooey cookies to decadent donuts and brownies.

Other sweet treats you can indulge in at Petco Park include freshly made caramel corn from Jack & Craft and trendy, Instagram-worthy acai and pitaya bowls from Paradise Bowls.

Now, there’s always the chance that the Padres aren’t in town, you couldn’t get your hands on a ticket, or it isn’t even baseball season to begin with. If that’s the case, don’t cross this stop off your list just yet.

Behind-the-scenes tours of Petco Park are offered year-round, seven days a week, providing fans with an insider look at some of the ballpark’s most unique features. Highlights of the tour include stops at the press box, the historic Western Metal Supply Co. building, the Padres Hall of Fame, and even the team’s dugout!

If you’re starting to feel a bit peckish after your visit to Petco Park and need a bite to eat to hold you over until dinner, you’ll be glad to hear that you won’t have to go far to find great food.

After leaving the ballpark, head north down Seventh Street. Only a couple of minutes away is Lucky’s Lunch Counter, a retro-themed joint serving up good old-fashioned food guaranteed to take your taste buds back in time.

The menu at Lucky’s features all the classics. Deli-style sandwiches piled high with corned beef and pastrami? Check. Matzo balls swimming in savory chicken broth? Double check. A hot dog with the works? Triple check. Their cheeseburger is another fan favorite, topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and Thousand Island dressing. They also serve breakfast all day, just in case you’ve got a hankering for pancakes, corned beef hash, or biscuits and gravy well into the afternoon.

 

Night

San Diego Convention CenterAfter such an eventful day, you’ll probably want to start taking things slow once the sun begins to set over San Diego. With 14 acres of shopping, dining, and entertainment paired with beautiful views of San Diego Bay and Coronado Bridge, Seaport Village is the perfect place to spend a relaxing night out.

At a little under a mile away from Petco Park, getting to Seaport Village should take less than 20 minutes on foot. If you’re going there from the San Diego Convention Center, the walk will only be about 15 minutes instead.

Don’t be surprised if you end up going on a mini shopping spree while at Seaport Village. With over 50 unique shops, how could you possibly resist? They’ve got something for everyone at Seaport Village, including clothing, souvenirs, art, and so much more.

Spruce up your smartphone with a stylish wooden case from Case Yard. Find the perfect magnet to put on your fridge back home at the aptly named Magnuts. Set your taste buds ablaze as you sample hot sauces from all over the world at Hot Licks or just sit back and sip on a glass of local wine at the San Pasqual Winery tasting room. Whatever you’re into, Seaport Village has got the perfect shop for you.

If you’re lucky, there might even be an event taking place during your visit to Seaport Village. The annual Busker Festival held in early March is a big crowd-pleaser, featuring street performers of all different kinds. Events held on a more frequent basis include concerts, outdoor movie nights, and free food giveaways at eateries like Wetzel’s Pretzels and Ben & Jerry’s.

In addition to its many eclectic shops, Seaport Village is also home to more than 10 quick and full-service restaurants. While you can’t go wrong with any one of them, we recommend grabbing a bite to eat at Buster’s Beach House & Longboard Bar. This fun Hawaiian-themed restaurant will make you feel as if you’ve crossed the Pacific and ended up at a quaint beachfront joint on the shores of Oahu.

For the most part, the menu at Buster’s sticks to their decidedly Hawaiian theme with offerings like ahi poke and grilled mahi-mahi. Their Pork Luau is another dish full of Hawaiian flavor, featuring sweet and tangy pork that’s been slow-cooked to perfection in a blanket of banana leaves served alongside mango and pineapple salsa, jasmine coconut rice, and a medley of fresh California vegetables. Other menu items include burgers, pizzas, salads, desserts, and more.

For the full Buster’s experience, snag a table on their outdoor patio or at least by a window if at all possible. That way you can gaze out at the boats bobbing in the marina as you enjoy a delicious meal and reminisce on all the wonderful experiences you’ve had in San Diego. No, this isn’t paradise, but it’s close.