Hi:
My wife has booked flights to San Diego to help our son set up his new apartment (just moved to SD). I know there is a train museum in SD but I need help, suggestions on how to fill in 8 days while she is arranging and shopping.
8/20-8/28
John
John… The train museum is in Balboa Park… Great place to spend time… Everything from N, HO (2 large layouts), O scale and O gauge. Fabulous scenery and great track work…
And at the south end of the park is the Aviation Museum… You can spend a whole day there as well…
http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/san-diego-air-space-museum
Then you can take a trip up Highway 94 (A real adventure) to Potrero and on to Campo to the railroad museum there… It’s another good day trip… Stop by the Potrero Cafe for Lunch…
Send a message to Ray Dunakin, one of our stalwarts, to see if you can get an invite to visit his railroad. It is fantastic.
Another way to spend some time is riding the San Diego Trolley System
Take the trolley to the station in La Mesa, then walk two blocks SE to Reeds Hobby Shop, the best full service LHS in Sandy Eggo County. I never walked out of there empty handed.
That should fill the better part of three days. Enjoy your stay in Sandy Eggo. I’m going back for a visit in January.
Thank you. Good start, Reeds may be a problem, neat stuff on the shelf tends to talk to me, saying take me with you!.
Trollies look neat. I grew up around Boston, remember the pre PCC trolley’s, thats like 1955 time frame before they scrapped all the old traction. They were fun.
Thanks
To get away from trains, Dego has the best Zoo and Aquarium (Sea World) I’ve ever been to. Plus an Aircraft Carrier converted to a floating Naval Museum. (USS Midway).
John Bouck said:
To get away from trains, Dego has the best Zoo and Aquarium (Sea World) I’ve ever been to. Plus an Aircraft Carrier converted to a floating Naval Museum. (USS Midway).
I have to agree with John…don’t miss the Zoo, Sea World and the Midway. I was given a great tour of her about 6 years ago by an old high school friend who was a Navy commander on the Midway. Flew helicopters to rescue downed flyers during Vietnam. Don’t miss it.
Sea World is very controversial right now. Maybe you should see it while you still can. 
BTW, you will get totally drenched if you ride on “Hurricane Harbor.”
Seaworld is always controversial to the “Free Willie” crowd. Still, it is definitely on the must see list.
Take in the Friday Morning graduation parade at MCRD San Diego, if that interests you. Always inspiring.
SeaWorld is a must see and don’t worry about The “Free the whales” crowd. They do not have a clue as to what those whales need or don’t need. Also one of the best park ride-on trains you will ever find is in Balboa Park right next to the Zoo entrance.
I endorse seeing the railroad operation at Campo — go east on Highway 8 leaving San Diego.
Campo is THE source for the “real” thing in railroading. Check their website for a photo portrayal.
Restoration projects are available for inspection along with operating locos.
Not trains but still cool nonetheless, In downtown check out the Star of India, the oldest floating still operational clipper sailship
http://www.sdmaritime.org/star-of-india/
On Coronado Island, the USS Midway museum
Unfortunately I’ll be on my annual Nevada trip during the time John is here, otherwise I’d be happy to have him come see the In-ko-pah Railroad.
Vic… not to knit pick, but the Midway is about 1/4 mile south of the Star of India near Seaport Village… (http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)(http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)(http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)
Unless they moved it… (http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)(http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)(http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)
Seaport Village IS in the downtown! It’s just the wet side
You can also see the old Santa Fe terminal, pretty nice looking and the trolley goes there.
Also, for straight tourist stuff, Old Town, which is also served by the trolley.
Greg
Stan Cedarleaf said:
Vic… not to knit pick, but the Midway is about 1/4 mile south of the Star of India near Seaport Village… (http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)(http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)(http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)
Unless they moved it… (http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)(http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)(http://forums.mylargescale.com/images/smilies/smiley.gif)
yes Stan…that’s was why I was specific about it being over on Coronado Island
One other thing I would suggest is if you have time, catch a Padres game, the stadium is right on the downtown waterfront across from the convention center. Doesn’t really matter who they’re playing as they’ll probably loose anyways, but the stadium has terrific views of downtown, especially at night, and is one of the better venues for watching a game. Also maybe check out the Gaslamp District, and SD’s Old Town is also a nice place to have dinner.
Hey, Stan was close! The midway is pretty close to seaport village, but you have to swim to get there unless you take the bridge to Coronado!
Isn’t the Nickle Snatcher still running? That would be a shame!
The Maritime Museum runs special cruises out in the bay on their smaller ships where they have cannon battles between boats. It was a blast (literally). Check at the Museum for the schedule when you visit the USS Midway and the other ships (Master and Commander Surprise, and a Russian Submarine, etc. were there the last time I was there.)
San Diego is a great place for a “guy” vacation!
It’s even nicer to live here!
I get all the “California” jokes, rants about how expensive it is, how too many laws, too many weird people… I chuckle as I drive home next to the ocean watching the waves and the cute girls jogging in bikinis… it’s just hell, let me tell you!
Greg
It is beautiful, especially the girls jogging.
My old firehouse boss, now since deceased, moved out to Carlsbad when he retired to be near his kids. I would visit him when a NY team was in San Diego. He would always say the weather was so nice it was boring. It was tough to hear especially in the winter months when I knew I’d soon be back in the cold of the Northeast.
BTW, good to see you’re still in the hobby John R.
Pat