Cool landmark that finally gives Convoy the recognition it deserves. The arch is big, bright, and…read moremakes the area feel like a legit Asian food destination. Fun spot for photos before you dive into KBBQ, ramen, or boba. Traffic on Convoy gets nuts so snapping a pic can be tricky. Not much to "do" at the sign itself, but it's a solid symbol of the neighborhood. Nice touch for the area.

Oh wow! I didn't know there is a page for this historical sign!…read more When we are visiting family and friends in the area, I always point to this sign! I get all excited and take pictures as if seeing it for the first time!! ;) When in the area, you're entering a cool community. We love walking around and exploring. There's all kinds of eateries. You'll find unique trendy foodies to award winning restaurants. The farmers markets are a must! Shopping is fun as well. You'll find vintage shops to boutiques. You'll find a mix diverse of families, retirees, to young professionals. An eccentric community. Unique shops, coffee shops, to the usual places you'll find anywhere. The vibrant nightlife is a nice addition. Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo is close by as well. This makes this community very desirable to live or visit. The Hillcrest Sign helps you recognize the popular neighborhood!

Always beautiful when lit! It changes colors and such a staple piece for the community!read more

Visited this base a few times during our vacation with our sailor in December. Warning, you must be…read morecleared before being granted entry to this base, even if already cleared on North Island, which is done at a different location. Didn't see much, as we only stopped off at our son's barracks to drop off or pick up some items. My only concern is for the sailor's safety, as the fences are not very tall and while we waited for him to come back out, a person pulled up by the fence near his barracks, as if to make a drug transaction.

So the gas station on this base:…read more Pros: It's a few cents cheaper than off base. Cons: The pump barely works. They pump slow or they just don't work at all. It only takes card. Most of the lights are broken, so it's ghetto and dark at night. They don't clean up around there because trash is everywhere on the ground. Wild animals are everywhere. The sensors on the pump barely work, so watch for over fill. You can tell the Navy doesn't really care about it because there has been one pump broken for about a month now. It seriously looks ran down from the 1950s.

Free entry! Cool museum at Balboa Park, just next to MOPA. Nice play areas for the little ones to…read morestay busy while you walk around and read about San Diego History. A short 30 min film plays hourly and is full of historic photos and intriguing details about the various inhabitants of the park. I'd never realized that there had been a nudist colony in residence for over a year for example! $0.75 for an all day pass to view them. And for those without the spare change, there were free peepholes in the fencing! I also didn't know that the military were housed, trained, and hospitalized there for each world war. Half the museum was dedicated to the LGBT community and their history in San Diego. A tiny hidden space the size of a closet was dedicated to Japanese history, which I thought was a sad embarrassment considering how much space was dedicated to a kids play area with building blocks, puzzles and a play kitchen and office. And most of the front and exterior were dedicated to models of ships and pictures of the America's cup. This really isn't the way to represent the history of San Diego and it's diversity. It's bound to give tourists a boring impression of such a fantastic city. One of the guides mentioned that they're struggling to attract more interest from school kids and the general public. That's pretty obvious to me. They should study the greats programs hosted by the Star of India downtown in the bay- which had a phenomenal historical program and provides an unforgettable experience for kids of all ages.

Wow, I don't have a touching or emotional story about the museum, and I have to admit, I've only…read morebeen in the store recently. I think the last time I was in the museum was during the week-long field trip to Balboa Park that every San Diego 5th grader gets to do. But I digress. Their store is stuPENdous. I just bought a whole mess of Christmas gifts from there, and had to leave before I burned a hole in my wallet. I found some great prints advertising the California Panama Exhibition in 1915 and 1916, colorful, fun, and uniquely San Diegan. My sister lives in Colorado and is homesick for some SD decor--she's going to love the fun treasures from the Historical Society! Do yourself a favor and spend some money with them. But don't go on Monday, they're closed. Oh! And consider buying the wooden rosary that not ONLY smells like roses (no, I don't know why, stop asking), but comes in a tiny plastic box with a commemorative picture of Father Serra's head on it. Sweet. Go Serra High School!

Station 46 is our local firehouse. I remember when it opened in 2004 to serve the growing…read moredevelopment of Black Mountain Ranch South, specifically Santaluz where we live. The station has three large equipment bays, but only Engine 46 is permanently housed here. Its crews respond to 9-1-1 search and rescue, fire, and medical incidents. They are professional, approachable and friendly.

Go see the T Gwynn statue when you are at Petco. Very little debate that he was the best hitter…read morebaseball had ever seen since Ted Williams. Right near the statue is a food place that sells deep fried egg rolls filled with birra taco meat

During my freshman year at San Diego State University, I would run routinely on an open grass field…read morethat lay adjacent to my dormitory, a ramshackle brick building with architectural ambitions rivaling that of an internment camp (said structure has since been knocked down). Following my workout, I'd stretch out languorously, allowing my post-workout warmth to fuse with the wintry Spring greenery atop of which I sprawled. It was usually then that a stocky, compact man-unassuming in his temperament and way of dress-would frequent the field to pick up lingering trash deposited by passersby. Not being much of a conversationalist, I opted to reply in a minimalistic fashion when he inquired about my well-being or commented accordingly on the disposition of the weather and as such, the breadth of our dialogue ranged from the garden-variety "hello, how are you?" to "the weather's been nice." And so the establishment of a quasi camaraderie was born. He'd ask of my day and I'd meekly muster up a single-worded reply. I'd reciprocate the inquiry for etiquette's sake. He'd nod his head for a few rounds before responding with his standard "It's been treating me well." From his nightly trash collection routine, I surmised the guy was a janitor. This perception was promptly altered one evening after the mild-mannered, compact man who I presumed to be a janitor hopped into a black, Tony Gwynn-edition Escalade and rode off gently into the night. Oh, the scrutiny with which I was met upon relaying to my Father, a die-hard Padres aficionado, that I had mistaken a baseball Hall of Famer for what some would euphemistically refer to as a "sanitation technician."

The Fairbanks Ranch fire house is Station #3 in the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. I…read moredrive by it several times a week and continue to be amazed how the building was sited on the land available to it. This fire house is a state-of-the-art facility with two large equipment bays. Its crews respond to 9-1-1 search and rescue, fire, and medical incidents in communities within the RSF district, as well as provide mutual aid in the City of San Diego.

Crossing into Tijuana from San Diego was a surprisingly smooth and stress-free experience. We were…read moreexpecting long lines and delays, especially since it's one of the busiest international border crossings in the world, but that wasn't the case at all during our visit. There was virtually no wait to cross, and traffic flowed efficiently thanks to the Mexican officials who were actively directing vehicles and keeping everything organized. Their presence made the process feel well-managed, and it was easy to navigate the lanes without any confusion or congestion. For anyone planning a day trip or weekend getaway to Baja California, this crossing couldn't have been easier. It was a seamless start to our trip and allowed us to get into Tijuana quickly so we could begin exploring without wasting time sitting in traffic. A smooth border crossing definitely set the tone for a great visit to Mexico.

Going into Tijuana is literally 200 times easier and shorter than trying to return to the United…read moreStates into San Diego. For a safe and secure space for our vehicle we park in the structure on the US side. You get your steps in walking over the bridge to the immigration building but it's fairly a breeze. Another slower option is to catch the trolley both ways. There are two separate lines for Mexican citizens and foreigners(us.) the line on the left can zip through by showing a special card you apply for to enter Tijuana. For the rest of us just go through the turnstile, follow the queue to show the agent your passport and they will insert a printed document slightly larger than your passport. The path to reach the more active and colorful section of Tijuana is A good way to rack up your steps. Lots of walking is involved. Enjoy shopping if something strikes your fancy and become a thirsty sponge for their music, margaritas, tequila, and food. Our strongest beverages there are still bottled water, ice tea or Diet Coke in a large, reputable eatery. Trying to return to the United States is another story. We've been in line over an hour previously but this recent venture took us 3 hours and 45 minutes. Make sure you have a hat, sun glasses and apply sun screen. You're definitely immersed into the local culture, people and their dogs or children trying to exit along side of you in one continuous line forming 4 lanes of pedestrians. Everyone waits patiently in the heat with the sun's rays beating down on you. You can purchase churros, ice cream, popsicles and snacks if street food is your thing as there are vendors, roaming sellers and little convenience like stalls or shops where you must pass. The other alternative is driving over the border but it's anyone's guess which way is faster by foot or vehicle to exit. Luckily no hagglers like decades past. Haven't encountered pick pocketing but there are beggars and homeless you'll encounter. Not for the faint of heart. I saw one man in a wheel chair being rushed by a uniformed person through security with an ambulance waiting for him. Next I saw he was on a gurney and looked barely alive. If you are mobility challenged don't hesitate, if you have a walker or wheelchair bring it and use it.