Best route from San Diego International to I-8

[anna2001]

HI.

I leave on my adventure in just 14 days!!!! Staying in the Mission Valley area(Hotel Circle)
and would like to know the best /easiest route from the airport to Hotel Circle.

Once I get on I-8 I should be fine, but mapquest seems to pick routes that appear to wind
around the downtown area...not what I think of as a good choice.

So, if any San Diego folks could give me turn by turn directions I would most greatly
appreciate it.

Also, any words of wisdom, places to eat, things to do( Julian has the fall festival...is that
any good?)

Thanks
Anna

 

[KarenT]

Oh it's very simple. Just follow the signs from the airport to the 5 NORTH. Stay on that until you see the exit for 8 EAST. About 1 mile. Once you are on the 8 EASt you will see the signs for Hotel Circle. You sould have no problems. It might look kind of winding on Mapquest, but the signs are very clearly marked and directions easy to follow.


KarenT


P.S Julian in the fall is wonderful. I hope youhave a fabulousl time.

 

[anna2001]

Karen,
Thank you so much for the help....now could you possibly suggest a good place to eat lunch in Mission
Valley?? It has to have just a few stipulations to it though.....not romantic, or expensive, or crowded,
and easily located...the entire reason why I am flying from Indiana to San Diego is to visit a beau
from 25 years ago, we're meeting for lunch...haven't seen him in that long too...so I've got to be able to pick him out.

Rubys(at least on their website) looked like a okay place to have our first meeting....any suggestions??
Thanks.

 

[Amy1013]

Hi, Anna! I thought I'd jump in here. I live in San Diego, too, and you were asking about restaurant choices in the Hotel Circle area for lunch. You mentioned that you were hoping to find someplace that wasn't too crowded. Ruby's, which you looked up already, is in the middle of a big shopping mall and although it is a good place to eat, it always been very busy when I've been there. There is a Love's BBQ restaurant in the Hotel Circle area which never seems too crowded. You'll see it alongside the side of I-8 (on the eastbound side). You can take the Mission Center Road exit from either side of the I-8 to get to it. Also, if you and your friend enjoy Mexican food, there is a historic area of San Diego called Old Town which is also in the Hotel Circle/Mission Valley area. There are a number of very good Mexican, as well as an Italian, restaurants there. You'd take the Taylor Street exit from either westbound or eastbound I-8 and follow the signs to Old Town State Park. Keep in mind that because Old Town is a tourist area, there can be crowds there at the restaurants- depending on what time of the year you are going, of course- but if you get there at a reasonable time for lunch (like between 11-12), you shouldn't haven't to wait too long and the food/atmosphere is definitely worth an afternoon trip there. There are also several other restaurants around Mission Valley/ most of which you can see from the interstate, such as Seau's (though I've heard it's expensive there- it's a sports-oriented place, too), Bennigan's, and Chili's Grill (which is very casual and good food). Most of these places are clustered around the Mission Valley mall which I mentioned before where Ruby's is located, and you should have no trouble spotting most of them.

Have a good time in San Diego!

Amy

 

[KarenT]

Mission Valley has rstaurants at every turn. Amy has some great ideas. I love LOVE'S restaurant. They have the best flame broiled chicken. I've never been to Ruby's, but if it's in the mall it will most likely be packed for lunch. Gorden Biercsht is great restaurant located at the Mission Center road exit. It's on the opposite side of the freeway as Love's. I was going to suggest the garlic fries there, but you are meeting an old beau you might want to skip that suggestion. You will have no problems coming up with a good place to eat in Mission Valley. It has about 500 options. I'm more interested inthis old beau. You'll HAVE to tell us all about it and him. I hope all goes well.





KarenT