San Diego County is a sunny study in contrasts, much like Donny and Marie, who, while always of a cheery disposition on their popular ’70s television show, declared themselves "a little bit country and a little bit rock ’n’ roll." At once sophisticated and cosmopolitan, particularly downtown San Diego, where groups will find plenty of cultural outlets, and scenic and fun, with outdoor pursuits ranging from golfing to boating, the county truly offers a little bit of everything.
"San Diego County is kind of schizophrenic," says Margie Sitton, senior vice president of sales and services at the San Diego CVB. "You can wake up and be a surfer in the morning, go to the desert and ski in the afternoon, and then in the evening you can grab a great dinner and get tickets to the theater. This is a very diverse area."
Yet the county also boasts consistency via its warm climate and blue skies, which make outdoor group events and activities possible on nearly every day of the year. Not having to worry about inclement weather is a huge plus for planners, who can focus on building the perfect itinerary that incorporates either San Diego County’s city side or country side, or in some instances, both.
Urban Edge
For over two decades, Sitton has watched San Diego, once a sleepy military town lacking sophistication, grow into a rich, culturally diverse destination.
"How did this happen so quickly? We’ve evolved into a huge metropolitan center," she says. "Twenty-two years ago there was nothing downtown, and now it’s filled with colorful neighborhoods like the Gaslamp, the PETCO Park area [called East Village] and Little Italy."
San Diego’s F&B scene is an exciting aspect of the city. In Little Italy, for example, is the new restaurant Bencotto Italian Kitchen, one of Sitton’s many favorite dining spots.
"Every neighborhood is welcoming new restaurants," she says, explaining top chefs are always moving into town, and local beer makers and brewpubs throughout the county are consistently winning awards and recognition.
The area’s performance calendar is also helping San Diego’s cultural scene gain notoriety, Sitton adds. The Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park (whose stage is used by the San Diego Symphony and the annual Mainly Mozart Festival) and the La Jolla Playhouse are two standout venues that host plays and musicals.
"Jersey Boys and Rent first debuted here before going to New York and winning Tony awards," she says, adding a new play about the Rat Pack, called Robin and the 7 Hoods, will also hopefully enjoy a successful run at The Old Globe, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2010, before it hits Broadway.
Joining The Old Globe within Balboa Park’s borders are eight beautiful gardens, the San Diego Zoo and a number of museums, including the San Diego Model Railroad Museum and the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Old Town San Diego, the birthplace of California, is like a miniature Colonial Williamsburg. It’s a great place for walking tours, as it’s brimming with historic buildings and sites, including Presidio Park and Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, California’s first of 21 missions erected by Father Junipero Serra.
"You can visit all the historic stuff and then go to the Tequila Museum," says the San Diego CVB’s Sitton.
Get Out There
Away from the wonderful cultural options galore, San Diego County has another side, one that welcomes groups outdoors to take in the scenery and enjoy some fun in the sun.
A geographic gem, Coronado is blessed with one of the finest beaches in the world and is surrounded by a bay where groups can partake in water sports, according to Susan Enowitz, director of the Coronado Historical Association.
"Coronado’s scenic layout invites gatherings for sailing excursions; surfing, kayaking or fishing lessons; bicycle touring; historic district walking tours; golfing; and dinner cruises on the bay," she says.
For brunch or dinner sailing outings, planners might call San Diego Harbor Excursions or Hornblower Cruises and Events, and for surfing, kayaking or fishing equipment, Action Sport Rental is a good place to start. At the historic Hotel Del Coronado, groups can count on activities ranging from golf to sunset sailing and surfing lessons.
In Mission Valley, golf is a major outdoor draw, according to Sitton. Groups can hit the links at Riverwalk Golf Club, which is adjacent to Town and Country Resort & Convention Center.
In the whole county there are some 90 golf courses to choose from.
SeaWorld, a premier San Diego attraction, resides in Mission Bay.
"San Diego Bay is our big bay and Mission Bay is our little bay," Sitton says, citing coastal pursuits such as parasailing, snorkeling, kayaking and boating as popular options for groups.
The natural expanses of San Diego North, running from La Jolla up to Oceanside, include more than 40 golf courses and 36 miles of beaches, providing a relaxed atmosphere for creative thought, according to Cami Mattson, president and CEO of the San Diego North CVB.
"Groups can enjoy accessible seclusion since many of our hotels and resorts are buffered by natural landscapes," she says, explaining that planners can easily capture the attention of delegates until they’re able to enjoy outdoor amenities during breakout sessions. "For example, at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club the meeting can happen in a room right on the beach with breakout or stress-reducing exercises taking place on the sand outside."
Other top resorts that take in the area’s scenic setting include Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, La Jolla Shores Hotel, Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines and the Lodge at Torrey Pines, home to the Torrey Pines Golf Course, which hosted the US Open in 2008.
Mattson adds that team-building options in the area also take advantage of natural spaces with activities based around kayaking, sailing challenges, polo matches and surfing.
Surf Diva offers the "Reinvents the Board Meeting" package, featuring corporate surf clinics as well as other packages that could include a catered lunch.
At Rancho Bernardo Inn, there are several special experiences for groups, including after dark "Glow Ball" golfing, and at Wild Wonders/Zoofari, meeting groups can partake in private tours of exotic animal rescue facilities or have some of the animals brought to them for an educational demonstration.
Moving into South San Diego County is Chula Vista, which means "beautiful view" in Spanish.
Located just seven miles from downtown San Diego and seven miles from the Mexican border, Chula Vista is the second-largest city in San Diego County, where visitors can take in an outdoor concert at Cricket Wireless Amphitheater or make a splash at Knott’s Soak City USA, according to Lisa Cohen, CEO of the Chula Vista COC and CVB.
"And there are top-notch golf courses, a scenic marina, the Chula Vista Nature Center, beautiful parks and an endless variety of dining and shopping," she says.
East San Diego County, says the San Diego CVB’s Sitton, is considered San Diego County’s backyard, where groups will appreciate a day at Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California’s largest.
"It’s pristine and great for hiking, and you’ll likely see iguanas and sheep," she says.
The "backyard" is also home to Julian, known as the "apple capital of Southern California."
"In the fall people go there for apple pie, and it actually snows up there in the Cuyamaca Mountains," Sitton adds, explaining that in season groups can ski, sled and snowboard.
Northern California resident and freelance writer Carolyn Blackburn would love a slice of apple pie from Julian.
