What are some educational activities to do in San Diego?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around planning educational activities in San Diego for a vacation, particularly focusing on suggestions for attractions and experiences that align with interests in science and history. Participants share their past experiences and seek recommendations for local activities while attending a work-related conference.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares their past educational trips and expresses a desire for similar experiences in San Diego, mentioning specific interests in scientific and historical sites.
  • Another participant suggests that there are many worthwhile activities in San Diego and encourages the original poster (OP) to seek out local experiences rather than a strictly planned itinerary.
  • Some participants mention specific attractions such as the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Balboa Park, and local historical sites, including Native American and Mexican-California history.
  • There is a suggestion for a day trip to Tijuana, although safety concerns are raised regarding this option.
  • One participant emphasizes the value of personal exploration and interaction with locals over visiting well-known historical sites.
  • Another participant recommends taking the Amtrak to visit nearby locations like San Juan Capistrano or San Clemente, highlighting the mission at San Juan Capistrano as a notable tour.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the merits of a planned itinerary versus a more spontaneous approach to exploring San Diego. While some advocate for structured suggestions, others argue for the benefits of personal exploration and local interactions. No consensus is reached on the best approach to the trip.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various historical and cultural aspects of San Diego, but there are no specific details on the safety or feasibility of certain activities, such as the trip to Tijuana. The discussion reflects a range of interests and preferences without resolving the best course of action for the OP.

mmeduchatelet
Hello~I’m an Atlanta newby to this forum, and am looking for help in planning an educational vacation for my husband and me. We’re both 60(+/-), and yearly we must attend a 4-day work related conference that’s held in different parts of the country. We always get a rental car and tack on a few extra days for exploring. And since my husband is actually the one required to attend, I usually duck out of the “ladies program” and go on a juicy scientific/history-like safari of my own.
For example:
Vermont Robert Frost home/grave, whale watching, Boston history stuff
Vegas (yuck) Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon south rim
Washington St. Sunset Cone Crater, Mt. St. Helens, whale watching
Whistler, BC Zip-lining, San Juan Islands, Seattle
Phoenix Challenger Space Center, Grand Canyon north rim, Anasazi culture
Chicago FermiLab, Field Museum, Museum of Science & Industry
(I also just finished NASA’s Space Camp - what a hoot!)
So the trip this year is scheduled for Sept in San Diego, and I’m dreading the struggle to
find information. You wouldn’t think it would be that hard to do, but I don’t even know
the appropriate search terms to use! Any ideas you guys might have would be greatly
appreciated.
 
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mmeduchatelet said:
Hello~I’m an Atlanta newby to this forum, and am looking for help in planning an educational vacation for my husband and me. We’re both 60(+/-), and yearly we must attend a 4-day work related conference that’s held in different parts of the country. We always get a rental car and tack on a few extra days for exploring. And since my husband is actually the one required to attend, I usually duck out of the “ladies program” and go on a juicy scientific/history-like safari of my own.
For example:
Vermont Robert Frost home/grave, whale watching, Boston history stuff
Vegas (yuck) Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon south rim
Washington St. Sunset Cone Crater, Mt. St. Helens, whale watching
Whistler, BC Zip-lining, San Juan Islands, Seattle
Phoenix Challenger Space Center, Grand Canyon north rim, Anasazi culture
Chicago FermiLab, Field Museum, Museum of Science & Industry
(I also just finished NASA’s Space Camp - what a hoot!)
So the trip this year is scheduled for Sept in San Diego, and I’m dreading the struggle to
find information. You wouldn’t think it would be that hard to do, but I don’t even know
the appropriate search terms to use! Any ideas you guys might have would be greatly
appreciated.

Jump in a car and drive across the continent with no special plans.
 
Don't listen to dan, lots of great things to do around San Diego, some "respectable" members will give you some suggestions.
 
Evo said:
Don't listen to dan, lots of great things to do around San Diego, some "respectable" members will give you some suggestions.

Evo, out of curiosity, what makes you think they'll got more from a planned journey than from a "free for all" one ? In the end, drifting across a continent, socializing in places and visit local objectives you learn from locals is *extremely* rewarding :P The best education IMO does not comes from visiting a famous battlefield. No ghosts will rise to tell you the story. But if you are lucky you'll find humans to tell you stories while you travel. Some real, some legend. And that's the charm. Interaction and personal exploration. Else you can stay home and read a history book and you'll get more enlighten in history than visiting 10001 places. At least this is my not so humble opinion. Drift across the continent. Interact and discover things different from you. :devil:
 
The San Diego Zoo is [or was] considered to be one of the best. And of course there is Sea World.

Keep in mind:
Native American history
Mexican-California history
Missions
Military history

I would suggest a day trip across the border to Tijuana, but I don't know if that is safe to do these days. If it does sound okay, there is a tram you can take.

Tours of ships and military facilities

A must do if you can: Brunch at the Hotel Del Coronado, on Coronado Island.

A google of San Diego history provides some specifics
http://www.google.com/search?source...&rlz=1T4DGUS_enUS313US313&q=San+Diego+history

If you get a chance to visit Dog Beach, in Ocean Beach, take a dip for me. A long time ago, I lived thirty steps or so from the sand. At the time the rent was pretty reasonable. Today, I doubt you could touch my little cottage for less than a $million.
 
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DanP said:
Evo, out of curiosity, what makes you think they'll got more from a planned journey than from a "free for all" one ? In the end, drifting across a continent, socializing in places and visit local objectives you learn from locals is *extremely* rewarding :P The best education IMO does not comes from visiting a famous battlefield. No ghosts will rise to tell you the story. But if you are lucky you'll find humans to tell you stories while you travel. Some real, some legend. And that's the charm. Interaction and personal exploration. Else you can stay home and read a history book and you'll get more enlighten in history than visiting 10001 places. At least this is my not so humble opinion. Drift across the continent. Interact and discover things different from you. :devil:
She's looking for local things to do while her husband is in town.
 
Evo said:
She's looking for local things to do while her husband is in town.

Oh yeah, you are right. My bad.

OP take your husband and drive across the continent after conference:P
 
I would hop on the Amtrak and go up to see San Juan Capistrano or San Clemente. The mission at SJC is an especially nice tour.