MrV
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May 7th, 2018 at 5:23:58 PM permalink
Heading there this weekend.

Any suggestions as to nice casinos or good tours of the city or waterfront?
"What, me worry?"
Boz
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May 7th, 2018 at 5:52:52 PM permalink
Nothing on casinos but as a tourist, La Jolla is incredible with Sea Lions everywhere.

Coronado Island is worth a visit
Little Italy has great restaurants
Old Town has good Mexican restaurants
The Padres suck but the stadium is worth a visit for the experience
Pacific Beach is good for bars and people watching on the beach with surfers and a block away for the bar crowd.
Gaslight district is a tourist trap.

Have fun V.
beachbumbabs
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RS
May 7th, 2018 at 7:37:16 PM permalink
Quote: MrV

Heading there this weekend.

Any suggestions as to nice casinos or good tours of the city or waterfront?



PM RS and ask him. He knows a lot about the area.
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
AxelWolf
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May 7th, 2018 at 8:28:37 PM permalink
Quote: beachbumbabs

PM RS and ask him. He knows a lot about the area.

I think you mean San Francisco (-;
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
RS
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May 8th, 2018 at 12:16:44 AM permalink
Quote: AxelWolf

I think you mean San Francisco (-;


Hey, I’m a well traveled man, what can I say?

There are a few casinos near the area, but nothing really “in” San Diego. Up north there’s Harrahs of Southern California in Valley Center — lots of meth in the area, so if you want that, there you go. Valley view also exists right near Harrahs, well it’s close by. Pauma is a little north of Harrahs, but not worth stopping by.

Down south is Barona, Pala, and Viejas. I think there’s some casino in Jamul, but idk much else about it. All the casinos I’ve listed are Vegas-like casinos where they’re big and have lots of slots, VP, and table games. Last I heard, Barona has the most double deck BJ games of any casino in the world, although the mins are at least $25 and they are basically always crowded.


There’s a San Diego wild animal park and/or zoo, Legoland, Sea World, and it seems like something else but I don’t remember off hand.


Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, etc., and all that crap downtown is gonna be full of college kids partying it up. La Jolla Cove is also nice, but it’s a cove, so mostly stuff like snorkeling and whatnot and no waves for surfing. Up north there are several great beaches, but those are going to be filled with high school kids and families. Some have volleyball courts, just bring a volleyball or join in on someone else’s game (volleyball court usage is free, darn liberals in California!!).

There’s also Del Mar, where the horse racing track is. It’s a fair during the summer and it’s actually super legit. Idk if the fair is open yet, but I know the last day is 4’th of July and they have fireworks which is cool.

Lots of great restaurants and bars, especially if you’re into IPA (beer).


Also check out some of the “local” grocery stores. They’re a total hoot. There are stores that are like 100% cruelty-free meat, environmentally-conscious fruits & vegetables, and other stuff like that. Sort of like a Whole Foods on steroids.


If you have time and you bring your passport, something I used to do with my family a few times a year, is drive down to Tijuana, MX for some tacos.

Oh yeah, good Mexican food in SD. At least better than most other places.

Restaurants I recommend:

Rudy’s
Nacho Libre
Cotixan (that seems to be an SD only thing?)
The Ol’ Trieste
Red Tracton’s
In N’ Out, obviously (if you haven’t been)



Some stuff might be dated a bit since I haven’t really been there and immersed in the culture for a while. It’s amazing how many people are out biking, running, walking their dog, etc. compared to LV and even many other cities I’ve been to.
billryan
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May 8th, 2018 at 12:34:23 AM permalink
With what it cost to live there, dog walking is a form of entertainment.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
djatc
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May 8th, 2018 at 1:56:02 AM permalink
city lost their NFL team and now they had a great season when they moved to LA
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ZenKinG
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May 8th, 2018 at 6:41:13 AM permalink
Stay away from indian casinos if you care about your bankroll. Thank me later

It's a shame because if I could trust them id probably be living in san diego right now and playing them every day. But when you have a casino that answers to itself with no real enforcement in place idk how you can put your hard earned dollars on the felt. God knows whats in that shoe. Maybe I should just go play their double deck since they do show you the cards, but then id have to worry about 'beastmode' unregulated indian shufflers.
Last edited by: ZenKinG on May 8, 2018
Any private business open to the PUBLIC (ie. droned out casinos) cannot have a criminal trespass enforced against an individual without GOOD CAUSE (Disruptive or Disorderly conduct). You will never go to prison for being thrown out of a casino for legal advantage play and then returning because it's simply unconstitutional 'as applied' to the individual. 'As applied' constitutional issues must FIRST be raised in DISTRICT COURT (trial court) to have it thrown out. You CANNOT raise it on APPEAL This is the best kept secret in the world of casinos not just in Vegas but everywhere in the country. Thank me later.
GlenG
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May 8th, 2018 at 6:50:33 AM permalink
ZenKinG must be fun at parties.


If the Padres are in town, definitely check out Petco Park. Its a great stadium, and yeah they do suck, but theres great foodplaces and so many beer options. All their microbreweries sell in the park.
bobbartop
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May 8th, 2018 at 7:54:03 AM permalink
Quote: RS

Hey, I’m a well traveled man, what can I say?

There are a few casinos near the area, but nothing really “in” San Diego. Up north there’s Harrahs of Southern California in Valley Center — lots of meth in the area, so if you want that, there you go. Valley view also exists right near Harrahs, well it’s close by. Pauma is a little north of Harrahs, but not worth stopping by.

Down south is Barona, Pala, and Viejas. I think there’s some casino in Jamul, but idk much else about it. All the casinos I’ve listed are Vegas-like casinos where they’re big and have lots of slots, VP, and table games. Last I heard, Barona has the most double deck BJ games of any casino in the world, although the mins are at least $25 and they are basically always crowded.


There’s a San Diego wild animal park and/or zoo, Legoland, Sea World, and it seems like something else but I don’t remember off hand.


Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, etc., and all that crap downtown is gonna be full of college kids partying it up. La Jolla Cove is also nice, but it’s a cove, so mostly stuff like snorkeling and whatnot and no waves for surfing. Up north there are several great beaches, but those are going to be filled with high school kids and families. Some have volleyball courts, just bring a volleyball or join in on someone else’s game (volleyball court usage is free, darn liberals in California!!).

There’s also Del Mar, where the horse racing track is. It’s a fair during the summer and it’s actually super legit. Idk if the fair is open yet, but I know the last day is 4’th of July and they have fireworks which is cool.

Lots of great restaurants and bars, especially if you’re into IPA (beer).


Also check out some of the “local” grocery stores. They’re a total hoot. There are stores that are like 100% cruelty-free meat, environmentally-conscious fruits & vegetables, and other stuff like that. Sort of like a Whole Foods on steroids.


If you have time and you bring your passport, something I used to do with my family a few times a year, is drive down to Tijuana, MX for some tacos.

Oh yeah, good Mexican food in SD. At least better than most other places.

Restaurants I recommend:

Rudy’s
Nacho Libre
Cotixan (that seems to be an SD only thing?)
The Ol’ Trieste
Red Tracton’s
In N’ Out, obviously (if you haven’t been)



Some stuff might be dated a bit since I haven’t really been there and immersed in the culture for a while. It’s amazing how many people are out biking, running, walking their dog, etc. compared to LV and even many other cities I’ve been to.




It appears you left out Sycuan. I didn't notice it mentioned in your post. Worth a look imo.

When I was a 20-30 year old, all those places you mentioned had a card room or two. Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, even La Jolla had a big game at the Neptune Club. There were literally 50-60 card rooms in the area, it was paradise. Back then you could rent a 1-bedroom for like $300 or so. I would hop over the border and catch a cab to Agua Caliente Race Track. If you are familiar with that dump, it may surprise one to know that there was once first class racing there. Of course, there was dog racing, and a Jai Alai fronton too. All parimutuel wagering. I would not go to TJ now if you paid me. Too scary. (and I mean the police, not even talking about the bad guys yet)

'Emergencies' have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded.
RogerKint
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May 8th, 2018 at 10:29:10 AM permalink
Quote: GlenG

ZenKinG must be fun at parties.


If the Padres are in town, definitely check out Petco Park. Its a great stadium, and yeah they do suck, but theres great foodplaces and so many beer options. All their microbreweries sell in the park.



I second this recommendation.

Tijuana, MX isn't far and a good place to get cheap dentistry among other things.
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RS
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May 10th, 2018 at 3:47:45 PM permalink
Oh yeah, I forgot about Sycuan. I've only been there 2 maybe 3 times and they get pretty sweaty.

Also forgot going to Tijuana isn't super safe now a days.

Only been to Petco park a time or two, as well. IIRC, you can pay something like $5 just to get into the stadium, but no seat. You just stand or walk around and stuff. If that's what you're in to, at least.
Wizard
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May 10th, 2018 at 4:46:50 PM permalink
My favorite casino in the area is the Barona. However, all of them are tribal casinos and thus located way out in the sticks. The Sycuan is the best located casino to downtown San Diego.

My favorite part of San Diego is Mission Beach. It feels like more of an attraction than Pacific Beach. You could always rent a bike and take in both as they are next to each other. The gas lamp quarter, Italian quarter, and Old Town are all good too.

Be advised that La Jolla is about 20 miles north of San Diego and doesn't offer a whole lot to do other than the beach. I think California's most famous nude beach, known as Blacks Beach, is there. Never actually been. There is also a famous spot for hang gliding.

As for Tijuana, I haven't been in at least ten years, but if you go during the day and stick to the touristy Avendia Revolution area you should be fine. There is a path that leads there directly from the passenger border crossing. Do not drive into Mexico as there is always a huge line, that takes hours, to get back into the US by car.

About the dentistry, I was just speaking to an American dentist who did a charity thing in a remote part of Mexico to provide dental surgery. He remarked that many Americans pay more to fix up the mistakes made in Mexico than they would have paid to get it done right in the first place the US. His words, not mine.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
ZenKinG
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May 10th, 2018 at 5:46:56 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

My favorite casino in the area is the Barona. However, all of them are tribal casinos and thus located way out in the sticks. The Sycuan is the best located casino to downtown San Diego.

My favorite part of San Diego is Mission Beach. It feels like more of an attraction than Pacific Beach. You could always rent a bike and take in both as they are next to each other. The gas lamp quarter, Italian quarter, and Old Town are all good too.

Be advised that La Jolla is about 20 miles north of San Diego and doesn't offer a whole lot to do other than the beach. I think California's most famous nude beach, known as Blacks Beach, is there. Never actually been. There is also a famous spot for hang gliding.

As for Tijuana, I haven't been in at least ten years, but if you go during the day and stick to the touristy Avendia Revolution area you should be fine. There is a path that leads there directly from the passenger border crossing. Do not drive into Mexico as there is always a huge line, that takes hours, to get back into the US by car.

About the dentistry, I was just speaking to an American dentist who did a charity thing in a remote part of Mexico to provide dental surgery. He remarked that many Americans pay more to fix up the mistakes made in Mexico than they would have paid to get it done right in the first place the US. His words, not mine.



The biggest question is can tribal casinos be trusted to carry out a fair game? Has anyone played blackjack there for a significant amount of hours with a good sample size and made money or hit their EV?

When tribal casinos have no legitimate oversight, it's pretty hard to convince myself that out of all the industries, the casino industry, the industry that keeps its lights on by taking your money will police itself legitimately when they dont have to.
Any private business open to the PUBLIC (ie. droned out casinos) cannot have a criminal trespass enforced against an individual without GOOD CAUSE (Disruptive or Disorderly conduct). You will never go to prison for being thrown out of a casino for legal advantage play and then returning because it's simply unconstitutional 'as applied' to the individual. 'As applied' constitutional issues must FIRST be raised in DISTRICT COURT (trial court) to have it thrown out. You CANNOT raise it on APPEAL This is the best kept secret in the world of casinos not just in Vegas but everywhere in the country. Thank me later.
Ayecarumba
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May 10th, 2018 at 5:52:34 PM permalink
There is a top notch aircraft carrier turned museum attraction on the waterfront downtown. The USS Midway is permanently docked there, and has a very interesting self-paced audio tour.

Also note that there are cardrooms in San Diego that offer poker and “California” games, but no slots/VP as the tribal compact reserves those for the Native American properties.

Valley View has an “All you can eat” Maine Lobster option at their buffet. You will need to drive quite a ways out of San Diego/Mission Bay to get there, but it is an easier drive than negotiating Wildcat Canyon to get to Barona.
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Wizard
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May 10th, 2018 at 6:16:26 PM permalink
Quote: ZenKinG

The biggest question is can tribal casinos be trusted to carry out a fair game? Has anyone played blackjack there for a significant amount of hours with a good sample size and made money or hit their EV?

When tribal casinos have no legitimate oversight, it's pretty hard to convince myself that out of all the industries, the casino industry, the industry that keeps its lights on by taking your money will police itself legitimately when they dont have to.



Warning issued for thread hijacking. If you want to discuss this, make another thread for it.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Wizard
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May 10th, 2018 at 6:17:53 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

Also note that there are cardrooms in San Diego that offer poker and “California” games, but no slots/VP as the tribal compact reserves those for the Native American properties.



Correct me if I'm wrong, but these are the kind where you have to pay a 1% house fee to play, rounded up to the nearest dollar.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
mcallister3200
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May 10th, 2018 at 6:26:34 PM permalink
Fees vary but correct that somebody has to pay per hand for the game to go on, and the fee usually just over 1% of action. For the most part in northern California the corporation/banker only pays fee, Southern California both player and banker pay, some places might have 0.50 chips for bets under 50, etc.

San Diego proper I think there is actually only one card room left and maybe two others within an hour, there is a city ordinance that restricts transfer of ownership of card rooms they basically just don’t want them, more in LA region.
FinsRule
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May 10th, 2018 at 7:47:55 PM permalink
I had my honeymoon in San Diego. We stayed on Coronado. I love the whole area. The Wild Animal Park was nice. The seals are a must visit. I'd love to go back.
MrV
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May 10th, 2018 at 9:45:02 PM permalink
Thank you all for the suggestions.
"What, me worry?"
DrawingDead
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May 10th, 2018 at 11:30:02 PM permalink
Quote: GlenG

ZenKinG must be fun at parties.


If the Padres are in town, definitely check out Petco Park. Its a great stadium, and yeah they do suck, but theres great foodplaces and so many beer options. All their microbreweries sell in the park.

Yes, they are in town playing at Petco. All weekend, playing a series with some little midwestern bird-themed outfit calling themselves "Cardinals."

Shame on you.
Suck dope, watch TV, make up stuff, be somebody on the internet.
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