From Wikitravel Shared

San Diego's Mission Beach is a (somewhat) tamer version of the L.A. area's famous Venice Beach. It's population soars in the summer with out-of-town surfer dudes, dudettes, wanna-bes, and "Zoners" (Arizona residents trying to beat the heat), packed like sardines into expensive, often beaten-up (but who cares?) summer rentals. Mission Beach covers the area surrounding Mission Bay, but mainly refers to the westernmost beach that sits between the bay and the Pacific Ocean. It is bounded by Pacific Beach to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the 8 Freeway to the south, and the 5 Freeway to the east.

[edit] Understand

Mission Beach is located on a narrow strip of land between the ocean and Mission Bay, only a few blocks wide. It leads from more upscale Pacific Beach to the north to Belmont Park with the famous "Giant Dipper" roller coaster at its south end. It gets funkier the further south you go on the ocean-side boardwalk, though gentrification is slowly creeping through the area.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

From Downtown and points to the southeast, take I-5 to westbound I-8 and exit at West Mission Bay Drive. Stay on West Mission Bay Drive to get to Mission Beach, or you can access Mission Bay by taking Ingraham Street or Sea World Drive.

From Ocean Beach, drive north on Sunset Cliffs Blvd. to West Mission Bay Drive.

From Pacific Beach and points north, you can drive along the ocean on Mission Blvd. into Mission Beach, or take Ingraham Street south into Mission Bay. You can also take I-5 south and exit at Sea World Drive, then travel west into Mission Bay.

[edit] By public transit

The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is San Diego's public transit service. One bus route serves Mission Beach, and that's the Route 8/9 [1], which loops through the neighborhood connecting to Pacific Beach to the north and Old Town to the south.

[edit] See

• Sea World, 500 SeaWorld Drive, +1 800 257-4268, [2]. Hours vary by season and day of week; typically 10AM-5PM in winter, 9AM-11PM in summer. A massive aquatic park with rides, lots of sea animals (dolphins, sea otters, arctic creatures, sharks, penguins, rays, manatees, etc.) and of course, shows of killer whales like Shamu. $57 adults, $47 children under age 10, free for children under age 3 (parking $10 per vehicle).

[edit] Do

• Mission Beach, [3]. This beach is one of the calmest, easiest places to ocean swim in San Diego area. You can also go scuba diving (off the shore are several dive wrecks). Or you can bicycle or rollerblade along the boardwalk (several stores nearby rent equipment).

• Belmont Park, 3146 Mission Blvd, +1 858 228-9283, [4]. Open April-December, hours vary by season and day of week; typically 11AM-8PM. An amusement park located near the southern end of Mission Beach, Belmont Park has a number of shops, restaurants, an arcade, and a bunch of rides including pendulum rides, a drop tower, bumper cars, a carousel, and the Giant Dipper [5], a historic roller coaster that was one of the few original waterfront coasters still in operation. Also at Belmont Park is The Plunge, a historic indoor swimming pool that continues to be one of the city's largest. General admission free, ride tickets $1 each (rides take anywhere from 2-6 tickets each).

• Mission Bay Park, [6]. Encompassing the entirety of Mission Bay, offering opprotunities for sailing, boating, swimming, jet ski, and other water sports. You can also take advantage of the park space surrounding the bay for walking, bicycling, picnicking, etc.

• Mission Bay Aquatic Center, 1001 Santa Clara Pl., +1 858 488-1000 (fax: +1 858 488-9625), [7]. The aquatic center rents catamarans and other watercraft, as do several other franchises around the bay. Instructional lessons are available. Be aware that the western half of the bay is "sail only" (powerboats 5 mph no wake) during the daytime.

• The area's annual fireworks show on the 4th of July is well-known.

• The yearly Over The Line Tournament is over-the-line in more ways than one. OTL is a locally-invented sport with three-player teams using softballs, known for its rowdyness.

[edit] Buy

[edit] Eat

• Bare Back Grill, 4640 Mission Blvd., ☎ (858) 274-7117, [8]. Enjoy burgers made with organic New Zealand beef.

• Mission Cafe & Coffee House, 3795 Mission Blvd, +1 858 488-9060.

[edit] Drink

• Liar's Club, 3844 Mission Blvd (one block east of the boardwalk), +1 858 488-2340, [9]. In 2006, the Liar's Club was featured in the Beer Advocate's Top 50 Places to have a beer in America.

[edit] Sleep

• Bahia Resort Hotel, 998 West Mission Bay Drive, +1 858 488-0551, [10].
• Catamaran Resort Hotel, 3999 Mission Blvd, +1 858 539-8720, [11].
• Dana On Mission Bay, 1710 W Mission Bay Drive, +1 619 222-6440, [12].
• Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, 1441 Quivira Road, +1 619 224-1234 (fax: +1 619 224-0348), [13].
• Paradise Point Resort & Spa, 1404 Vacation Road (on Vacation Island), +1 858 274-4630, [14].

Vacation rentals:

• San Diego Vacation Rentals, 3701 Ocean Front Walk, +1 800 222-8281 (fax: +1 858 488-2604), [15].
• Beach and Bayside Vacations, 2757 Mission Blvd, +1 858 488-8827, [16].

[edit] Contact

[edit] Get out

• Pacific Beach is just to the north.
• Ocean Beach is south of Mission Beach, across the dry San Diego River.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!