Good places in San Diego

[Iggy]

I've spent about a month and a half down here, and am liking it more all the time. Spent some time here last winter too. I drive the typical white Ford cargo van and practice stealth parking techniques to lessen my chances of being bothered by police, nearby residents, or criminals. I know some of you say stealth is unnecessary but it eases my mind to do it.
I like the Poway area. It's ritzy, has great hiking at the reservoir, has an Anytime Fitness for showers, and I found a couple great places to overnight.
Imperial Beach is upscale too and easy to find parking near the beach during the week. No other vandwellers there or much for homeless folk either. Best to be quite discrete, the people and police don't want freeloaders in their neighborhood. But seems friendly otherwise.
San Ysidero , by the border, has plenty of places to park next to motels and apartments. But it is more of a poor area, so crime is something to be aware of. I had no problems and like it there. It's real handy if you are going to Tijuana for the day. But I wouldn't leave my van unattended in some spots. I park at a paid parking lot when walking across the border. $7 is worth the peace of mind.
My favorite area of San Diego is Ocean Beach. It's grungy, lots of homeless, and crowded. But it is a laid back neighborhood with many people living in their vehicles openly. The police don't ticket you for overnight camping, even if you are driving a filthy old motorhome or sleeping in the back of your pickup. Parking can be difficult to find at times, especially weekends or late in the evenings. I find it easiest to park in the streets next to Dog Beach Park and just stay put for several days. I can walk everywhere that I want to go.
The Episcopal Church has free showers and suppers on Wednesdays. Several other churches have free meals too if you are in need. They have food pantries too.
I love the weather here! I'm making friends. My expenses are minimal. And it's on the beach. As long as the Big Quake doesn't hit, this is paradise to me!

 

[Bdog1]

Sounds like a wide variety. Something for everyone.

Be safe.

 

[ttpadilla]

I'm going to be down that way in a few weeks, so thanks for the tips!

 

[corky52]

I lived in San Diego for many years and I'm back there right now, renting space on a ranch out in east county.

Don't miss the Zoo and Balboa Park while you're there.


Corky

 

[Iggy]

I've been to both. That zoo is some major exercise! All those hills to walk up and down. But worth it. I love Balboa Park, especially the botanical gardens. Nice that the parking is free and many of the things to see are free also.
But hanging at the beach is my favorite thing to do. I never get bored there. Each wave is different and just people watching is worth the time. I'll be back again next winter. I gotta head back to Oregon soon for work reasons.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

thanks for the positive feedback, glad you are enjoying yourself, I enjoyed San Diego when I was there, a few years back now, the weather was always great, people were nice, so nice they invited me for dinner and film night, then to their camp up some mountain, they wanted me to stay longer but I got tired of hearing about Rev. Moon so I left.

 

[TMG51]

I just landed in San Diego an hour ago. I'll be feeling out the parking situation since my rig is not at all stealthy.

Iggy, from your recommendation towards the end I take it you're talking about "Coronado Dog Beach"? I'll head that way and check it out. Good meeting you at RTR.

Pictures are of the bay right now.

 

[Fivealive]

If you want to be bold you can join the 20-30 vehicle dwellers who stay on far west beach on fiesta island every night.  Technically the island closes at 10 but there is no enforcement at all.  You get to park on the sand right next to the water, they have fire pits, plenty of trash cans and porta potys.  This has been my goto for the past 3 weeks. The cops do sweep right before events though.  I was there one night and I guess a bike event of some sort was happening so in the morning the cop went around on a loudspeaker telling everyone to leave.  Ever since I kept an eye on the event calendar. My backup for when they habe an event is the old road by the river in front of SeaWorld.  There are 

3-4 regular dwellers that are on that street every night.  I never had a problem there however I did notice that the regulars come and go a lot so I did the same.  Some huge rv from Texas came and parked for about a week straight on that road and he eventually got a parking ticket.  I was parked right behind him and I did not got a ticket so I do think they keep some sort of tabs on how long ppl are staying put.  Some city's have a 72hr rule not sure if that's what got him or not.

 

[TMG51]

Dang, it really has been two months today since I arrived in SD! Never expected to stay half this long but I've found the area very accommodating. If anyone is interested I can enumerate some of the choice parking I've found in my stay.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Sounds like we short changed ourselves last fall by not looking around SD more. Would like to make some notes for a future visit. Anything you'd like to share is appreciated.

 

[skyl4rk]

We stayed on Shelter Island a few nights, along with a dozen or so RVs and vans. https://www.google.com/maps/place/S...m2!3m1!1s0x80d9530fad921e4b:0xd3a21fdfd15df79

We found the free RV dump here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/S...m2!3m1!1s0x80d9530fad921e4b:0xd3a21fdfd15df79

Where can you fill a water tank? I had a difficult time finding a free water hose. I was quoted $25 for an RV dump and water fill at an RV park.

 

[VanGrrl57]

Dang, it really has been two months today since I arrived in SD! Never expected to stay half this long but I've found the area very accommodating. If anyone is interested I can enumerate some of the choice parking I've found in my stay.

SIGH!

I'm tired!

I edited this because I realized TMG51 meant San Diego and not South Dakota where I am. Please excuse this post.

VanGrrl57

 

[INTJohn]

I've hung out in San Diego off & on 4 along time in the winter months. This year I haven't been there anywhere near as much because the weather has been really crappy by the ocean (tho I was there this past week on tooz thru thurz b4 the storm hit fri & will prally b there nex week sumtyme). When there I hang almost entirely at PB or OB but also some at Mission Beach too and kayak a lot on mission Bay.

In fact any of you vandwellers on this site that have hung out at the beaches during winter months especially in OB probably would recognize me as practically everyone thats been a regular 'beech peep' there over the years knows me as one of the winter beech peep old school 'natives'. haha

The beech parks there have no parking from I think 2am till 4 or 5 am so if you're vandwellin you basically can hang there 22 hours out of every 24. (Belmont Park lot in Mission Beach is closed 3am to 4 am so you've got 23 hours of free time there.) I used to skee daddle from the lots around midnite or so and show back no later than 9ish. On the weekends you'll want to get back there even earlier because everyone takes their dog to dog beach and the place is packed by 10 or 10:30 am saturday- can be a tuff place to park.

Another little secret not to many know about: the Ocean Beach fishing pier lot which is the lot on the ocean right on Newport in front of South Beach Bar & Grill; its kool to park there 24 hours IF you're on the pier fishin AHHND you don't need a license to fish from that pier.  

Now when I'm in OB and am hangin; I'm usually sippin gin out of my 'coffee mug' and then I hit the bars real good so by 1 am or so I might have a pretty good glow goin - wit me? n I'm nah goin 2 d & d -wit me?  not even a few blox for a hiding spot.

I go back to the truck and haul out my designated fishin pail; chair & my back pack (With sleepin bag) & a fishin pole & up the stairs the kid goes & out on the pier to do my very early morning fishin.......... I klamp the pole to the rail - klimb in my mummybag if chilly and 'fish' till
Whenever I decide the fish aint biting and as long as its after 4 am go back to the truck and move back over to the main lot and get a real nod to await another beautiful day stranded on the beach in OB........

ain't sayin baybee, I'm jez sayin...................INTJohn

 

[INTJohn]

http://sdfish.com/san-diego-fishing-piers/ocean-beach-pier/

Here's the link...............INTjohn

 

[TMG51]

In fact any of you vandwellers on this site that have hung out at the beaches during winter months especially in OB probably would recognize me

I've spent time hanging around those areas in San Diego in the winter, especially PB. Have a picture of your van to share?

 

[INTJohn]

Kool.......
For years I had my navy blue 96 Burb which still have but its not worth putting any more $$ into it so I leave it at a friends back in Michigan. I have '15 ford white f-250 pik up now but when at the beach I'll still be sitting on top of it or wandering around enjoying the view & Life!

Basically this only now a white ford 250 pik up:

 

[INTJohn]

I've spent time hanging around those areas in San Diego in the winter, especially PB. Have a picture of your van to share?

When I'm hangn at PB I got me a spot thatz  preemo; and you know there's not any room at all to park right on the beach. So my parkin spot is about a mile n ahalf inland off PB Dr. Then I walk to the beach n spend all day there; 
have a breakfast burrito at Shore Club; meander down the Ocean Front Walkway the 3miles south to the Mission Beach jetty n back. Getta lil excersize; enjoy the sun & waves; bikinins & surfer dudes; usually have a chat someplace along the way with Slomo (him n me r both good friends & both named John ); meander my way back; take a nap; chill bro........  

Then at some point it hits gin o'clock and I drink my way back to the bed on wheelz. If its the weekend I hit the Clubs : Shore Club, Backyard Kitchen, Tavern, etc....... I love chillin & partyin with the college & University crowd & have great conversations about philosophy, Life, their visions & goals, etc; you know "The World" according to who ever girls & guyz Im jawin with........

I usually get: "Ur the koolest old dude we've ever met - what do we gotta do to be like you when we're your age?" 
My general  response: "Your working on your degrees livin & patyin at PB!! just keep doing it & don't ever stop - you're already 35 years ahead of me...........

Az I C it, bro.................INTJohn

 

[INTJohn]

Link to Slomo - good friend & is what PB & OB is all about:


its 16 minutes long so pour a drink........

INTJohn

 

[TMG51]

When I'm hangn at PB I got me a spot thatz  preemo; and you know there's not any room at all to park right on the beach.

Huh?? You can park at surfer's beach in PB. Right on the water. I have a post on the forums here that detail that location among others in San Diego. Of course there are a couple hours it's illegal to park there (2-4 AM I think) but you know the deal there.

 

[INTJohn]

Huh?? You can park at surfer's beach in PB. Right on the water. I have a post on the forums here that detail that location among others in San Diego. Of course there are a couple hours it's illegal to park there (2-4 AM I think) but you know the deal there.

Yeah I know; but there isn't much room there not like the big lots in OB or at Mission Beach even at Tourmaline - it isn't as big as the lots at MB or OB. When I'm at PB tho I'm usually there to jaw & party and walk/wander around so I park at my spot inland and stroll all day. sometimes too I thro the kayak in from fiesta island, leave the truck parked there all night and paddle out to ski island - that little piece of dirt in the NE part of the bay & I sleep there all night. Make sure the wind isn't going to come up at night tho if its high tide cause it might spray over the top. Happened to me once & I thought my yak was going to wash/blow away on me.

'No Man is an Island' - right?? haha Middle of San Diego hah n I've had that entire little speck of dirt all to myself. it fuking rox!

INTJohn