Downtown has a lot of typical city stuff - it is the financial center of the area with a lot of tall buildings, restaurants, bars, and clubs. In general people go to downtown for fun when they want to go clubbing (there are some cool ones!) or go to a baseball game.
As for places to surf, Mission Beach would probably be your best bet. I haven't rented equipment there before, but I'm sure you won't have any problems if you go there. In Mission Beach there's a popular bar where bands play almost nightly - it's called Canes. There is also an informal restaurant upstairs where you can get food/drinks overlooking the beach. Anyway, almost next door and in the same parking lot, there is a surf shop - I'm sure you can rent equipment there.
- Sea World
Cool to see if you've never been there - maybe budget a half day… - Mission Beach area has nice beaches
See above… it also has a nice area to walk by the beach - Just north of that is Pacific Beach, which is basically the party neighborhood. About 15 min drive from Sheraton
Yes, PB is where all of the 20 somethings party. It is well known in the SD area as the party town. You can have a good time pretty much any night of the week. If you go on a weekend night, expect some lines… PB Bar and Grill is probably the most popular place, so it would be good to get a feel for what the area is like. Moondoggies is more mellow and good for early drinks… - North of that is La Jolla, which is a really really nice area that is super pretty, if you have a car might be worth driving around. Good shopping too apparently.
La Jolla is a ritzy town, where all of the rich people who want to live near the beach live. Parts of it are really pretty, so it might be worth a drive. The very north end (La Jolla Village Drive) is where UCSD is - it's pretty and Scripps, which is right there, has the nicest beach. Just south of there, around Prospect St is where most of the shopping is. It is also a pretty area… - I think he said Sunset Cliffs is nice for beaches
Sunset Cliffs doesn't have great "beaches", but it does have beautiful landscapes. Basically it's where small cliffs meet the ocean. If the swell is big, there will be a lot of surfers near the cliffs. Definitely worth the drive to check the area out. - The harbor is pretty to walk around as well, downtown, actually near the Westin. Marina Park and stuff.
Yup, that's about right - near the civic center/ball park is also nice. See above for more about downtown. - Old Town San Diego is right on the other side of the airport from the Sheraton, and he hasn’t been there much, but is supposed to have amazing Mexican food.
That's right too. Old Town is just south of where the 5 and 8 freeways intersect. - Drive 15 miles south and you are in Tijuana
Be sure to bring your passport if you decide to go! And be really safe if you decide to go! Tijuana is pretty dirty. I never hung out in Tijuana. Ensenada or even Rosarito are nicer than Tijuana.
One more thing - if you want to drive north of La Jolla, the beach towns north of there, including Solana Beach, Cardiff, and Encinitas are really cool and quaint.
