Welcome to Sunny San Diego!

The following content is designed to help you have a pleasant visit to San Diego including Ingress and Non Ingress related information.

Ingress Info:

Clusters

Looking for good clusters to visit and get your unique portal hacks? Check out the cluster map for places to go.

 

Missions

Want to do some Missions? We have several mosaic / mural / series  and hundreds of other missions in San Diego. Check out our missions map for details.   (  San Diego Mural List  )

Top 20 list

Only have a small amount of time to ingress? Visit the top 20 list of clusters for you best bang for your buck.

  • San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park - Balboa is a great walking park that covers over 100 portals and is connected to the world famous San Diego Zoo which has another 75+ portals. ** SD ZOO REQUIRES ADMISSION $50 Adult $40 Child (Ages 3-11)** Map It!
  • Grape Day Park and Grand Ave , Escondido - Grape Day park and the surrounding area ( mainly Grand Ave ) have more then 100 portals in a short walking area. Its about half an hour north of DT San Diego just off of I-15.  Enjoy a quick stroll and catch a bite to eat.  Map It!
  • Chicano Park - Located under the east side of the famous Coronado Bridge, this neighbor hood park is home to over 80 portals and the best collection of street art that San Diego has to offer.  Go during the day so you can see the art and because it can get a little weird down there after dark.  Map It!
  • San Diego State University - 
  • Cat Alley, El Cajon -  It is an alley in El Cajon (15 mins east of SD on I-8) that is almost nothing but Cat Murals.  Don't let fact that it is an alley scare you though as it is right next to the local police station and is perfectly safe.  Stick around for a drink or a taco at Por Favor.  See if you can find the RES key on the sidewalk on Rea.  This was one of Joe Philley's favorite places in San Diego.   Map It!
  • San Diego Safari Park - This is an extension of the San Diego Zoo.  Located about 10 mins inland from Grape Day Park (See Above), it is a much larger facility that allows the animal to run free in much larger enclosures. ** REQUIRES ADMISSION $50 Adult $40 Child (Ages 3-11) Parking $10 ** Map It!
  • Hotel Del Coronado and Orange Ave - This historic beach front hotel is an Icon of San Diego.  Built in 1888, it is the second largest wooden structure in the world and has been hosted by Presidents, Royalty, and Celebrities.  The road leading to it (Orange Ave) has 60+ portals on it and one block in either direction.  Map It! 
  • La Jolla Cove and Wall Street - The original SD Cluster.  Over 80 portals in a small cluster.  You can drive most of it in just a few minutes.  If you decide to get out an walk though you may want to check out the La Jolla Cove and see the sea lions that have made it their home.  (Its pronouced "La Hoya")    Map It!
  • Imperial Beach Loop and Veterans Park - Its a 19 min loop in the most south westerly city in the lower 48.  Couple of hundred portals from the car if you follow these directions.  Also make sure to stop and visit the Veterans Park for another 20.
  • SeaWorld - This world famous marine park is located just a few minutes from Downtown SD.  There are over 70 portals as part of the park.  **REQUIRES ADMISSION $69+ per person over age 3, parking at the park runs $16, but there are buses that run to the park also. ** Map It!
  • Cabrillo National Monument - Located at the southern tip of Point Loma; this National Monument celebrates the legacy of the early Spanish Explorers who first sailed into SD Bay and the brave settlers who founded the city.  The old SD Light house is located in the park as well as artillery placements and scout bunkers that were placed during WWII to protect the city.  The views from the park are amazing as it gives you the best views of the city an the entire bay.  Try to go at low tide and check out the tidal pools on the Pacific Ocean side of the park before they close that area at 4:30 pm.    ** REQUIRES ADMISSION $5 per car and closes at 5pm **   Map It!
  • University of California San Diego - Located just north of SD off of I5 near La Jolla.  The parking is horrible (Free on the weekends) but the portal density is worth it.  Over 200 portals on the campus including a statue of a life size Dr. Seuss working at his desk with The Cat in the Hat standing behind him.  The Geisel Library on campus is named after Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss).  Parking can be found on the north side of the campus and on the south side.
  • Mt Soledad - This is one of the highest points in San Diego and you can drive right up to the top of it.  The park at the summit is a military memorial with about 20 portals.  But the views are what are the real draw.  Map It!
  • Liberty Station - This former Naval Training Center (NTCSD) has been converted into a commercial district and promenade.  One part shopping center and one part memorial to the thousands of sailors who trained here.  Make sure to stop by Slaters 50/50 if you are feeling hungry especially if you like Bacon.  Just go to the big flagpole and open your scanner.  You'll find the portals.  Map It!
  • Old Town - Over 80 portal are in this Historic State Park located just off the Green Line on the Trolley System.  This is where the original settlement of San Diego was built because it was just above the flood plain of the near by fresh water source (the San Diego River) and near a bluff that was a defense-able location for the Spanish Settlers.  The first flag raising of the US Flag took place here in 1850 before the main settlement moved to its current location on San Diego bay 10 years later as shipping became more important for the local economy.     Map It!
  • Ocean Beach - Almost 100 portals are packed into this some what famous beach town.  Most of them located down Newport Ave or near the Dog Beach (Its what they are really famous for) at the mouth of the San Diego River.  One part hippy and one part surfer.  Map It!
  • The Missions - This is the original mission in San Diego and was the first mission to be built in the Claifornias by the Spanish in 1769.  It is still a functioning church and a museum.  A small donation is required to visit the site.  Map It!
  • La Mesa Village - 50 portals in the downtown "Village" area of La Mesa and its almost completely drivable.  Or if you are without a car you can take the trolley to the La Mesa Blvd Station on the Orange Line.  If you are on foot then stop by Hoffer's Cigar bar on La Mesa Blvd to say hi and to see if you can find the hidden RES key that is hanging somewhere inside.  Map It!
  • 30th and Uni - This cluster around this major intersection has about 80 portals in the immediate area.  You can drive to all of them but its worth getting out and walking to see the unique artwork and to try some of the local food/beer offerings.  Map It!
  • Ingress Bus Route:
    • Uni - Adams loop from RES Hotel (200-400 portals)
      • Walk to Front and B streets then take the #7 bus to Fairmount Ave.  (55 Mins)
        • You can walk one block south and hit about 20 portals on Wightman St from Fairmount Ave.
      • Walk 3 blocks north to El Cajon Blvd and get on the #215 Bus for DownTown and get off at Broadway and Union St.  Hotel is 2 blocks away (36 Mins)
      • (Optional) for more portals you can get off of the #215 bus at Park Blvd and then transfer to the #11 north towards Adams Avenue and get off at Kensington Park.  There are alot of portals and you are going to come back this way so focus on one side of the street.  (12 Mins)
        • Walk the park for 8 portals and maybe stop for a bite to eat at Burger Lounge.  Then get back on the #11 bus headed to Downtown.  Focus on the side of the street that you didn't get last time while on Adams and Park.  This will take you back a slightly different way than you came once you get to University.  (41 Mins)

Non Ingress Info:

DownTown

Mexico

It can be an adventure going over the border, here are some great tips if you are planning on going on a 15 mile trip for a great burrito.  Going to Mexico can be a good experience if you know what to expect and depending on how you get there.

  • PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED! - Depending on how you cross over, no one may ask you for a passport going into mexico.  But coming back it is required.  Save yourself a lot of headache, stress, and time by making sure you have this with you before you cross over.
  • Medical Marijuana - It is not recognized by either the Mexican Government or the Customs & Border Patrol.  Leave it at home.
  • Weapons - Weapons are illegal in Mexico.  I don't even take a pocket knife down there.
  • SIM Cards - Telcel is the primary carrier that I recommend in Mexico.  However if you are close to the border you may still be able to get US service.  T-Mobile and GoogleFi work great in downtown TJ.  If you do need a sim card you can buy one at any OXXO store.  Its the Mexican version of a 7-Eleven.

Beaches!

San Diego is famous for its beaches.  However, be warned that the water can be a bit colder than the east coast.  How ever they are all free to go to.  Here is a break down of some of our more popular beaches.  They are in order from South to North (you'll understand why when you get to the bottom): 

Imperial Beach - A hidden gem and underrated beach town, populated with more residents over tourists.  It also shares a boarder with Tijuana Mexico.

Coronado - A very family friendly resort city with a large Navy Base, clean beaches, and panoramic views of DT San Diego and the mountains on the edge of town.

Ocean Beach - A strong community with a Hippie & Surfer vibe that has been untouched by Corporate America.  It has a lot of locally owned businesses and a world famous Dog Beach

Mission Beach - Centrally located and very family friendly.  Mission Beach has a boardwalk and mini theme park.  It is also located directly between the ocean and Mission Bay.

Pacific Beach - World Class surfing at Tourmaline, but its best known locally for the college kids who live here and a fully developed night life scene.

Blacks Beach - This beach is secluded below the bluffs at Torrey Pines and most famous for being a NUDE BEACH.  Naked 8 builds are allowed.  Any visit here should also include the Torrey Pines Gliderport where there are usually gliders in the area as long as there is a bit of a breeze.  

Weather

"The easiest job in the world, Weatherman in San Diego...  Tomorrow its going to be NICE" - Lewis Black

The average temperature in June for San Diego is 71 F (22 C) with an average of 1 rainy day in the month.  The annual average temperature for the city ranges between 65 F (18 C) and 76 F (25 C) although it can get much warmer than that at times with the record High for June being 101 F (38 C).  Because of its mild Mediterranean climate, it is easy for the locals to become spoiled by the consistent weather patterns.  It is important to note that these conditions are for the coastline and downtown areas.  By going just 15 miles (24 km) inland can cause a temperature increase of 20 F (11 C) once you cross over the hills on the east side of the city.

One thing which is unusual about the SD Weather patterns though is the summer marine layers.  We call it May Gray and June Gloom.  These days are marked by extended period of overcast days anywhere with in 10 miles of the coast line.  It may burn off a few hours only to return late in the afternoon.