You can go on-line and you can go the mall or a shop (tho it’s hard to keep up with the changing COVID-19 rules) to do your holiday shopping.
There are cool gadgets and other really neat things for sale but I like to be unique in my gift giving. And since we live in such an awesome city with so many cool things to see and do, I put together this gift guide specific to San Diego.
So with that in mind here is PubClub.com’s San Diego Holiday Gift Guide, cool gifts unique to America’s Greatest City.
Go Sailing On An America’s Cup Yacht
San Diego is well known around the world as being a top place for sailing. And the cool thing is you don’t need to have your own boat to get on the water. Just rent one for the day or, better yet, get on a chartered sailboat.
And while there are several charter companies here, only one is aboard a boat that was actually in the America’s Cup. Sail USA 11 does three-hour cruises on San Diego Bay that goes under the Coronado Bridge, right up under the bow of the USS Midway, along Portside Pier and by the U.S. Navy’s dolphin training facility.
You just sit back and enjoy the view and experience while the crew does all the work or you can jump in and crank the rails to trim the sails or even get behind the wheel and be the captain. The boat is the 1992 America’s Cup Italian entry IL Moro.
This is truly a unique San Diego experience.
Price: $125 per person, full charter $1,500 for up to eight guests, corporate outings $1,800 for up to 18 people. Parking at the Kona Kai Resort on Shelter Island is free.
Link: First-Person Experience Blog
Website: SailUSA11.com
Tickets To ComicCon
San Diego’s signature event, which was canceled in 2020, is scheduled for July 22-25, with a Preview Night on the 21st. This event is already on the bucket list of many in the city and beyond and obviously getting someone tickets would be a real thrill for the recipient.
If you’re planning to attend from out of town, a weekend package including a hotel room in the Gaslamp would be a very well-appreciated present.
Price: $69/day.
Website: www.comic-con.org
Tickets To The SD Bay Wine + Food Festival
Tickets are always in high demand for this multi-day celebration of food, wine, restaurants, dinners with chefs and pairings with food and wine/spirits. Especially for the signature Grand Tasing on the Embarcadero Don’t wait; jump on them early. I recommend signing up for its newsletter so you get a heads-up on when tickets go on sale, which you can do on its website (link below).
Price: There are several events, small and large at various prices, up to $135 for the Grand Tasting
Link: Wine & Food Festival Event Flashback
Website: San Diego Wine & Food Festival Website
San Diego Craft Beers
What could be more “San Diego” than craft beer? There are several high-quality breweries in the area and getting a beer-loving friend a 12-pack, a case of brews or combing a few from several breweries will put a big smile on their face. They may even invite you to join them, in which case you get to drink your own gift!
Price: Varies
Wine Tasting At Rancho Guejito Winery
Did you know there is a fantastic winery with sprawling grounds right here in San Diego? It’s Rancho Guejito Vineyard and it makes high-quality wines, which you can order by the case as an excellent local gift. It has gift cards and wooden gift boxes and its expansive property in Escondido is one of the last remaining Mexican land-grants of Old California. An on-site wine tasting experience – and hey, throw in a hayride! – is an excellent holiday gift.
Price: Gift cards are between $15-100 with gift boxes going for $15, $20 and $25.
Link: Rancho Guejito Virtual Happy Hour Wine Tasting
Website: Ranch Guejito Vineyard Website
Coronado Gondola Rides
The Gondola Company on Coronado gives 50-minute rides through the canals of the Coronado Cays.
Price: $119 for two people. Additional guests are $20 per person, up to six passengers per boat.
Website: www.gondolacompany.com
Professional Corporate Photos At REV Studio
The boss should get this gift for all his or her employees.
REV Studio is a premium, full-service video and photography studio in La Jolla Village. Among its services are professional corporate photos. Featuring a 25-foot infinity wall, an award-winning photographer, hair and makeup stations and state-of-the-art equipment, REV Studio will have you looking your best. After your photoshoot, celebrate with a walk down to the beach or lunch at one of the great restaurants of La Jolla. On the boss, of course.
Price: Special holiday rates starting at $125 for individuals (expires Dec. 31). Corporate rates available. Free street parking.
Website: revstudiosd.com
USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Tour
It’s kind of the Hollywood sign of downtown San Diego, but how many of you have actually been aboard the USS Midway?
Once the largest ship in the world, she served for 47 years, including in the Vietnam War (she was named after, but was not in, the famous WWII fight, the battle of Midway). She is now the USS Midway Museum and a tour gets you on deck with aircraft and inside the massive ship. Giving tickets a tour of the Midway is definitely an only-in-San Diego gift.
Price: $26 – Adult (ages 18-61). $22.– Senior (ages 62+). $10 – Veterans (w/ID) $18 – Student (ages 13-17 or w/College ID). $12 – Youth (ages 6-12)
Website: www.midway.org
San Diego Guided Tours
When one lives in a town where there is a lot of tourism, it is a natural reaction among locals to ignore the things tourists do, but sometimes it’s a good idea to follow their footsteps. That’s why taking one of the many tours is such a cool gift idea. How much do you really know about San Diego? You can see a lot and learn a few things and besides, it’s like giving away a vacation activity. I like Another Side Of San Diego Tours, which gives tours on Segways, a Segway/kayak combo tour, Balboa Park e-bike tours and more, all over the city. There’s even a Temecula winery tour.
Cost: $149 for the most popular Gaslamp Segway Tour
Website: anothersideofsandiegotours.com
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