San Diego/North

By car

Interstate 5 and Interstate 15 are the main north-south interstates through the area, with I-5 marking the western boundary of the area and I-15 running through the central and eastern parts of the area. Additionally, SR-163 and I-805 connect the area to the south, with SR-163 continuing through Mission Valley to Downtown and I-805 heading through Mission Valley and the Mid-City area down to I-5 near the US-Mexico border. SR-52 is a main east-west highway, running from near La Jolla past Clairemont and Kearny Mesa out to Santee. Further north, SR-56 runs between I-5 near Del Mar and I-15 near Poway.

By bus

The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) runs buses throughout San Diego, but bus service in these parts is often infrequent. The North County Transit District (NCTD) operates bus routes through northern San Diego County and a couple of those routes serve parts of North San Diego, including Flex Routes 371 and 372 which connect the San Pasqual Valley and the Safari Park to the transit center in Escondido, where you can transfer to the Sprinter rail service to Oceanside or express bus service to Downtown San Diego, although Flex service is infrequent.

By train

Sorrento Valley is a stop on the Coaster, a regional rail line that runs along the coast between Downtown San Diego and Oceanside, as well as limited Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service (3 trains northbound, 3 trains southbound daily). From there, a number of shuttle routes connect the station to the immediate area.

By plane

• Montgomery-Gibbs Executive AirportGeneral aviation

• San Diego Zoo Safari Park

  phone: +1 760-747-8702
  address: 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd
  Sister park to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, the Safari Park is a massive (1,800 acres) zoo with large, naturalistic free-range enclosures containing animals from all over the world. Highlights include the huge Africa area, the California Condor exhibit, and a tram ride which takes you past some of the large free-range areas (extra admission required).

• San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park

  phone: +1 760-737-2201
  address: 15808 San Pasqual Valley Rd
  On December 6, 1846, one of the bloodiest battles of the Mexican-American war took place here. The visitor center on-site has displays on the history of the site.

• Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve

  phone: +1 858-484-7504
  address: Visitor Center, 12020 Black Mountain Rd
  A large park stretching several miles between the I-5/I-805 intersection and I-15, just south and roughly parallel to SR-56. There is much beautiful scenery which can be explored via the system of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. The park also contains a few historical landmarks, including the Rancho de los Penasquitos, one of the oldest surviving homes in the region, dating back to 1823. Tours of the house are available every Saturday at 11AM.

• Marian Bear Memorial Park

  phone: +1 619-525-8213
  address: 5544 Regents Rd
  It's in the San Clemente Canyon along SR-52 from I-5 to I-805. This large park contains some very scenic trails.

• Mission Trails Regional Park

  phone: +1 619-668-3281
  address: Visitor Center, One Father Junipero Serra Trail
  This massive park along the San Diego River between San Diego and Santee is a hidden jewel among the city's park system. Consisting mostly of rugged, hilly scrubland, Mission Trails offers an excellent diversion from the hustle and bustle of the city. Numerous trails criss cross through the park, and there's an excellent visitor center with exhibits on the flora, fauna, and the human history in the area. You can also see the Old Mission Dam, which once provided water to the original mission community of San Diego just to the west in Mission Valley. Cowles Mountain, the tallest point in the city (1,591 feet above sea level), offers a lovely view of the surrounding area clear out to the ocean and is popular with runners and hikers, with several challenging trails ranging from three to five miles (round trip) featuring steep climbs, wooden steps, and rock crossings. Mission Gorge is one of the most popular rock climbing spots in the area, with over 150 routes from 5.0 to 5.12 grades, and suitable for the novice and the experienced climber. In the summers the gorge can be extremely hot in the direct sun, but the crag stays cool and shaded in the until around noon or 1PM. The rest of the year you can climb all day. Also within the park is Lake Murray Reservoir, which is open to boating and fishing.

• San Diego Ice Arena

  phone: +1 858-530-1826
  address: 11048 Ice Skate Pl

• Tecolote Canyon Natural Park

  phone: +1 858-581-9944
  address: Visitor Center, 5180 Tecolote Rd
  Tecolote Canyon is a narrow coastal valley in the neighborhood of Clairemont which offers miles of trails open to hiking and biking. The visitor center at the mouth of the canyon offers exhibits on the flora and fauna found in the park.

• Vertical Hold

  phone: +1 858-586-7572
  address: 9580 Distribution Ave
  The largest full service indoor climbing gym in the San Diego area.

• 99 Ranch Market

  phone: +1 858-565-7799
  address: 7330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
  A mostly California chain of Asian supermarkets. Here you can come face to face with your dinner - live! The entire back wall of this full-size supermarket is the fish department - and many of them are still swimming. This is such a special and unique market that a local cooking school offers group tours.

• Karl Strauss Brewery Gardens

  phone: +1 858-587-2739
  address: 9675 Scranton Rd
  Hidden behind the trees in the San Diego Tech Center, Karl Strauss Brewery Gardens feels more like a high-end sushi place than a brewery/restaurant complete with a koi pond. Lots of outdoor seating. Gets very crowded during the week for lunch & dinner. They serve their own beers on tap and have an extensive menu.

• Chorus Karaoke Bar and Cafe

  phone: +1 858-576-0700
  address: 4428 Convoy St. Ste. 290
  Korean food and a great place for karaoke.

• K Sandwiches

  phone: +1 858-278-8961
  address: 7604 Linda Vista Rd
  A local favorite, with incredibly good, cheap, and authentic banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches).

• Pearl Chinese Seafood

  phone: +1 858-487-3388
  address: 11666 Avena Pl
  Good Cantonese (Chinese) dim sum with a good view of Webb Park.

• Rosa's Pizza

  phone: +1 858-278-1222
  address: 3860 Convoy St.
  Large pizza with cheese & 1-topping (special) $9.99. $1 internet delivery special.

A surprise find is Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa, home to dozens of excellent Asian restaurants that cater primarily to the lunch crowd from the surrounding commercial areas. Having a job in the Kearny Mesa area can be a joy just for the ability to eat oneself from one end of Convoy to the other, and not hit the same spot twice in a month.

• Green Flash Brewery

  phone: +1 858-622-0085
  address: 6550 Mira Mesa Blvd
  One of San Diego's many microbreweries that has a tasting room that lets you sample their beers. Food isn't sold here, but there are usually food trucks.

• O'Brien's

  phone: +1 858-715-1745
  address: 4646 Convoy St
  This place has a great low-key friendly atmosphere. There is outdoor seating and a wonderful selection of Belgian local microbrews, with an extra emphasis on hoppy brews. They have a surprisingly good bar food as well.

• The WineSellar & Brasserie

  phone: +1 858-450-9557
  address: 9550 Waples St

• Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Sorrento Mesa/La Jolla

  phone: +1 858-558-9600
  address: 9650 Scranton Rd
  New state-of-the-art hotel with fresh, healthy food options and Starbucks coffee. Complimentary WiFi.

• Doubletree Golf Resort San Diego

  phone: +1 858 672-9100
  address: 14455 Penasquitos Dr

• Four Points by Sheraton San Diego

  phone: +1 858-277-8888
  address: 8110 Aero Dr

• Hampton Inn San Diego

  phone: +1 858-292-1482
  address: 5434 Kearny Mesa Rd

• Hampton Inn and Suites San Diego - Poway

  phone: +1 8586391-1222
  address: 14068 Stowe Drive, Poway
  Free hot breakfast and internet.

• Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Del Mar

  phone: +1 858-720-9500
  address: 3939 Ocean Bluff Ave

• Hilton Garden Inn Rancho Bernardo

  phone: +1 858-676-1660
  address: 17240 Bernardo Center Dr.

• Homewood Suites San Diego Del Mar

  phone: +1 858-523-0500
  address: 11025 Vista Sorrento Parkway
  Don't be fooled by the name. This hotel is not in Del Mar, but in the neighborhood of Sorrento Valley. The location is more convenient to points south of the I-5/I-805 merge.

• Rancho Valencia Resort

  address: 5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe
  Luxury resort, featuring a spa, tennis and golf, with 49 suites.

Most people in this area of San Diego use the area code 858, with some using 760 and 619. The area code must be dialed with the phone number in all areas.
AT&T and Verizon are the two main providers, but some use Sprint and Cricket.
Many Wi-Fi hotspots are available in coffeeshops.