Goin' 'Round the Velodrome

The San Diego Velodrome has been this crazy enigma for me for some time now. I've heard tales of where it is, though I had never previously caught a glimpse of it. So with a friend coming to visit, I thought I'd hunt this mysterious beast down. The beauty of it is that it is completely free. Free parking, free to sit on the outdoor bleachers and watch and you're allowed to bring in your own food and drink. We showed up at 6:30 p.m., when I heard the signing up and practicing before the actual races began. As time went on, more people showed up but the bleachers still remained fairly sparse. The track is pretty terrifying, sloping down at a crazy angle. The races were fast and fun to watch, and during practice time the ringleader rode a motorcycle, clipping the cyclists' heels in a motivational, "go faster" type exercise. The track is located at 2221 Morley Field Dr. It's a small driveway, surrounded by San Diego County vehicles and a tiny sign that says "Velodrome" with an arrow. Just keep driving straight until you see a park. Leave your car there and head for the giant flood lights.

The Joys of Loitering in Seaport Village

Seaport Village is a classic tourist spot in San Diego. It's on the brink of downtown, has the water, a million photo op spots, and lots of gift shopping. Not to mention the fabulous carousel. This all means that of course, Seaport Village is really expensive.

One of the great things about San Diego is how much beautiful land there is. As long as you can get yourself somewhere--which is admittedly difficult sometimes--wandering around is always free. I think the most money I've ever spent at Seaport Village is the cost of an over-priced Ben & Jerry's ice cream cone. And that was only to get my parking ticket validated. Parking is of course a necessary evil and you will have to either find some amazing un-metered parking nearby or try and park in the lot. Downtown parking is always so frustrating.

Once you're there though, it's beautiful and peaceful, and there are always interesting people to watch. You can always count on any number of crazy performers to be lined up along the waterfront, peddling their talent, hoping for some spare change. The last couple of times that I found myself down there, there was a man standing just over the wall separating the little boardwalk from the water, making rock piles. No joke, he was squatting down, hopping around on the rocks in the bay, making very oddly balanced, crazy looking rock piles. It took some real talent and was fantastic to watch.

There are also always old men playing pianos, heavy on the synthesized drum beats, and various flutes, violins, and guitars. I could honestly sit on a bench facing the water, watching and listening to all of them for hours. Especially if I have someone to giggle with.

The best part of Seaport Village though I think, is the view from The Hyatt. You walk across the parking lot, and enter The Hyatt Hotel through the side doors. From there you walk down a shopping mall-type hallway to the elevators and go to the top floor. There you will find a bar and a viewing deck. You can see out over the water, all of Seaport Village, and most of downtown. The view is amazing.

One of my favorite, adorable bookstores is in Seaport Village too. The Upstart Crow is small, but not cramped and uncomfortable. It has two floors, with the upper being only children's books. It also has a little cafe section where you can buy coffee, browse, and then sit outside. It's the epitome of that corner bookstore where you don't feel lost and confused. In short, a great way to round out the day, and you don't even have to buy anything. Just browse and loiter, poke around, and not get told to leave. It truly is a very satisfying use of time.