I'll be in the area for summer break and will likely get one chance to visit a brewer out there. Should I hit Stone, Green Flash or Ballast Point?

I'm going there next month. I plan on visiting Alpine and Stone. I would suggest visiting one not on your list. Why not hit up a place that doesn't distribute here? Supposedly Alpine is IPA heaven.

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There is a regular poster and drinker that went to school out there but I can't remember who it was.
They should be along shortly.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

UMN

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2018
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I thought that is who it was.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Ya, it was I who used to live out there and hit up all the breweries as much as possible.

Are you trying to go for a Brewery Tour or just going to the brewpub to drink some of the finest beer in all the land?

What kind of time frame and travel options are you working with? Some of these places are in "San Diego" county and thus really far north. If you are in say downtown SD then it takes an hour to get to Stone's corporate theme park up in Vista.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Only person every to go away to clown college.

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My friend that lives in SD said that you cant go wrong doing the tour at any of the three you listed. But Like UMN said, the actual Stone brewery is a drive. He said they also have a brewery bus tour that hits multiple locations through the day.

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So meant spring break - leaving Thursday for it.

We'll be starting up north in Orange County/Huntington Beach fr 3 nights and driving down via the PCH towards San Diego. Staying in Mission Bay but could certainly stop along the way.

I figure since I am there with kids - I can probably either get dinner at a brewpub with them or do a tour but can't just walk into a tap room and drink. The corporate theme park worth a trip? The tour interesting?

I recommended this place to someone else here and i think they really enjoyed it. I would stop at Pizza Port Solana Beach or Carlsbad. These are the 2 original locations even though they have added a few new ones. They make Port Brewing beers that you may have seen around recently. Its a really good place for the entire family to go to. It feels like a beach themed pizza place that also has amazing beer. I want to say they are both on the PCH or a block off of it. They have excellent pizza and a great house and guest tap list. It does not feel like you are at a bar or brew pub.



Ballast point is going to be a tap room with an edgier crowd from what I remember. The stone thing is way over the top IMO but I had also been around when there were smaller so I was able to watch them grow and then distance myself. I think the Bistro/Brewery is more about telling everyone how awesome Stone is than anything. I have no idea where Green Flash is as they were just a small brewery then that kinda sucked and didnt get good until they were sold and got a new brewer (I want to say a pizza port guy took over).

Anyways...here is the Pizza Port info. The Solana Beach location is on the 101 highway. Carlsbad is a few blocks off. http://www.pizzaport.com/

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Has anyone been here? Plan on skipping the SD Zoo, as I've heard the Safari is a much better experience. Just debating which package to buy.

http://www.sdzsafaripark.org/

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I've been there but I feel like they have changed it since I was there. It was the wild animal park then. It was really cool and not as hectic and crowded as the Zoo. I just walked around and looked at stuff though. It looks like they have completely tried to rebrand it with these safari packages.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

So is it all worthwhile to go with just the admission? Or are you basically forced to buy a safari package if you want to see anything?

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I don't even know if the safari stuff was available then. From what I remember the animals had tons and tons of open space to do their thing and you saw them based on whatever they happened to be up to at the moment. The tigers were up by the viewing area interacting with the people and having a good time. Some of the other animals were a football field away chilling. I am assuming the package will ensure you see the animals you want to see as they will take you out on the trails to wherever they are.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

We did Sea World this last trip and it was great - the only show that was busy was the dolphin show. The other shows we walked in, got good seats and had no trouble with crowds. My son and I did the manta ride probably 5 or 6 times in a row. They had Stone on tap in the bar. They were running buy 1 get 1 half off tickets too.

Sea World is legit. I had a season pass there. Its conveniently located and not overly crowded and lots of stuff to do and see. 1 drawback to the Safari Animal place is that its in the siberia of north san diego county. You are damn near up at Top Gun Mirimar.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Maybe I can find a pick-up beach volleyball game with some shirtless, hairless hunks then.

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Hit up Lefty's with the kids for dinner. Tell them I sent you. They probably won't spit in your food.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

On your way to the airport, give yourself time to eat at Perry's Cafe. Total greasy spoon but really good breakfast and relatively cheap.