Best Weekend Getaway: San Diego

Although most months out of the year, Yuma is a great place to live weather-wise, being so close to San Diego makes it a tempting oasis during the blazing summer months.

With the San Diego Zoo, the beaches and a hip downtown scene so close, it's no wonder that Yumans make San Diego a weekend vacation destination.

And voters in the 2010 edition of Yuma's Best, the Yuma Sun's annual poll of readers' favorites businesses, services and entertainment venues, picked San Diego as the Best Weekend Getaway for area residents

Among those who enjoy getting away to San Diego is Jackie Grosset, a nurse at Yuma Regional Medical Center.

Grosset says there are several perks besides “getting away from the hot weather” in Yuma. She said she used to live in San Diego and enjoys visiting family members while taking in the refreshing change of scenery.

“It's not desert scenery, there is a lush vegetation,” Grosset said.

Besides that, Grosset said the city by the sea also boasts a variety of eateries, her personal favorite being Cafe Sevilla in the downtown Gaslamp District.

According to the restaurant's website, Cafe Sevilla offers gourmet Spanish-style cuisine with signature tapas, empanadas and paella.

Grosset said she enjoys beaches like Coronado, with the only problem being finding a parking spot, owing to the beach's popularity among visitors and locals alike.

Grosset said San Diego really provides visitors with a wider range of activities, while only being a short few hours from home.

“There's just a lot more variety, and shows and culture,” she said.

“It's not that far away from home ... it's actually pretty nice.”

For more information on things to do in San Diego, visit the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's website at www.sdchamber.org.