How to make the most of your non-ComicCon San Diego day...
Step 1: Begin your drive from Phoenix in the wee hours of the morning, while any munckins are fast asleep. It has to be early enough for you to catch the seasonal butterflies crossing the road. This, of course, leads to the deepest pits of guilt, since your evil, ozone-layer munching, carbon-footprint leaving deathmobile is killing sweet little yellow flutterby's.
Strangely, guilt is good. It helps you contrast the awesome joy of the remainder of the day.
Step 2: Arrive just after morning traffic but early enough to make breakfast at the Bahia Resort Hotel, where pretty much everything is fabulous. Let the munchkin take their time watching the rescued seals who live next to the restaurant. After all, they're only 4 once.
Step 3: It's too early to check into your hotel, so hit a public beach. South Carlsbad offers a nice little parking lot where no one has to battle for spots and all-day parking passes can be purchased for $8. Time is money, and free beach parking isn't pretty.
Bask in the hazy sunshine (which is a refreshing change from the blinding brilliance of Phoenix) and cool breeze, play, swim, look like dorks trying to get a giant kite in the air, and build a sandcastle just so the waves can knock it down.
Step 4: Wash the sand out of all the places you wish it had never gone after you check into the hotel. Take a moment to thank whatever higher power you believe in for clean linens.
Step 5: In case you didn't get enough water in your ears at the beach, head down to the hotel pool for sun, drinks and more swimming.
Step 6: Have dinner at Pino's Cucina Italiana in Encinitas. THIS IS CRUCIAL TO ANY SAN DIEGO TRIP IN THE HISTORY OF EVER! Marvel at the impeccable service, the amazing dishes that are equal parts art and sustenance, and the owner's obvious pride as he visits every table. Don't order off the menu. Just ask for the server's recommendation. They will never steer you wrong.
Step 7: Ponder Sea World, because it's the thing you should do in San Diego and they're open at night, but shrug it off because it's your vacation and you can. Instead, use the parking pass one more time to take the munckin back to the beach and help them say goodnight to the sun.
Step 8: Head back to the hotel, schedule your wakeup call, and take a moment to squee with your significant other at the fact that you get to start a whole new Con-oriented vacation tomorrow. Collapse in exhaustion after being awake for 20 of the last 24 hours. Dream of massive crowds and cool swag.
God, how I've missed this place.