Television personality and AZfoothills.com columnist Nadine Toren is scouring the area, finding savvy Valley features, bringing readers “on the scene.” Every day she’ll introduce you to celebrities, athletes, and give you an inside look into local events and hot spots. She'll touch on topical issues, and keep AZ fans posted on all the big talkers around town.

Looking for a hot spot to cool off this holiday weekend?  Escape to San Diego, and check out my personal picks of So-Cal hot spots.

Usually I’ll reach out to the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau or Google my way to finding hot spots when featuring a destination.  However, I’ve decided to get personal, and spill my secrets to exploring San Diego this Memorial Day weekend.  Having lived in “America’s Finest City” (besides Phoenix) for two years, I developed a laundry list of places I’d frequent…so sit back, relax, and enjoy my stroll down memory lane through the streets of sunny San Diego.

Ditch the desert for the surf and sand, and take the 6 hour cruise from the Valley to So-Cal this holiday weekend.  Perhaps you prefer a savvy place to sleep—if so, book a room at the Hard Rock Hotel.  The accommodations are quite contemporary, and many suites have sweet views of the bay.  By day, party it up at Intervention, a dayside soiree featuring the hottest DJs.  By night, secure a front of the line pass at the Hotel’s two chic nightclubs, 207 and Float.  And if you happen to crave a midnight (or 2am) snack, cure your buzz at the hotel’s Mary Jane’s Restaurant.  (I prefer the grilled cheese.)

But if you want a low-key holiday weekend beach-front, take the scenic drive over the Coronado Bridge to what we call “the island.”  It’s one of my favorite stretches of roadways I’ve ever traveled.

The two mile bridge connects downtown San Diego to Coronado, the quaint beach-town fit for families and lovebirds.  The main strip of Orange Avenue sports boutiques, cafes, and restaurants—be sure to swing by Mc P’s, my old hang-out.  The Irish Pub opened in 1982, and is owned and operated by former Navy SEAL, Greg McPartlin.  (Tell him I say “hi!”)  Opt for an Irish car bomb or Guinness, as you chill on the patio or dance the night away on the intimate dance floor.

However, your Coronado adventure is not complete without visiting the historic Hotel Del, built in 1888.  Its iconic red turrets radiate Victorian splendor, and the property remains one of America’s most beautiful beach resorts.  After exploring The Del, take a long walk on the beach.  The clean sand and smooth surf of Coronado is a perfect place to stroll hand-in-hand with your sweetheart.