Suggestions for a San Diego Tour

[RalphInCA]

I will be picking up some European visitors at Carlsbad/Palomar (KCRQ) tomorrow morning for an airplane ride.

Any suggestions for a scenic tour?

Although I don't mind operating in the Class B, I'd rather not in this case, because the Bravo causes so much chatter and attention on my part that I have little time to talk to my passengers.

 

[rtk11]

If you're going to try to avoid Bravo airspace, probably the best bet is maybe a lower flight under Bravo and along the coastline to La Jolla (under the 1800 foot shelf), then maybe follow the coastline up past Oceanside. If making a loop, maybe fly off the coast to avoid the Camp Pendleton restricted area (usually "hot" during weekdays) and up to Huntington Beach, then transition Los Alamitos airspace over Fullerton, take the 91 pass into Corona, and follow the 15 down to French Valley (F70) and then back home? Give your European friends a view of the ocean as well as the semi-arid desert of California.

 

[SoCal RV Flyer]

If you're going to try to avoid Bravo airspace, probably the best bet is maybe a lower flight under Bravo and along the coastline to La Jolla (under the 1800 foot shelf), then maybe follow the coastline up past Oceanside. If making a loop, maybe fly off the coast to avoid the Camp Pendleton restricted area (usually "hot" during weekdays) and up to Huntington Beach, then transition Los Alamitos airspace over Fullerton, take the 91 pass into Corona, and follow the 15 down to French Valley (F70) and then back home? Give your European friends a view of the ocean as well as the semi-arid desert of California.

Or cut in over Dana Point past Camp Pendleton, fly northeast of Saddleback Peak over the Santa Rosa Plateau toward French Valley. No Class B or C airspace concerns that way (although best to stay above 4500' for the practice area over South Orange County). On the way back you can point out Mt. Palomar observatory, the casino down at Pauma Valley, etc.