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Tiki Central / California Events / Tiki Oasis 9 - Tiki Surf City, San Diego is online!!

Post #462805 by Tangaroa-Ru on Thu, Jun 18, 2009 1:18 PM

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On 2009-05-15 19:45, tikisafari wrote:
Hi all,
New forum member and long-time tiki afficianado who is making the trip up from Australia for our first Tiki Oasis. Just wondered if anyone could offer a bit of advice. We are staying at the event on Friday and Saturday night. Is it worth planning an extra day in San Diego on Sunday for the sole purpose of going to Bali Hai and any other tiki-esque sites of interest if we are already visiting Tonga Room in San Fran and MaiKai in Ft Lauderdale on the same trip? Unfortunately, we have a really tight schedule this trip. Any advice appreciated : )

Looking forward to it!


Aloha! I think you could squeeze in a visit to the Bali Hai sometime during the day on Friday or Saturday (it's about a 35 minute drive from the Oasis hotels, without traffic). When you're there, just across from the Bali Hai is Humphrey's Half Moon Inn, which is very classic Tiki in style! Definitely worth a stroll-through. You could also swing by Mr. Tiki in downtown San Diego for a cocktail and pupus, although I think they're only open from 5 p.m. on. (Maybe earlier on Saturday? Call them.) Those would be my big suggestions for Tiki in San Diego. My friend, Jason Joffe, who owns "Smokin' Tiki's (a GREAT PLACE to buy stuff) is also in San Diego, but more than likely he'll be vending at Oasis, so you'll see some of his wares there.

There is A LOT of Tiki in the San Francisco area, so if you have to choose where to spend that extra day, I'd save it for there. Besides the Tonga Room, you really need to go across the bay to Emeryville to see the Trader Vic's there. It's one of the best. Then go to Alameda (a short drive) to spend time at "Forbidden Island". There are other Tiki bars in the Bay Area that are also good. Check out the Tiki Central California Events link for the upcoming Tiki Crawl 9. It will list all the hot spots, and you can decide from that if you want to see any of those other places, too.

AND... there are some wonderful places in Los Angeles! Tiki Ti, Purple Orchid, Trader Vic's (downtown), Bahooka...
Oh, and Vegas is only a 1 hour plane ride away (or 4 hour drive). They've got Frankie's. Hmmm.... Sure you can't spend another week out here?!