Moving to San Diego, any Advice?

So I asked this question the other day, but all I was given was grief on whether I was coming to the country legally, which I am, and on what visa I intended on staying with. I am travelling to San Diego on a J1 visa and intend to work in SD for 4 months, travelling a further month and returning to Ireland with the intention of returning to SD on an 11 month Graduate Visa (as I graduate from my bachelors degree in October). J1 visa's from Ireland are done through companies that in theory "sponsor" every student, but you are left to your own devices to find accomodation and work. All you need to do is specify where you are going to (San Diego) and show that you have return flights, which I do. My visa is approved and I fly to California at the beginning of June.

I'm really not looking for advice on visa's or regulations. I have been to an interview in the US embassy in Dublin and I know, and they know, that I am travelling legally, with the intention of working, so please don't grill me on all these laws that are in place to stop illegal workers.

Now, that I have all that out of the way. I am looking for some friendly advice on where would be a nice place to live and work in san diego? What are nice things to see and do? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :)