Southern California Reducing trip to SD to 3 days... Is this itinerary doable?

[rnorwo1]

We were planning on doing 4 days in SD and then 4days in DL the first week of march, but I need to cut one day out. We've never been to CA and this will probably be our only trip to these two areas as a family, so I'd like some advice on where to cut.

This is an itinerary based on 3 full days in SD, but we can keep SD at 4 and cut a day at DL. We will arrive in SD late Thursday evening, and I was planning on:

Friday: zoo and exploring Balboa park if there's time and energy left after the zoo
Sat: Midway, Cabrillo and maybe the Seals Harbour tour. Would love to also just see briefly the gaslamp district if possible.
Sun: La Jolla and Torrey Pines

Monday we would leave early for DL, may be taking amtrack but not sure. Then we would have most of Monday, and full day Tues, wed and thurs in DL, flying out Friday. Our kids will be 12, 8, and 4 then... We are active but I tend to over plan and don't want to be rushed and miserable.

So is this itinerary doable or would you cut a day off of DLR instead and keep 4 in SD?
TIA!

 

[chabelita545]

It all depends on where you live and what you like to do as a family. What does the rest of the family think about your itinerary?

In SD, my family loves Sea World which isn't on your list (but if you live close to Florida then you can skip it here) and my boys love Legoland (about 30 minutes north of SD on the way to DL.) We haven't done much else in SD other than the zoo and Old Town.

We've been to DL in March before and 4 days was plenty of time to see most everything and repeat favorites. Plus I'm pretty sure fireworks were every night during spring break. (We went the last full week in March in 2010 which was two weeks away from Easter.)

 

[rnorwo1]

We have been to Orlando many times and have been to SW and LL a couple of times each. I think I would like to spend at least a week in SD but we
Are going during the kids' Mardi Gras break so just won't have the time. So I think we are going to postpone SD until we come back to see Northern CA, and we will just do a couple of days in LA instead. I'm disappointed but also relieved bc I was trying so hard to make it all work. Thanks for the advice on DL, hopefully we will also have the same experience!

 

[chabelita545]

You can still do SD if you want to, especially if you are skipping SeaWorld. When you come back and do Northern CA it would be an extra flight or an 8 hour drive to get to SD then so I think it makes more sense to do it now or take a separate vacation just to SD. Personally, I would skip LA completely.

In Northern CA you've got San Francisco, the Redwoods, Carmel and Monterey, Six Flags and The Jelly Belly Factory. We never driven through the Napa Valley (which I wouldn't do with kids) but maybe some day. I'm sure there is more in the north but this is what we have done (or want to do).

If you ever go to CA in late spring to late summer, Yosemite is gorgeous.

 

[rnorwo1]

We are planning a May trip when we do go, i cannot wait, it's a bucket list trip! We will be diving then and will probably take about 3 weeks to see many parts of the west, so that won't be a problem. I honestly had little interest in seeing LA, but I just thought since we were there we may as well do something. My sister took a day trip from SD this summer to go to a show in La and she said the drive wasn't bad, so maybe we will do it in reverse and just see the zoo. This has been the most complicated trip I have ever planned, including a couple of international trips! Thanks again for all of the suggestions!

 

[Purrkins]

We were planning on doing 4 days in SD and then 4days in DL the first week of march, but I need to cut one day out. We've never been to CA and this will probably be our only trip to these two areas as a family, so I'd like some advice on where to cut.

This is an itinerary based on 3 full days in SD, but we can keep SD at 4 and cut a day at DL. We will arrive in SD late Thursday evening, and I was planning on:

Friday: zoo and exploring Balboa park if there's time and energy left after the zoo
Sat: Midway, Cabrillo and maybe the Seals Harbour tour. Would love to also just see briefly the gaslamp district if possible.
Sun: La Jolla and Torrey Pines

Monday we would leave early for DL, may be taking amtrack but not sure. Then we would have most of Monday, and full day Tues, wed and thurs in DL, flying out Friday. Our kids will be 12, 8, and 4 then... We are active but I tend to over plan and don't want to be rushed and miserable.

So is this itinerary doable or would you cut a day off of DLR instead and keep 4 in SD?
TIA!

Doable. I'd skip the Seal Harbor tour - you'll see plenty from the Midway and Cabrillo monument (don't miss the tidepools down below).

Protip - on your way to Cabrillo stop at Pt. Loma Seafood and get sandwiches to go. Best picnic spot in the world. PS - be pushy when ordering at Pt. Loma Seafood, ie: just walk up to the counter and give your order.

Skip Gaslamp - if you've seen a bar and a restaurant you've seen the Gaslamp. Food is generally horrible and overpriced.

Have fun!

 

[ImDMous]

If you do decide to stay in San Diego:

Whale watching season is Sept through April in SD so I would do that rather than staying in the harbor if you have time, much more exciting.

The zoo always takes us a full day, lots to see, lots of walking, lots of hills.

The Gaslamp district has a lot of historic and beautiful buildings, really neat if you can get a tour of them. The Gaslamp Museum does walking tours on Saturdays. Also check out the Horton Grand hotel, the Balboa Theater (not sure if you can get in if there's nothing playing but it's beautiful inside), Horton Plaza shopping center and Petco Park. All are within a few minutes walk.

La Jolla and Torrey Pines are probably a half day. Try to go when it's low tide so the tide pools are exposed.

 

[rnorwo1]

I'm so torn. In my heart I really, really want to go even if we're not able to do everything. So many decisions, but I know me and we will probably end up still going! Thanks for all the tips, I'm saving all of them!

 

[prncssmel]

I would definitely keep DL at 4 days if you are going at a busier time of year.

I think that Midway, Cabrillo and harbor tour are not doable in one day, especially since Cabrillo closes at 4 p.m. If your kids are into boats, I would skip Cabrillo and do the harbor tour. The starting point for the tour is close to the Midway, and you could check out Seaport Village before, which has some fun shops for kids.

As for Gaslamp, I completely disagree about the food (I would happy to give you many recommendations), but it may not be much fun for your youngest. Also, after 6 p.m., it is pretty adults only.

 

[rnorwo1]

We will be going the first week in March, a few weeks before most spring breaks. Would that be a busy time? I'm hoping to do it all in 3 days, but we can upgrade to 4 if we need an additional.

 

[Itinkso]

I agree that La Jolla/Torrey Pines is really a 1/2 day. Walk along Coast Blvd and out on the breakwater/walkway to see the sea lions. There are mainly upscale shops and restaurants in La Jolla - The Cottage restaurant is a favorite for breakfast. Your kids would like the Birch Aquarium at UCSD...they have hands-on tide pools with some interesting sea creatures.

You can also take the ferry from the harbor to Coronado. There are Segway tours on Coronado.

You can get a lot done in your three days in SD. DD, a WDW CM, and her BF fit in the zoo, one museum in Balboa Park, Gaslamp for dinner, Coronado, La Jolla, Birch Aquarium and a quick tour of UCSD (DD's alma mater) in two days last week.