San Diego Beach

[Mrs Grumpy]

We leave for our first trip to San Diego on Sunday!!! My DH has never seen the ocean so that is a must do. We don't really want to go swimming or anything I just want him to go and see it. We are staying at Days Inn on Hotel Circle. We are going to Sea World, the zoo and Wild Animal park. Any suggestions on the best and easiest beach for us to go to?

 

[eduk8r26]

Since you're going to Sea World, Mission Beach is the closest. It's pretty good, especially the south end. There's plenty of parking, as long as it is not on the weekend.

 

[Zoemakes5]

If you're not wanting to go swimming, the place I'd recommend is Coronado, though it's not the closest beach by far. The atmosphere is great there. You can see the world famous hotel del coronado. Can even rent bicycles and bike "cabbies".
If that is too far, I think one of the typical "beach town" beaches, where you can walk on the strand and eat at a wide variety of restaurants is Pacific Beach.

 

[disneydreamer74]

Since you're going to Sea World, Mission Beach is the closest. It's pretty good, especially the south end. There's plenty of parking, as long as it is not on the weekend.

Also, in case you want to wade in the water, my friend just returned from a trip to Sea world and mission bay and said Mission bay was the only water that was warm enough to get in!! have fun!

 

[heatherleigh]

I've only been to Pacific Beach. I stayed at a hotel on the beach, Tower 23. http://tower23hotel.com/

It was such a beautiful place. I didn't get in the water at all, but I watched surfers and the beach wasn't crowded.

 

[ScooterL]

If you're going just to see the beach, I'd second eduk8r26's recommendation of Mission Beach. I think it's the easiest/closest to get to and has the most parking of any of the San Diego beaches. There's quite a long "boardwalk" (thought it's cement and not boards) if you want to take a walk. Don't get me wrong, Coronado is beautiful, and that would be good if you were interested in seeing the Hotel del, but it'll be more of a drive. If you're headed up to La Jolla, like to see the Birch Aquarium, then La Jolla Shores would be very nice, too.