San Diego Help

[mastodon]

Hi! First time to SOCAL! Going to split trip with my family (husband and 2 boys 10 and 14) between San Diego and LA. While in San Diego, trying to figure out how many nights and where to stay? We will see the Zoo, maybe Sea World, Balboa Park and would like to go to the beach to relax if possible. What is a family friendly area that is close to all that we want to see? Thanks!

 

[buzz242]

I was hoping someone would have posted some ideas as we're planning a trip in August. We did visit in 2012, our sons were 14 & 16. We stayed in the Mission Valley area which worked for us but we couldn't really walk anywhere which we would have liked. We visited Seaworld, The Zoo and the Seaport area and had a quick trip to the beach but would love some more suggestions. We are thinking of staying in the Downtown area, close to the Gaslamp Quarter and would appreciate any advice about hotels in that area.
Hope I haven't hijacked your post mastodon

 

[hodad]

I used to live in San Diego, back before I had kids. If I returned now, I'd probably want to stay near the beach, perhaps somewhere between Sea World and Pacific Beach. San Diego is a car town for the most part, and you can get a cab or Uber to Balboa Park, the Gaslamp district (filled with drunk conventioneers), Torrey Pines, the Birch Aquarium, Old Town, tacos at Las Olas, pizza and beer at Pizza Port, Hotel Del, USS Midway, Safari Park, Cabrillo lighthouse, Tijuana, the seal beach in La Jolla, Legoland, or anywhere else you might want to go.

 

[Ndusmama]

I lived in San Diego for years myself and am always going back to visit friends. San Diego really is a car town like Hodad said. To be centrally located stay in mission/fashion valley that's where a lot of hotels are. I stay a lot at the la Quinta in both mission valley and in old town. They offer free breakfast. The Hilton on shelter island isn't bad either, just pricey. Old town is closer to well old town but it's maybe 20 minutes to both sea world and balboa park where the actual zoo is. Shelter island is across from airport and will also take 20 minutes of so to all but Escondido. there is a safari park up in Escondido that is usually what tourists think about as the San Diego zoo. It's the original breeding location for the zoo in balboa park and it was opened to public in the 1970's. I recommend going there personally and taking the tram tour late afternoon early evening. Escondido is a 30-45 minute drive to mission valley.

Almost all the beaches have paid parking. I personally like the beach in la jolla. It's a state park. My second favorite is in a town north called encinitas. That beach has free parking and is a block from the freeway, so no chance of getting lost.

Another thing to consider is legoland up in Carlsbad. Lots of hotels there and near the Carlsbad beaches.

Time wise. Sea world will take a full day. Safari park in Escondido will take a day. Zoo will take half a day. Balboa park could take a full day for all the museums (buy the museum book to get into all museums it will save money). Legoland a day. Old town half a day if you go. Seaport village will also take a few hours. The beach that could take days. There is a trolley that will take you around for the day to almost all tourist places. It picks up in balboa, old town, seaport village, and Coronado where the hotel del is. You pay for the day and get on and off where ever you want. I would say 2-4 days depending on which activities you choose.

Hope this helps.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree that Mission Valley would be a good, centrally located area.

 

[ahutton]

For a family friendly hotel, we loved the Bahia. It was walking distance to Mission Beach, but also had a bay side, a boat between there and another hotel (Catamaran I believe), and lots of great activities. It is close and an easy trip to Sea World. Also easy access to Pacific Beach and the other area communities. We didn't drive much beyond going to attractions when we stayed there. Lots of restaurants in walking distance and the kids really wanted to play in the sand.

For the downtown area - my favorite places would be the Embassy Suites Downtown at Harbor and Pacific Hwy or the Wyndham San Diego Bayside at Ash and Harbor. Super convenient to the downtown attractions. There is also a Residence Inn and a Westin right in that area. It's right by the harbor cruise docs, USS Midway, Star of India and easy to catch a boat over to Coronado.

 

[Paigesmom2013]

We were there in March 2012 and also stayed in Mission Valley, mostly for the reasonable motel. We did 4 days as this was also a split stay for us, visiting family in Phoenix at the beginning of the week.

We had a toddler but explored Old Town and ate there. We did the zoo for a full day, then did a whale watching tour one morning and walked around Seafarers Village? (Shopping area.) We also went to Coronado Beach and met a relative for dinner at Mission Beach.

 

[busyshrew]

Hello everyone, I'm just bookmarking this thread for myself - my family were long time Orlando visitors (7x) but want to try San Diego in early 2017. I'm especially concerned about finding a nice clean place to stay. We also want to see the San Diego Zoo, the beaches, maybe try a trip to see some sequoias if possible?

 

[SMD]

Hello everyone, I'm just bookmarking this thread for myself - my family were long time Orlando visitors (7x) but want to try San Diego in early 2017. I'm especially concerned about finding a nice clean place to stay. We also want to see the San Diego Zoo, the beaches, maybe try a trip to see some sequoias if possible?

Take I-5 north, drive about 400 miles and hang a right near Fresno. You'll find some sequoias. You may want to get a hotel in Fresno.

 

[busyshrew]

Thanks for letting me hop in on this thread - we're definitely narrowing down our travel plans, and it looks like we're focusing on LA and San Diego only - DH wants to have warm weather in February! So no sequoias, but more beaches.