San Diego trip help please

[zoemurr]

We will be flying from NY to LAX the last week of August. 2 days at Disney, 1 at Legoland, and 4 in SD.

Any tips on where to stay, what to do, where to eat?:
(looking at zoo, Balboa Park, Seaworld, beach)

Thanks!

 

[scard192]

Old Towne, Coronado Island, La Jolla. I did the Old Towne Trolley which was great because I didn't have to find my way around or find a place to park. I spent an entire day at the zoo.

 

[fruity drinks]

We were there over Thanksgiving and stayed at Holiday Inn San Diego on the Bay. It was in the perfect location. We took their free shuttle to the zoo. Also, if you request Bay side, the cruise ships park right out in front of your balcony. It was very close to the airport with the free shuttle also.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

We did a San Diego/ Disneyland trip in June and LOVED it!!!!! There is alot to see and do in San Diego. We enjoyed the Zoo, Balboa Park, Old Towne, Coronado Island, the Midway Museum, a Padres game, Mission Bay, Torrey Pines and the Gaslamp District.

You have to try fish tacos - YUMMY!!!

Here is a great site to help decide what to do....

http://www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors

We stayed at the Omni right next to Petco Park and loved it. We were within walking distance to alot of great restaurants in the Gaslamp area and very close to the Trolley. I would definately stay in that area again if we went back.

 

[jam217]

Have you checked out the Southern Calif. subforum (on the Calif. and West forum)? I found a lot of good tips there for our upcoming trip.

Fruitydrinks, thanks for the comment about the Holiday Inn.We're staying there and was hoping it was a good pick. Sounds like it.

 

[Melissa<3Disney]

I live in San Diego! Def. do the Old Town Trolley tour.. it is such a blast and you can hop on, hop off all day (from 9 to 5:45 i think) and get a fun educational lesson on San Diego as well! Gotta check out the zoo!!

All of the places listed above are great! I'm not sure where you should stay.. I would say that depends on budget and lifestyle. My boyfriend and I do dinner at the Hardrock sometimes and we love the atmosphere there, but we don't have kids. When you are in Coronado, def walk around the hotel Del Coronado, so beautiful and they have a fun little ice cream place in there!

If you visit seaport, eat at the Greek Islands Cafe. If you like gyros, theirs are top notch! And the staff is great!! If you guys like to hike, there are lots of fun places to do that as well, cabrillo national park in point loma, Mission Trails out near San Carlos is fun, and Torrey Pines National park out by La Jolla is beautiful too!!

If you guys like Happy Hour check out La Puerta downtown in the gaslamp on 4th ave! From 3-7 most days they do half off all drinks and apps!! They have a drink called Purple Haze that is to die for, and the Carne Asada fries and gucamole is the absolute best!! We go at least once a week!

I hope some of this helps! Have a blast and enjoy this beautiful city!!

 

[apnep]

Another vote for Coronado. How about Birch Aquarium at Scripps? And don't forget Seaport Village!

There is so much to do in San Diego and the weather is always beautiful! Have fun!

We have stayed at the Gaslamp Plaza Suites in downtown San D. It was many years ago but a very nice hotel and right in the middle of everything!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

If you're doing Seaworld and the zoo, check out the hotels on Hotel Circle in the Mission Valley area. There are lots of chain-type hotels there (Ramada, Best Western, etc.) if that's what you're looking for. There's also a huge mall in that area with lots of restaurants and shops.

 

[mytripsandraces]

We will be flying from NY to LAX the last week of August. 2 days at Disney, 1 at Legoland, and 4 in SD.

Any tips on where to stay, what to do, where to eat?:
(looking at zoo, Balboa Park, Seaworld, beach)

Thanks!

Here are a few places to try:

Hash House a Gogo: http://www.google.com/search?client=gmail&rls=gm&q=hash house a gogo

Chuao Chocolatier: http://www.chuaochocolatier.com/cafes.html

Hot Dog on a Stick: http://www.hotdogonastick.com/locations/locations_ca.html

Shopping at Viejas: http://www.shopviejas.com/

Coronado Island - rent a bike and tour around, plus it's got the nicest beaches in the US (disclaimer - Coronado was my official residence growing up and I'm partial)

San Diego Zoo - it's the only real rival to the Wildlife Conservation Society

Balboa Park - full of lovely gardens and galleries/museums

Gaslamp Quarter in Old Town

Cabrillo National Monument

Torrey Pines

Depending on when you're going to be there, Delmar may be a good place to stop on your way down from Disneyland. http://www.sdfair.com/

 

[doggydoc]

There are many beautiful resorts and hotels in San Diego. My wife used to work at the Catamaran on Mission Beach, pretty nice and closr to the beach and the Hotel Del Coronado which is fantastic. I assume since you are posting here you are looking for something less expensive. Days Hotel @ Hotel Circle is one the cleanest and friendliest "budget" hotels I have seen in San Diego without getting farther out in the county. It has a nice pool, shuttle service and is very centrally located. Might be worth checking out, my family enjoyed our stay there in May. Your going to love SD can't wait until my next trip out there in Oct.

 

[krcit]

I was just going to suggest Hotel del Coronado. I went to a wedding there 20 years ago...of course, us poor folk stayed at something like the Motel Coronado The hotel Del was so beautiful. I just checked the prices and the cheapest room was around $360 but it looked like there was a stay3 get one night free promotion.m I know it's pricey but figured I'd mention it.

 

[Planogirl]

Definitely go to Coronado Island. You can check out the wonderful Hotel del Coronado which the Grand Floridian was modeled after. The beach there is really nice too.

If you like haunts, stop by the Whaley House in old town. This is an interesting old house with lots of story and reputation.

 

[zoemurr]

I think we are finally getting there. 8/24-9/2

Tu: Travel
W/Th: Disney (3 day hoppers)
F: Legoland
S:
Sun:
M:zoo?
T:
W:maybe back to Disney
Th:home

We want to have a day at the zoo, Balboa Park, Coronado Island, and Old Towne.

Not sure what order we should do these in San Diego. Is one much busier on the weekend that we should avoid it then?

 

[traveljunkie2]

My sister just went back to San Diego (our hometown) for a wedding and stayed at the TravelLodge La Jolla Beach. She said is was great. It is an older hotel in a residential area of La Jolla, about a block from the beach. The beds were very comfy, and it has a pool and hot tub. She is very picky and she was happy with the place.

I would avoid the zoo on the weekend if possible. Old Town will also be more crowded and you may have a little trouble finding parking, but it is very spread out so it won't feel too congested.

If you can have Sunday brunch in the Crown Room at the Hotel Del Coronado, it is certainly an experience, but pricey at over $70 per person. From Coronado you can take a ferry to downtown, then walk a few blocks to Seaport Village.

At Balboa Park, there are so many great museums: The Rueben H Fleet Space Museum, Aerospace Museum, Natural History Museum. They are spread throughout the beautiful park. If you have small kids, there is a train that operates near the entrance of the zoo. There is also a carousel close by.

Thinking about all this makes me wish I could go "home" as a tourist and not just spend all of our time visiting with family!