Summer Vacation Time - San Diego, Hotel Del Coronado, Catalina, and of course DL

[LovintheLodge]

Inside Carthay Circle's Main Dining Room

Can't wait to hear your review from here!

Kerry

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[nancy drew]

That photo makes me want to go to Carthay!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Random shot of DLR

That's a great shot, too. Is that pattern new? I don't remember seeing it in 2011......and if it isn't new....someone pass me a new set of glasses!

Inside Carthay Circle's Main Dining Room

Looks really lovely. Seems like it might be the place to hit next time. Might be worth considering booking in with a WOC dining package.

 

[KCmike]

So the report is winding down from our stay in San Diego. It's our third and final day at the "Del" and we have planned a very relaxing and do nothing day. One thing we've always wanted to do is surf/boogie board. We woke up late and just relaxed. We had a nice little breakfast at one of the cafes down the street. Had lunch on the sundeck of the hotel and then dinner again at the Village Pizzeria. I ended up renting a boogie board for the day from a beach rental/touristy shop across the street.

I took the board back to the hotel and grabbed the twins and headed out to the beautiful blue Pacific. My son and I did our best to grab some waves and ride them in. I will tell you the Coronado area is hard to catch some bigger waves. We did ok. I guess ok is really we were horrible at it. How can one be bad at boogie boarding? I'm athletic and thought it would be easy. After a few tries it did get better but nothing spectacular.

I spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing pool side, dipping into the hot tub, and venturing out to take some photos.

First up are some pics from the Vista walk area near the front of the Hotel.

The lobby is dark and gorgeous. The lighting is so sparse in there that I'm shocked that this picture shows as much as it does.

Just a little further from the tree is this view

Walking around the side of the hotel that faces the street you will see more of the Coronado area.

As you walk around the area

I think I have several of our view from the balcony. Morning, afternoon, evening it doesn't matter. I have several.

My wife and I spent the last night on the beach just enjoying our surroundings and wondering when or if we would ever be able to come back. We found a bench just south of the hotel along the beach that has become our spot. I wish it could have lasted longer. Just watching the waves come in. It never gets old.

 

[KCmike]

Swing yer tractor round and round

 

[LovintheLodge]

Hey Mike! Loved your pictures and report from the Hotel Del Coronado. If I get back to San Diego I have to stay there! When we were there 8 or 9 years ago we drove around that area...what a beautiful hotel!

Kerry

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[kylie71]

Yay! Thanks for the update, Mike! Beautiful pics as usual! So pretty!

Cannot wait for more...

Lori

 

[mvf-m11c]

Very nice pics Mike. I really like the Hotel Del Coronado plaque with the hotel in the background.

Nice update to your trip report.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Regarding your last night in SD, sometimes those quiet moments are the best. And while we don't know when they'll return, somehow they always do.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Mike - fantastic shots of the hotel. And you and your wife will be back. The hotel and the ocean will call you back.

 

[I'm mikey]

Mike, this is a beautiful pic.

 

[KCmike]

Thanks everyone so much! Really appreciate all the wonderful comments. Here is another random shot as I gear up for another installment.

 

[pixarmom]

KCMike, I just found your wonderful thread and WOW - absolutely amazing. I'm so happy you made it to Catalina! The photos are beautiful, as always.

Our last Newport/DL trip was February of this year, and it's hard to wait until August of next year to get back. We'll do our entire round then - Newport, Catalina (including the ziplining!) and DL. Any chance you stopped by Luau Larry's?

As for the boogie boarding, I love the photo of your family's attempts! I'm now the proud owner of a short wetsuit (Mother's Day gift from my husband and the kids) so that I can withstand the cold Pacific for a longer period of time. Can't wait to try it out! My dad (beach-goer in the early 60's with a pre-boogie-board raft) always said that boogie boarding "success" comes with a sense that develops over time. So please don't give up!

 

[KCmike]

KCMike, I just found your wonderful thread and WOW - absolutely amazing. I'm so happy you made it to Catalina! The photos are beautiful, as always.

Our last Newport/DL trip was February of this year, and it's hard to wait until August of next year to get back. We'll do our entire round then - Newport, Catalina (including the ziplining!) and DL. Any chance you stopped by Luau Larry's?

As for the boogie boarding, I love the photo of your family's attempts! I'm now the proud owner of a short wetsuit (Mother's Day gift from my husband and the kids) so that I can withstand the cold Pacific for a longer period of time. Can't wait to try it out! My dad (beach-goer in the early 60's with a pre-boogie-board raft) always said that boogie boarding "success" comes with a sense that develops over time. So please don't give up!

Thanks for joining. Ziplining in Catalina? Sounds fun! I don't recall seeing Luau Larry's. We ate a pizza place that was near the beach. Can't remember the name of it now. We all had something different as well. I won't give up on boogie boarding. I want to feel confident and some day give surfing a try. We didn't get to enjoy Newport this time around. We always love that whole area.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for joining. Ziplining in Catalina? Sounds fun! I don't recall seeing Luau Larry's. We ate a pizza place that was near the beach. Can't remember the name of it now. We all had something different as well. I won't give up on boogie boarding. I want to feel confident and some day give surfing a try. We didn't get to enjoy Newport this time around. We always love that whole area.

It sounds like you ate at Antonio's - it's right along the water, next to Armstrong's. There are many things on the menu (at least there used to be). Peanut shells on the floor. Does that sound like the place? Do you remember seeing something called "Mama's Day Old Spaghetti" on the menu?

I am headed to Catalina in 2 days, and am debating on whether I will eat at Antonio's or do a counter service place. I used to love Antonio's but I don't know if it's still as good. What did you order?

There's a smaller Antonio's on one of the little side streets of Avalon. The bigger one is on the main street in town (Crescent). So if you were walking on Crescent through town, headed towards the Casino, for example, Antonio's would be on your right-hand side and Luau Larry's would be on your left-hand side.

If you saw any people wearing crazy straw hats, chances are they got them at Luau Larry's!

 

[KCmike]

It sounds like you ate at Antonio's - it's right along the water, next to Armstrong's. There are many things on the menu (at least there used to be). Peanut shells on the floor. Does that sound like the place? Do you remember seeing something called "Mama's Day Old Spaghetti" on the menu?

I am headed to Catalina in 2 days, and am debating on whether I will eat at Antonio's or do a counter service place. I used to love Antonio's but I don't know if it's still as good. What did you order?

There's a smaller Antonio's on one of the little side streets of Avalon. The bigger one is on the main street in town (Crescent). So if you were walking on Crescent through town, headed towards the Casino, for example, Antonio's would be on your right-hand side and Luau Larry's would be on your left-hand side.

If you saw any people wearing crazy straw hats, chances are they got them at Luau Larry's!

You nailed it Sherry. It as down the main drag on the right hand side. Kids at pizza, another had chicken strips, and I can't remember what my wife had. It was ok not great. I do remember that you could only get one refill. Thought that was kinda weird. Oh yeah they had peanuts on the table.

 

[KCmike]

So our time was over in San Diego and it was time to head up to Anaheim. We slept in that morning (trying to avoid the rush hour traffic) and we ended up leaving around 9am. We really didn't have any issues with traffic until we reached about half way up the highway and there was a wreck of some kind that had caused some stop and go traffic. We got to the Fairfield Inn without incident. We stayed there back in 2007 when we went to Disneyland for the very first time. It was Halloween time and we had such a blast. It was downhill from there. Many California vacations and many dollars spent. Here are some shots from the first day right after I got the luggage to the second floor.

That is one small hot tub, huh?

The rooms were perfectly fine. I have a pic of the pullout of the single bed and will have to find it. It was perfect for my youngest daughter. Or course on the third floor is a Pizza Hut Express which my son is in love with in. We all enjoyed the walk to FFI compared to HOJO. I have a picture of that as well. What we really enjoyed was the McDonalds being just out front. Such an easy way to get breakfast. So cheap as well. Although everytime we would eat there I would be dreaming of the Riverbelle Terrace. We did make it one morning there but that still makes me sad. I love breakfast. Any questions about FFI feel free to ask.

Next up will be the first steps going into DL.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Very nice pictures of FFI during your visit. I have never stayed at FFI and was considering staying there. But when I look at the prices at FFI and compare to other hotels like BWPPI, BWAI, HOJO, etc. on Harbor Blvd, it just wasn't worth paying more when I could stay at those other hotels at a better price. Sometimes FFI have better prices then the other hotels on certain days and seasons. I also like the location for FFI just as you said that it is close to McDonalds.

 

[nancy drew]

The Fairfield looks nice! It seems like one of the nicer "motels" on Harbor. Was there freeway noise/shaking like at Hojo? That pretty much drove me away from that place.

 

[kaoden39]

Mike, the rooms seem pretty good sized at the Fairfield.