Tell Me about San Diego

[HeatherinNC]

We are going to Disneyland in Oct and while we are there, we are going down to San Diego for 2 days and nights. One day will be Seaworld, the other isn't planned. Just like some ideas of what to do, where to eat and pretty much anything else we need to know.
We have yet to book a hotel, but we are seriously looking at The Dana at Mission Bay. Anyone been here??

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[KingsFanInRI]

Any time someone tells me they are going to San Diego I always recommend a place on Congress St. in Old Town (the northern part of the city) called Pizza Bella. It is my favorite pizza place of all time and I miss it

 

[CEDmom]

We love San Diego and have been several times. If you only really have a day I'd suggest getting a trolley pass to see the sights. You could do a search on San Diego trolley and get information. It stops at many places like Coronado, Balboa Park, Seaport Village, The Gaslight (or lamp?) District, Old Town and a few others I can't remember. You pay one price and can get on and off as you please and check out different things. Each stop has great restaurants, shops and sights. It's a lot of fun and an easy way to get to see a bit of everything.

 

[HeatherinNC]

We love San Diego and have been several times. If you only really have a day I'd suggest getting a trolley pass to see the sights. You could do a search on San Diego trolley and get information. It stops at many places like Coronado, Balboa Park, Seaport Village, The Gaslight (or lamp?) District, Old Town and a few others I can't remember. You pay one price and can get on and off as you please and check out different things. Each stop has great restaurants, shops and sights. It's a lot of fun and an easy way to get to see a bit of everything.

Ooh, cool. That sounds like a perfect way to spend the day!

 

[jlaspoq]

Also consider San Diego Zoo. We absolutely loved San Diego! But watch the sun - I got a terrible sunburn because it didn't feel hot and I forgot sunscreen!

 

[minniecarousel]

We're booked into The Dana for a weekend in June. I'll let you know how it is when I get back. We have hopefully reserved a Bayview room with a balcony. They have rooms in an old motel-like building and the newer white building - looks nicer. We plan on relaxing, seeing the sights and go to SeaWorld. (we will just have been to Disneyland and will go back the Tuesday following this particular weekend just to see the new Pirates.)

 

[Rella Bella]

Oh! San Diego is a wonderful vacation spot! It's our favorite -- after Disney of course!

We like to stay at The Blue Sea Lodge, which is a Best Western that is right on Pacific Beach. This is not a five star hotel, but it is nice, clean, the prices are great and the location is amazing. The pool looks out to the ocean (as do most of the rooms). Just outside the gate is the boardwalk and the beach. When I've had too much sun I can actually sit on the balcony of our room and watch the boys play.
http://www.bestwestern-bluesea.com/

The whole area is wonderful! People walk, run & skate on the board walk. There are lots of great restaurants within walking distance. Just across the street is "World Famous", great food and it is open to the beach. (I highly recommend this, even if you stay elsewhere.) There is a shop next-door to rent water toys, wet-suits, surf board, boogie boards and the like.

Our favorite things to do, besides relax on the beach is to visit: Sea World; Coronodo Island & the Hotel del Coronado (now that is a cool place to stay!!); Old Town (we love the Old Town Mexican Cafe... across the street from the Mission Church); Sea Port Village (very fun, lots to see, stroll along the bay, plus shopping, & dining), and our very, very favorite is to take a sunset cruise on "The Jada" on San Diego Bay (she is a 71 ft sailing Yacht).
http://www.jadasailing.com/

You'll have a wonderful time in San Diego!!

 

[Planogirl]

Definitely visit Coronado Island and see the Hotel del Coronado. You can see the inspiration for the Grand Floridian and visit the beach which is lovely. There's a nifty little pizza shop on Coronado's main shopping street if you need a quick snack. I don't remember the name but there are plenty of little shops and restaurants all along the road.

San Diego is a wonderful place just to explore and shop around in. It's so clean and pretty, and we had a blast just pretty much hanging around.

 

[liamandcaili]

I've only been to San Diego once, but I loved it. I can't see how you could go and not visit the zoo one day. I was completely amazed at the amount of life represented there (apparently, they have many more rare plant species than animal species). Sea World was wonderful. For dinner, we ate in Old Town. I can't remember the names of the places we went, but there are so many places. We ate at two and at both the food was delicious. At one, my dad ordered a large margarita and it was about the size of a birdbath. Before San Diego, I thought margaritas were frozen strawberry drinks. After that visit, I will never order a margarita that isn't a lime one on the rocks with salt on the rim, and every time I have a margarita (which is very rarely) I think of San Diego.

Enjoy your visit!

 

[Micca]

It's flat, the weather sucks, and it's crawling with rednecks. Oh wait...that's here! Enjoy your trip, it's such a beautiful place.

 

[HeatherinNC]

Wow, sounds like we have a lot to look forward to! Now I wish we were spending more time in San Diego.
I have only been once, and that was when I was 12. But even at that age, I remember being amazed by how beautiful it was. I can't wait to go back!

 

[HeatherinNC]

We're booked into The Dana for a weekend in June. I'll let you know how it is when I get back. We have hopefully reserved a Bayview room with a balcony. They have rooms in an old motel-like building and the newer white building - looks nicer. We plan on relaxing, seeing the sights and go to SeaWorld. (we will just have been to Disneyland and will go back the Tuesday following this particular weekend just to see the new Pirates.)

I would really appreciate a review when you get back! I have seen the older motel building and I'd much rather stay in the white building too, it's very pretty.

 

[eeyorepooh]

Also consider San Diego Zoo. We absolutely loved San Diego! But watch the sun - I got a terrible sunburn because it didn't feel hot and I forgot sunscreen!

I heartily second the Zoo! It is amazing and unlike any other zoo in the world. And now is a perfect time to go, as the baby panda is still all little and small and cute. The Zoo does wonderful conservation work too- a really great place to support.

 

[HeatherinNC]

I heartily second the Zoo! It is amazing and unlike any other zoo in the world. And now is a perfect time to go, as the baby panda is still all little and small and cute. The Zoo does wonderful conservation work too- a really great place to support.

If we were spending another day in San Diego, we probably would do the zoo. We HAVE to do Seaworld because DH has never been and he has always wanted to go. Our second day will probably just be exploring the city. But hopefully, everyone will love CA so much we will go again soon, and then we will definately do the zoo. I know it's very, very famous.

 

[JoyG]

Actually, if you book one of the trolley tours of San Diego, you could see the zoo because that's one of the stops. I booked with Historic Trolley Tours and you can get on and off the trolley at different parts of the city and catch the next trolley as they come around. They run every half hour.

Some of the stops are:
Balboa Park- a collection of museums, I would select one or two to visit and move on...The Timkin (sp?) is always free. Different ones are free on Tuesdays.

Old Town-I got off to look around but didn't stay long.

Hotel Del Coranado- definitely get off here..great shopping and history in the Del

Gaslamp district- I didn't get off here.

Maritime Museum- I didn't get off here...it's expensive admission.


Zoo- if you get off here, I would take the bus tour of the zoo to save your feet. Then walk back to one or two exhibits you really want to see.


There's other stops, but these are the ones I really remember. That trolley tour was the BEST part of my trip to San Diego....LOVED it!!!

I stayed at Humphrey's Half Moon Inn and really enjoyed myself.

 

[HeatherinNC]

Actually, if you book one of the trolley tours of San Diego, you could see the zoo because that's one of the stops. I booked with Historic Trolley Tours and you can get on and off the trolley at different parts of the city and catch the next trolley as they come around. They run every half hour.

Some of the stops are:
Balboa Park- a collection of museums, I would select one or two to visit and move on...The Timkin (sp?) is always free. Different ones are free on Tuesdays.

Old Town-I got off to look around but didn't stay long.

Hotel Del Coranado- definitely get off here..great shopping and history in the Del

Gaslamp district- I didn't get off here.

Maritime Museum- I didn't get off here...it's expensive admission.


Zoo- if you get off here, I would take the bus tour of the zoo to save your feet. Then walk back to one or two exhibits you really want to see.


There's other stops, but these are the ones I really remember. That trolley tour was the BEST part of my trip to San Diego....LOVED it!!!

I stayed at Humphrey's Half Moon Inn and really enjoyed myself.

Thanks Joy, I will definately look into the trolley tour, sounds like exactly what we are looking for. I don't know if we will hit any museums, but I think Old Town and Gaslamp district sound like a good plan. I love that it stops at the Del. I am a HUGE Marilyn Monroe fan so it will be really exciting to see where she filmed Some Like it Hot.
On a side note, your sons are adorable!!

 

[Rella Bella]

Heather... the Trolly goes to Sea Port Village too. It's such a neat place, I'd hate for you to miss it!