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Posted 12/31/2015 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
Clearly off topic so thanks for indulging me.
I need to go out to LA for a business meeting in January, and rather than do an almost 6 hour flight Monday and fly back Tuesday night, I figured i may as well make a mini vacation out of it. So I've asked my wife to join me, and after my business meeting Tuesday, we are driving down to San Diego. We've never been there, and I've heard its a nice town (and surroundings).

Any suggestions where to stay, and what to do? I'll get into San Diego late afternoon, around 4PM Tuesday, and have a 2PM flight back on Friday (from SD) so 3 nights and 2 + days.

I'd like to check out the beaches, specifically i hear La Jolla is beautiful. What else, whats worth seeing/doing? We are not big sightseers, and we've both been in LA but both never been to SD.
Posted 12/31/2015 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't been there is years but La Jolla was beautiful. Also, ate at George's at the cove. Not sure if it still there but recall it was a nice restaurant.
Posted 12/31/2015 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
The US Grant Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter is nice. If you want to stay outside of the city in a historic place you can consider the Hotel del Coronado across the bridge. (They filmed "Some Like It Hot" there.

The El Nino is supposed to give us non-stop storms this winter (and potential flooding) that hasn't been seen in decades, but right now we're still waiting. Just a word of caution--hope you get sunny days!
Posted 12/31/2015 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Oh,Oh, Legoland! It's on the way.

I love Legoland. You can build stuff with Lego.

I like to build stuff.

Andrew
Posted 12/31/2015 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Drive out to Point Loma for a spectacular view of San Diego and the Navy Base from above. Airplanes will be flying BELOW you in the distance. See the lighthouse there then drive down to the ocean to watch surfers up close.

Go to Balboa Park to see the world famous San Diego Zoo. If you have time, stop by the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in the Park. Seriously, you will not believe it. It is not just toy trains, the HO layout is Southern California in 1/87 scale!! One of the members took us inside the layout for a tour "behind the scenes" where I took close up videos.

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 12/31/2015 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting thread because we were just talking about that. We hope to take a month off starting the end of Jan. We have booked a place in Palm Desert, Ca. We will use that as a base and take many side trips. We will take a few to see our daughter in Santa Monica and also to see Dr. Lam for my annual visit. We hope to do a side trip to Vegas and SAN DIEGO. So, any information will be appreciated!

Prat -- too bad you won't be there when we are there!

I do know NYC is on our radar!

Mel
Posted 12/31/2015 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys, some great suggestions.
As far as where to stay, i am partial to Marriott, i know there is one in the Gaslamp Quarter. (i love my points)
I've got just two full days, so I'm limited. but i wil def consider all this. La Jolla and Coronado Beach are definitely on my list. I love beautiful beaches and beach towns. Lets hope El Nino holds off.

Mel, yes i had thought about that, we'll just miss each other. But if you come to NYC, def let me know, it would be great to get together
Posted 12/31/2015 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately, January is not beach weather (in fact, it's been warmer where you are).

I once stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado - it's a drive out over the bay to Coronado Island. It's beautiful and historic, and you can ride a horse on the beach. But if you want to stay closer to downtown, the Marriott Marquis is centrally located - you can walk to the Gaslamp quarter, Seaport Village, the ships and the whale tours.

I love the Zoo (Balboa Park) and the Safari Park (Escondido). There are several museums in Balboa Park as well. Sea World in Mission Bay is fun, if you haven't been to one. Also in Mission Bay is Old Town, which is a scenic stop to get a margarita.

Birch Aquarium in La Jolla is cool, but I enjoy getting into the nearby tidal pools myself - but January is cold. While you're in La Jolla, check out the hang gliders at the Torrey Pines gliderport over Black's Beach. Black's is the premier nude beach in Southern California #coldshrinkage #hike-the-cliff.

Closer to downtown, you might enjoy a tour of the USS Midway. And nearby you can also see the tall ships at the Maritime Museum. The gray whales are headed south to Baja now, so you might want to take a whale watching tour (dress warm!).

Unless you have to have an Elvis on black velvet, I don't recommend Tijuana. (I always skip it and head farther south to Rosarito or Ensenada.) There's a trolley from SD to San Ysidro and you walk across. My out-of-town guests always want to go, and always regret it afterwards. It's truly nasty.

- Allen
Posted 12/31/2015 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
There's a great seafood place at fisherman's landing on shelter island for lunch.
Tour the Midway aircraft carrier.
Old Town is a great place for good Mexican food and a taste old old San Diego. Take the trolley there.
Hotel Del Coranado is great and you can watch the SEALs train on the beach.
I was just down to Del Mar yesterday and it was beautiful. I used to keep my boat in SAn Diego in the summer, much to do, the zoo, Wild Animal Park, and Sea World, Balboa Park Museum.
Posted 12/31/2015 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
John:

What are the seals training for?
<g>
Mel
Posted 12/31/2015 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
FYI, the US Grant is a Starwood hotel, which means if you earn points in Starwood they'll likely become Marriott points next year when Starwood and Marriott merge. But you certainly couldn't use any points there in the meantime.

The Marriott Marquis is a big convention-type hotel so it's a bit impersonal. But there are some good views from it and there's several restaurants within walking distance.

BTW, if you're doing biz in LA near downtown, you could take the train to SD. Once you get past Orange County it travels right on the coast and is pretty scenic if the weather is nice. And it's about a 10-min walk to the Marriott.
Posted 12/31/2015 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Once again, TA has hit the nail on the head .... Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado island. I stayed there once and loved it. Historic and beautiful. Here's a link:

hoteldel.com/
Posted 12/31/2015 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Wow. That is one impressive hotel. But the cost of the Bed and Breakfast package is over $500 per night!!

Out of my league! Heck, do you know how many PSA tests I could buy for that?

Mel
Posted 12/31/2015 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
If you're wedded to Marriott, there's one just off the 5, close to both La Jolla and Del Mar: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sandm-san-diego-marriott-del-mar/ That said, it's not within walking distance of anything you might want to see/do.

Might be fun to check out the inexpensive (by San Diego standards) places down on Pacific Beach -- not fancy, but great location. We used to live in San Diego (not far from the Marriott I mention above), and when we moved to D.C. and my husband would go back to S.D. on business, he'd pick one of the Pacific Beach places to stay.

Post Edited (Bluepencil) : 12/31/2015 1:44:52 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/31/2015 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Great stuff, thanks so much. I'm thinking I made a mistake buying non refundable tix, having only two and a half days in SD. Should have taken an extra day
Posted 12/31/2015 9:00 PM (GMT 0)

Somebody said...
But the cost of the Bed and Breakfast package is over $500 per night!!

Out of my league! Heck, do you know how many PSA tests I could buy for that?

Hmmm...If we just had a mathematician on this board. Then we'd know! wink
Posted 1/2/2016 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
Mel,

Navy SEALS, Coronado is their training center. I usually stay at the Navy base, $75 per night for an ocean view, just down the street from The Del.
Posted 1/2/2016 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
Great topic!

We will be in San Diego at the end of March, so this gives us some great ideas.
Posted 1/2/2016 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
Mel and Prato,

We drove over to see the "Hotel Del", walked in it and around the grounds and beach. We stayed at a hotel downtown, I can't remember the name but it is the one you see in skyline photos of San Diego with the hexagon shape. Maybe someone knows the name. It was nice, great view and reasonable price. My wife took me there for my 50th birthday then spent the next day on Catalina Island.

Have fun

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 1/2/2016 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Bil. I made a res last night at the Marriott San Diego Del Mar. It looks like it's half way between downtown and La Jolla. It looks nice, and I'm happy to not stay downtown, it might be like being in Manhattan. I'd rather feel like I'm on vacation. I want yo see La Jolla anyway and Coronado Del Mar, so it should be convenient
Posted 1/2/2016 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
For computer nerds, there is the Computer History Museum. I sent them huge boxes of materials from my early days (~1967) programming, they want the rest, but the shipping would break me.
Posted 1/3/2016 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
www.ocgp.org/

www.ocgp.org/visit/balloon/

www.ocgp.org/2014/06/visitors-information-great-park/

Post Edited (Sagittarian) : 1/2/2016 7:44:40 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/3/2016 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
I echo others' suggestions - also stop by old town for great mexican food - anywhere is good, but I particularly like Casa Guadalajara www.casaguadalajara.com/ .
If during the day, you can check out the original town square of San Diego . www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com/
Jeff
Posted 1/3/2016 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
This place (hotel and town) is awesome.

http://hoteldel.com
Posted 1/3/2016 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
I've been told Coronado Del Mar hotel is amazing. For $800 a night, it better be. lol
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