Ok, I know I got some Southern California advice already but now the flights are booked and this is happening. We'll be there mid November.
Any ideas about weather?
Where to stay - in the city proper (gas lamp?) or a little further out; near sea world or mission valley? We'll be using hotel points, so there are some limitations. Staying in the city is appealing because it's walkable.
Any most dos besides the obvious zoo? I don't know if we'll actually be doing sea world.
I know the zoo will be amazing; we have a good zoo but nothing compared to sd. I thought it looked like balboa had a ton - reminds me of golden gate park.
I would still do the beach or the bay even though it might be cold. Just wear sweats and jackets. The kids will love playing in the sand. There are also some cool boardwalk spots were you could rent those big bikes that multiple people pedal. Your dd's might not be old enough to help with that yet. What are those things called?
DD loves Sea World. We don't see many shows (she likes Pets Rule with the domesticated animals that have been adopted) but we love seeing the animals. Sometimes they offer free tickets for pass members. If you are interested, let me know as it gets closer.
Dd also loves the Rueben H Fleet, the science museum at Balboa park and also the Natural History museum (mostly for the fossils).
Staying downtown can be fun but depending on what you plan to do it might be better to stay some where else. It can be loud at the gas lamp and the night life down there is lively. Some parts of downtown are more developed than others and the developed parts have a bigger problem with homeless. I would probably stay in hotel circle (Mission Valley) it's more central and parking would be less of a hassle.
I forgot a hidden gem. If you don't want to do Sea World you could try the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. It's not as cool as the one in long beach but It isn't as expensive either. it's set up with interactive stations. I would do that, maybe head down to the Children's pool (also in La Jolla) after that. The Chidlren's pool was originally created for kids by building a big sea wall to break up the waves. But in the meantime seals have taken it over for their pups. Now it is roped off to protect the seals. There are a lot of cool shops and restaurants around there too as well as some grass and another section of the beach to play on.
Have you thought of going to Old Town? If you do decide to stay downtown you could ride the trolley to Old Town and spend the day in the different (mostly free) shop so museums, and historical sites. There are some great Mexican restaurants down there too.
They're called surreys. And NOPE. Hate those thing in Jersey.
We'll definitely go to the beach regardless, they love sand and it's something you can't really NOT see, you know?
I'll mull sea world over I guess.
RE: the location - I guess part of it is not understanding how san diego is, traffic, etc. I don't know what 5 miles means - will it be 10 minutes or 30, you know? I would really miss the walking, too, but I want to be sensible. And yea, parking out there is considerably cheaper - but we'd still have to park wherever we are going. Being surrounded by a dozen hotels and chain restaurants isn't appealing but maybe that's still the best option. I don't know if I can convince DH!
I forgot a hidden gem. If you don't want to do Sea World you could try the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. It's not as cool as the one in long beach but It isn't as expensive either. it's set up with interactive stations. I would do that, maybe head down to the Children's pool (also in La Jolla) after that. The Chidlren's pool was originally created for kids by building a big sea wall to break up the waves. But in the meantime seals have taken it over for their pups. Now it is roped off to protect the seals. There are a lot of cool shops and restaurants around there too as well as some grass and another section of the beach to play on.
Have you thought of going to Old Town? If you do decide to stay downtown you could ride the trolley to Old Town and spend the day in the different (mostly free) shop so museums, and historical sites. There are some great Mexican restaurants down there too.
I must have read about the Children's Pool at some point, sounds familiar and great. I'll add that to the list.
Old Town is on the list, too.
I guess I'll start w/ a big list and cull it down. We'll have 5-6 days.
They're called surreys. And NOPE. Hate those thing in Jersey.
We'll definitely go to the beach regardless, they love sand and it's something you can't really NOT see, you know?
I'll mull sea world over I guess.
RE: the location - I guess part of it is not understanding how san diego is, traffic, etc. I don't know what 5 miles means - will it be 10 minutes or 30, you know? I would really miss the walking, too, but I want to be sensible. And yea, parking out there is considerably cheaper - but we'd still have to park wherever we are going. Being surrounded by a dozen hotels and chain restaurants isn't appealing but maybe that's still the best option. I don't know if I can convince DH!
Yeah if it's going to be the five of you I wouldn't do it either!
It depends on what you plan to do. If you plan to be leaving the downtown area (which it sounds like you are) then you won't be walking much anyway. You wouldn't walk to Balboa Park, the Zoo, or the children's pool. I don't know what you would do downtown all day with the kiddos. There is a children's museum down there. I haven't been there myself but I have friends who love it.
Can you stay on the bay? What kind of points are you using? Parking downtown is expensive and can be difficult to find. Once you decide where you are staying I can help with traffic. It will depend on where you are headed?
yea, I don't know how much we'd actually need to walk to - I guess it just has a different feel staying in the middle of things, you know? We've never visited a city and not stayed right in the city!
We liked embassy suites downtown, it was across from a cute village filled with shops and near the heart of everything.
Another vote for balboa park and the zoo. Also Lego land is in nearby Carlsbad. Also like a pp mentioned the birch aquarium, that was a hit with ds. It was also fun to walk the stretch of aircraft carriers by the military port.
Old town and the gas lamp district isn't somewhere I would bother with if you have kids with you just my opinion.
Also a beach day could work as the weather has been pretty nice.
If anything, I would skip sea world. So much other better stuff to do!
ETA embassy suites he breakfast included and the room was a suite so we were able to stay up after ds went down and watch movies and also the breakfast was great! Oh and there is a dunkin donuts attached to the hotel
We liked embassy suites downtown, it was across from a cute village filled with shops and near the heart of everything.
Another vote for balboa park and the zoo. Also Lego land is in nearby Carlsbad. Also like a pp mentioned the birch aquarium, that was a hit with ds. It was also fun to walk the stretch of aircraft carriers by the military port.
Old town and the gas lamp district isn't somewhere I would bother with if you have kids with you just my opinion.
Also a beach day could work as the weather has been pretty nice.
If anything, I would skip sea world. So much other better stuff to do!
ETA embassy suites he breakfast included and the room was a suite so we were able to stay up after ds went down and watch movies and also the breakfast was great! Oh and there is a dunkin donuts attached to the hotel
Was it by Sea Port village? I would stay by there!
We liked embassy suites downtown, it was across from a cute village filled with shops and near the heart of everything.
Another vote for balboa park and the zoo. Also Lego land is in nearby Carlsbad. Also like a pp mentioned the birch aquarium, that was a hit with ds. It was also fun to walk the stretch of aircraft carriers by the military port.
Old town and the gas lamp district isn't somewhere I would bother with if you have kids with you just my opinion.
Also a beach day could work as the weather has been pretty nice.
If anything, I would skip sea world. So much other better stuff to do!
ETA embassy suites he breakfast included and the room was a suite so we were able to stay up after ds went down and watch movies and also the breakfast was great! Oh and there is a dunkin donuts attached to the hotel
Was it by Sea Port village? I would stay by there!
Yes that was it! It was so great and also the hotel has cribs
So the hotel we'd stay at if we stayed in the city is the westin that is about a 1/2 a mile from sea port village - maybe 5 blocks? Maybe that is okay?
I will have to look - I think that starwood & marriott are merging points or something.
So the hotel we'd stay at if we stayed in the city is the westin that is about a 1/2 a mile from sea port village - maybe 5 blocks? Maybe that is okay?
I will have to look - I think that starwood & marriott are merging points or something.
Yes, that's a great hotel. Seaport village is really fun.
Paradise point is in mission bay and it's a resort.