San Diego Experts - Please Help

I'm looking to book a trip to SD for early May. We'll be going with my (almost) 3 year old daughter and I will be 21-23 weeks pregnant.

We'd like to visit the SD Zoo and *maybe* Disneyland for a day (if my husband manages to convince me)...but mostly just stroll around, eat and relax by a pool. I'd like to avoid renting a car for the entire trip (I realize I might have to if we go to Disney). How is public transportation?

Based on my 'criteria', where would you recommend we stay (area & hotel)?

Restaurant recommendations?

Local places to see...outside of the tourist spectrum. (DH might have some business to do in La Jolla so I'd like to send some time there as well).

TIA!!

Re: San Diego Experts - Please Help

To avoid having a car it would be best to stay downtown - gaslamp. The airport is actually in San Diego proper, so getting to/from there isn't difficult. A lot of the gaslamp hotels have pools, but they are small/rooftop ones. Close to the gaslamp you have great restaurants, Balboa Park/Zoo, golf, PetCo park, museums (I haven't been, but they recently opened the a children's museum), Seaport Village, I think there is a puppet theater in balboa Park as well? The trolley runs from the Mexico border to Old Town (and points east). Old Town is a fun place (good authentic Mexican food) and you can see the Sea World fire works from there at night.

But it's not easy to get to la jolla without a car (unless you want to figure out the bus schedule - it would be quite a ride going through pacific beach - an express would take you up to the UCSD side of la jolla) - do you know where in la jolla the meeting will be? This is where we lived, so if you let me know where, I could look into it. La Jolla is great for strolling, eating, watching the seals. I always love going up to Mt Soledad (on a clear day if you can - May/June mornings are infamous for the marine layer - it usually clears up by noon). it's a short visit, but pretty cool to experience (but car needed). The Birch Aquarium is also in la Jolla.

Not having a car dowtown is a plus, since hotels charge for parking. But not having a car would also limit your beach access. You could walk to the seaport and take a ferry to coronado and then walk some more to the beach/hotel del coronado. You could take the Coaster (commuter train) to del mar, solana beach, encinitas - beach towns.

You would need to drive to get to Seaworld/LegoLand/Wild Animal Park, if those are things you are interested in. Although there may be some sort of option from the Old Town trolley to Sea World.

You can get to Anaheim by train. I don't know if Disney provides a shuttle bus from the train station? But you do not need a car in Disneyland once you get there.

Message edited 4/24/2011 8:52:35 AM.

Re: San Diego Experts - Please Help

Wow Erica - thank you so much! Such great info. I was leaning towards the Gaslamp area bc it seemed to have the most bang for what we wanted.

How is the weather in early May?

eta: not sure where in La Jolla the office is...I am hoping to book some parts of this trip this week as we're running out of time

Message edited 4/25/2011 9:23:02 AM.

Re: San Diego Experts - Please Help

The weather will be great (60-70, little rain), it's just dealing with the marine layer (aka high fog/overcast - "May Gray") in the morning. It usually burns off by noon. Gaslamp and la jolla are coastal, so temps will rarely get above 75

Re: San Diego Experts - Please Help

I love San Diego! DH lived there for a few years and still says it is his favorite place!!!! I went there in May also, memorial weekend...it was a bit chilly and we definitely experienced the May Gray and June Gloom...but like Erica said it burns off by noon and will be gorgeous!

We had a rental car, I think this is your best bet so you can get around everywhere. Also we stayed at a beautiful Hilton...I cannot think of where it was, maybe Mission Bay? It was really cute and ont he bay - and had a nice path along the water where we took walks at night. I loved it and would def stay there again.

Also if you have time, head over to Coronado Island! We hung out at the Hotel Del there - it is huge and really pretty! We got some drinks and sat outside! And lastly there are some great little Taco shops in SD, omggg to die for. Like little dive ones. If you want the names I can get them from my hubby! He took me to 2 or 3 of them and I was in HEAVEN!

Re: San Diego Experts - Please Help

I would love to hear those taco recs, Jenna! Thanks

Re: San Diego Experts - Please Help

So plans changed and we're staying in La Jolla the entire time, renting a car so we can go to the aquarium, etc.

Any updates for the La Jolla area?!

Re: San Diego Experts - Please Help

Check out the Children's Pool to see the seals, and take some time to walk around all the little boutiques and stores in the shopping area. La Jolla is beautiful!

Re: San Diego Experts - Please Help

You must go to Harry's for breakfast in la Jolla.

We also liked Sushi on the Rock and George's at the Cove.

Re: San Diego Experts - Please Help

Thanks guys!