Trip to San Diego

[thobbs]

We are planning on taking our kids to San Diego next week. We will only be there three days. Any suggestions on the best places to go? We will be staying near Balboa Park. We are considering Sea World, the Zoo and Wild Animal Park. I'm concerned that will be trying to cram too much into three days. Any suggestions? Out kids are 12, 9 and 5.

[Miriam C.]

Thobbs
We had a chance to take our son to Sea World when he was 11 and deeply regret not doing it. The chance was lost and relatives moved. He is grown now and would still like to go. Can't get it in the middle of the country. Can get a zoo anywhere.
JMHO
Miriam

[thobbs]

Miriam, That's what I was thinking too. We have a zoo here in Utah and once you've seen a elephant, you've seen an elephant. Sea World is a must. If anyone has been there, is it better to do it in two days rather than one? Can you see it without tons of stress in one day? We've been to Disneyland twice, once for one day and the second for three. Much better experiance the second time. Also, I'm wondering about beaches. My kids have never been to an ocean beach. Any experiance on the best ones to visit in the area. None of us are good swimmers.

[TRAIL-OF-TEARS]

We visited San Diego Sea World last year. It is very nice. Our Sea World here (San Antonio) is comparable but San Diego with 73-75 deg and a view of the ocean is purty darn cool. Just don't push it too hard with the Kids I think it is better to see some things and take the time to enjoy it than see everything and be run ragged. If you miss something that is just a good reason to go back. Think Quality not Quantity

[anonymous2]

thobbs,

I go to San Diego about ever 3-4 years,and for a week at a time. If you have 3 days you can do the zoo one day,sea world another,maybe wld animal park the third. You can do each in a day,but you must keep moving to see enough to make it worth while. It will be very tiring for all. Sea world holds shows about every hour,but the bad part is they hold them from one side of the park to the other,so you are constantly running back & forth. Take a whole day 9AM to 7PM do shows when you are near them,that's why it takes all day. There are side shows like simulated rides,my advice,see the animals the kids love them the most ,and will remember them the most. The zoo is more animal watching,and a couple of side shows. The wild animal park you will see the same animals as in the zoo{they are linked together},however the animals roam free,and you ride a train around the park{less tiring}. One must do at the wild animal park,the Lorikeet house. You buy a cup of nectar,and hundreds of birds will sit on you waiting for the nectar{kids go nuts over this}. Food & drink are very expensive at all of them. They did{after 911 in 2002} check all your carry in when arriving{just like the airport,and some things are banned,Check their web sites .

If you want to do 3 events Balboa park is loaded with car museums,air museums,museums,and a great one for the kids,a railroad train yard in the basement of the local history museum. You can spend a day there too,but see most all,and varied things.

PM me or e-mail if you want more info on any one of these places. I have been to all of them,and lots others 6 times,and know my way around.

pateardropper

[halfdome, Danny]

Balboa Park the Zoo is there, Sea World is so so and The wild Animal Park is nice in the evening when it's cooler in Escondido. Take your children to Kate Sessions Park in La Jolla , and let them see all the sea creatures in the protected tide pools. It's free and it's a beautiful area. Scripps Pier has an aquarium that I always liked. You could also go to the Cabrillo lighthouse on the tip of Point Loma and you may see a submarine or a whale depending on the time of year. The Ocean Beach Pier is fun too. Old Town is nice and Presidio Park is just above it and the kids can play on the grassy mounds (just below the museum) that cover ancient San Diego. You could get some fire wood and either go to Pacific Beach or Fiesta Island for a hot dog and marshmallow roast on the beach one evening. Also it's worth the toll to go over the San Diego Coronado Bay Bridge to see Coronado Island and the Hotel Del Coronado. I wouldn't waste the trip to Tia Juana.
Did I mention I’m a San Diego native . Danny

[halfdome, Danny]

Miriam, That's what I was thinking too. We have a zoo here in Utah and once you've seen a elephant, you've seen an elephant. Sea World is a must. If anyone has been there, is it better to do it in two days rather than one? Can you see it without tons of stress in one day? We've been to Disneyland twice, once for one day and the second for three. Much better experiance the second time. Also, I'm wondering about beaches. My kids have never been to an ocean beach. Any experiance on the best ones to visit in the area. None of us are good swimmers.

I wouldn't skip the San Diego Zoo there is none to compare it to anywhere.

[thobbs]

Sounds like we may just have to do it all! No matter what, it will be fun. Our poor kids must feel like orphans since we started builing our house. It will be good to get away.

[sdtripper2]

Hello, Thobbs


To get the flavor of San Diego is to look at its beauty either as Danny has suggested "Cabrillo monument" by looking back and down on the city or my favorite from Coronado island at dusk, followed by a short ride to the Hotel Del and then back over the bay bridge to Old Town for sights and sounds in the cool of the San Diego eve.

I suggest you make plans to see one of the major sights in town during the day. Then as afternoon stretches into eve you do this tour. Go over the bridge to Coronado island http://tinyurl.com/f3l77 and take a right as soon as possible and go down to the Ferry landing http://tinyurl.com/f82tv and look back at the lights of San Diego as night falls on the city. At the landing there is a small beach for wading and a wonderful walk way that you can fully appreciate the full vantage point of the city. Note: When the political conventions are in town the restaurants that have this million dollar view are taken over. Here is a the address close to the Ferry landing on Coronado Island. 1201 First Street Coronado, CA 92101 From there as the warm night is cooled and you being on the bay looking over at this picturesque city. You may drive over the short distance to the Hotel Coronado. This is one land mark that many do appreciate. The movie Some Like it Hot was filmed there. Again you can walk through the buildings and out onto the decks to see the ocean and down the silver strand. Here is a link to the Hotel Del. http://tinyurl.com/g789d So now you have gone over the bridge and taken the right to the Ferry Landing to see how beautiful San Diego is. Then you have driven from the landing West till you come to Orange Ave and followed it through the picturesque town to the Hotel Del. After this you can get back in your car and drive back across the bridge and find the Bazaar Del Mundo http://www.bazaardelmundo.com/ in the historic part of the city called Old Town San Diego = http://www.oldtownsandiego.org/ . The Bazaar Del Mundo will give you sight and sound with lights and music and you could find something there to eat for sure. The atmosphere is what you will remember of San Diego.

So to sum uP what I would do with guests coming to San Diego is let them see San Diego bay as it shows off the city as one of the best in America. Taking the bridge about 4-6 PM would go over to where the Ferry lands in Coronado Island. Dip your feet in the water on the small beach there and take a picturesque walk looking back on San Diego as the light fades so as to see how nice the city looks at night. Then would drive through the town of Coronado to the Hotel Del and see some history and architecture with vista's of the ocean. Then back in the car and over the bridge to Old Town and the Bazaar Del Mundo. Eating outside and then strolling through colorful shops will be fun for most and the children will be entertained with sight and sounds with Spanish and Mexico fan fare. The costs are minimal with maybe some cost for parking at the Hotel Del and maybe springing for some food at the Bazaar Del Mundo http://tinyurl.com/g4s9s at your choice of eating places. All in all you will get the full flavor and memories of San Diego for little cost. Note: The shop hours at the Bazaar are on the URL above if you want to shop or if not window shopping will still give you atmosphere. The restaurants are open later than the little shops.

I suggest the http://bazaardelmundo.com/pico2006.shtml Casa De Pico or Casa De Bandini http://bazaardelmundo.com/bandini2006.shtml for eating with atmosphere. There are other places like the Old Town Mexican Cafe. http://www.oldtownmexcafe.com/ Carnitas is there specialty.

Anyway... Thobbs what ever you do in San Diego you will enjoy.

Best of times here in Southern Cal. And the Weather http://tinyurl.com/j4q22 should be perfect by the time you arrive as a cooling trend in the offing.

[mincey]

I am an animal nut, and just love the Wild Animal Park. It is so neat seeing them in a natural setting instead of in smaller enclosures. We used to go all the time. My grandparents used to live in Vista, so the Wild Animal Park was closer as well than going all the way into SD to the zoo. But the Zoo is spectacular too. Much better than the Atlanta Zoo. Been to the San Diego and LA zoos many times in my childhood (I am a southern California native as well, now living in GA) Sea World is fun to go to as well. And others have said Balboa park has lots of stuff too. I don't remember the venue, I think it was Balboa, but there was a place where they hold outdoor plays, and since it is near the airport when a plane flies over the actors just freeze, and resume after plane passes. There's a light on the stage that flashes that cues the actors when to "freeze" for a plane. Really interesting!!

Sounds like you will have more trips in the future - so much to do!!

Cheryl

[Italia]

I would not miss the Wild Animal Park. My husband who was not into the idea of going, wants to go again.


Italia

[halfdome, Danny]

And others have said Balboa park has lots of stuff too. I don't remember the venue, I think it was Balboa, but there was a place where they hold outdoor plays, and since it is near the airport when a plane flies over the actors just freeze, and resume after plane passes. There's a light on the stage that flashes that cues the actors when to "freeze" for a plane. Really interesting!!
Cheryl

I believe you are referring to the Shakespeare plays at the Old Globe Theatre next to the California Tower in Balboa Park. It's a replica of the original in England. The Starlight Opera next to the Aerospace Museum ( Balboa Park too) use to have the same airport problem. Danny

[mincey]

And others have said Balboa park has lots of stuff too. I don't remember the venue, I think it was Balboa, but there was a place where they hold outdoor plays, and since it is near the airport when a plane flies over the actors just freeze, and resume after plane passes. There's a light on the stage that flashes that cues the actors when to "freeze" for a plane. Really interesting!!
Cheryl

I believe you are referring to the Shakespeare plays at the Old Globe Theatre next to the California Tower in Balboa Park. It's a replica of the original in England. The Starlight Opera next to the Aerospace Museum ( Balboa Park too) use to have the same airport problem. Danny

Starlight Opera - that was it! We went to several shows there when I was a kid. Lots of fun!!

Cheryl

[thobbs]

Thank you everyone. We only get away every few years so all your advice is very valuable. Thanks for the links sdtripper2. That's good advice. Since we are staying next to Balboa Park I'm sure we will check it out too.

[halfdome, Danny]

http://www.starlighttheatre.org/about.htm