24 Hour layover in SanDiego
Oct 24th, 2012, 06:04 PM
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24 Hour layover in SanDiego
After 3 weeks in Hawaii and on our way back to Eastern Canada we arrive in SanDiego Friday Feb.01/2013 at 7 PM so will check in a hotel and go out for dinner probably in Gaslamp Quarter. Bed by 11 PM then up the next day by 7 AM and have breakfast but then have approx from 8AM untill 8PM to ourselves before flying out at 9:30 PM.
We are looking at doing The Old Town Trolly Tour but are open to suggestions. We don't want to go to the beach just because we just spent 3 weeks in Hawaii and would both rather just tour around and see SanDiego.. Not really into museums and such because of time so any suggestions on site seeing would be appreciated.
Thanks
Warren
We are looking at doing The Old Town Trolly Tour but are open to suggestions. We don't want to go to the beach just because we just spent 3 weeks in Hawaii and would both rather just tour around and see SanDiego.. Not really into museums and such because of time so any suggestions on site seeing would be appreciated.
Thanks
Warren
Oct 25th, 2012, 02:57 PM
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Oct 26th, 2012, 03:03 AM
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It all depends on what you want to do. If you have a car - you might drive out to the top of Cabrillo Point/Pt. Loma - or over the Coronado Bridge to Hotel Del, etc. Many other posts in here under SD/California.
Oct 26th, 2012, 08:37 PM
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I think you should stick to your idea of the Old Town Trolley Tour. My wife and I are Angelenos, but we have been to San Diego many times over the years for various reasons and always had a car. On one occasion we took the Old Town Trolley Tour and were very pleased with it. We recommended it to a traveling couple from Vancouver and they took it two days in succession! On the strength of our experience we later took a similar tour in San Antonio and also found it enjoyable and convenient.
San Diego does indeed have an excellent zoo, and because of the mild climate was a pioneer in putting the animals in surroundings that simulated their natural habitats. But other zoos have caught on and are doing the same thing using modern climate control technology to produce just about any habitat the animals might want, and that includes zoos in Canada. But it's an all day thing, and if you do the zoo, you won't see much of the "real" San Diego.
There are two notable sites that the Old Town Trolley doesn't go to. One is the Cabrillo National Monument, mentioned by Tomsd, reachable with some effort by bus, and the San Diego Mission, the very first of the 21 missions built by Spain to solidify their claim to Alta California. It's easily reachable via the regular San Diego Trolley.
San Diego does indeed have an excellent zoo, and because of the mild climate was a pioneer in putting the animals in surroundings that simulated their natural habitats. But other zoos have caught on and are doing the same thing using modern climate control technology to produce just about any habitat the animals might want, and that includes zoos in Canada. But it's an all day thing, and if you do the zoo, you won't see much of the "real" San Diego.
There are two notable sites that the Old Town Trolley doesn't go to. One is the Cabrillo National Monument, mentioned by Tomsd, reachable with some effort by bus, and the San Diego Mission, the very first of the 21 missions built by Spain to solidify their claim to Alta California. It's easily reachable via the regular San Diego Trolley.
Oct 27th, 2012, 09:24 AM
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It depends on what you like to do and if you'll have a rental car or not. I think the Trolly Tours is an excellent choice.
These choices are nice if you like history, and museums: The Cabrillo National Monument, Mission San Diego, the Midway (US Navy aircraft carrier open to the public), etc.
If you enjoy just strolling and like museums, I enjoy Balboa Park, it has the Zoo (but I don't think you want to limit your day to this one event), a lovely art colony (between the Zoo and the Natural History Museum), you can walk down to the various museums - early history, flight history, photographic arts, science center, SD art museum, and the Old Globe Theatre. The only sit down restaurant is The Prado (which is lovely) but go off peak times or call first for reservations. It is always packed.
These choices are nice if you like history, and museums: The Cabrillo National Monument, Mission San Diego, the Midway (US Navy aircraft carrier open to the public), etc.
If you enjoy just strolling and like museums, I enjoy Balboa Park, it has the Zoo (but I don't think you want to limit your day to this one event), a lovely art colony (between the Zoo and the Natural History Museum), you can walk down to the various museums - early history, flight history, photographic arts, science center, SD art museum, and the Old Globe Theatre. The only sit down restaurant is The Prado (which is lovely) but go off peak times or call first for reservations. It is always packed.
Nov 4th, 2012, 11:31 AM
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with only one day, i wouldn't do the zoo.
old town trolly is a good idea. if you stayed at a hotel downtown, it's not too far from the airport and then you can walk to one of the tolly stops. if it's a nice day, you could get off and do a walk around balboa park. it's sometimes fun on a saturday. but since you say you aren't into museums, you don't need too much time there. i'd plann on at least a few hours on coronado. can visit the hotel, walk the nice streets and have your lunch there. i'd also plan at least an our to waunder around "old town".
if you decide to rent a car, you could do all of that and go out to cabrillo monument or go to pacific beach and enjoy the boardwalk by either walking or rent a bike or rent some blades. lots of restaurants in that area.
old town trolly is a good idea. if you stayed at a hotel downtown, it's not too far from the airport and then you can walk to one of the tolly stops. if it's a nice day, you could get off and do a walk around balboa park. it's sometimes fun on a saturday. but since you say you aren't into museums, you don't need too much time there. i'd plann on at least a few hours on coronado. can visit the hotel, walk the nice streets and have your lunch there. i'd also plan at least an our to waunder around "old town".
if you decide to rent a car, you could do all of that and go out to cabrillo monument or go to pacific beach and enjoy the boardwalk by either walking or rent a bike or rent some blades. lots of restaurants in that area.
