Marlena777

We just booked our airline tickets for our babymoon. Yes I am due on Dec 30th, so we have to get a fun yet relaxing trip in before the baby's arrival.

Please review our itinerary and let us know of sights we have missed or should miss. Also if we are packing too much into a day. Any recommendations for accommodations would be great too!

Day 1 - Friday
Arrive 9:00 a.m.
Drive up to Torrey Pines beach & reserve, birch aquarium, la jolla cove

Day 2 - Saturday
Mission Bay, Point Loma, Coronado Beach

Day 3 - Sunday
San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park plus dinner in Gas Lamp Quarter

Day 4 - Monday
Drive to Joshua Tree Park and enjoy the sights there.

Day 5 - Tuesday
Relaxing day in Palm Springs. Tramway & Living Desert.
Would like to stay in a B&B type place.

Day 6 - Wednesday
Not sure what to do on this day. Any suggestions?

Day 7 - Thursday
Departing from San Diego International around noon.

nanabee

for day 1 i would pick just one of the two beaches (either La Jolla Cove or Torrey Pines) then the Birch Aquarium.

for day 2 again Mission Bay/Coronado - I wouldn't do both. I would pick one or the other and then drive up to the Cabrillo Monument.

Mission Bay is covers a very large area. Are you going to go sailing, wind surfing, play in the water, picnic on one of the grassy lawn areas, walk around Mission Beach (MB in the summer is extremely crowded, parking is impossible, and at night it is not all that safe).

Coronado has a beautiful beach and you can spend time walking around or bicycling around the island.

day 3 sounds do-able.

imawanderlust

Congrats on your impending arrival!

For Day 6: If you're looking for a relaxing day at the beach, I really love Powerhouse Park in Del Mar. Great beach, grassy areas, some shade, nearby eats, fun and eclectic shops etc. Then drive up the 1 into the towns of Solana Beach, Cardiff, Leucadia - it's fun to see what's there.

Are you looking for hotels or vacation rentals? Since you'll be doing things all over SD vicinity, I've found that staying in Claremont Mesa or Kearny Mesa often works because of easy access to freeways, and ample choice of vacation rental condos.

If you're just wanting to check out LaJolla Cove, it might be OK to do both on Day 1. If you'll be up by Torrey Pines, you might want to check out Glider Port.

I agree with nanabee about Day 2.

Marlena777

Thanks for the responses. As far as hotel versus vacation rental, I am not sure we have a preference. We always stay at a hotel or B&B. What are the perks and disadvantages of a vacation rental?

imawanderlust

Marlena777,

Vacation rentals offer more of a "home" feel. If your into cooking your own meals and not eating out every meal, vacation rentals make this easier. They're also nicer for unwinding after a day of sight-seeing.

We've done both hotels (for shorter trips) and vacation rentals (for 4-5 days or more). For us, vacation rentals provide a home-away-from-home environment, but it's really whatever you're up for.

imawanderlust

Sorry. I forgot to include a link to a useful site. I have primarily used the following and have had good experiences with the owners I've rented from.
http://www.vrbo.com/

Barbara

But, you probably wouldn't find a vacation rental for just two or three nights. By September, many of the available summer rentals are taken by students for the academic year.

On day two you could have lunch at Point Loma Seafoods on your way to, or coming back from, the Cabrillo National Monument.

On day three, when you will be in Balboa Park all day (the Zoo is in Balboa Park), why not have dinner at the excellent Prado restaurant in the Park?

On day six, you could drive back to San Diego via Julian, a small former gold-mining town in the Cuyamaca mountains.

I'm sure you realise that the weather will be hot during the day, so be sure to have water with you.

nanabee

Yes I agree with Barbara - the Prado Restaurant in Balboa Park and Point Loma Seafood overlooking the harbor. Both very well established and popular with good food.