s9frey

Hi there!

I'm planning a trip with a friend of mine for a long weekend in San Diego this January. We're both single, 30-year-old women looking for a mix of relaxation and adventure. We both love spending time by the beach and also going for hikes, but will also want to get to some night spots for a microbrew or a cocktail. Maybe some wandering around a cute downtown, eating some delicious food...

Hoping you guys can offer some advice as to which area to stay in. Budget isn't super huge, but we don't need to go with a hostel either.

I've been doing some research into old posts and put together a temporary itinerary of things we're planning to do while we're in town:
Torrey Pine hiking
Old Town
La Jolla (The Cove?)
Gas Lamp

We are considering renting a car, so if there's a better option that is a little out of town, that's okay too. Thanks in advance for all your help!

DebitNM

Gaslamp for sure! The Courtyard or Omni; we've stayed at both.

sf7307

I agree - stay in the Gaslamp. we recently had a really good meal in Little Italy (Gaslamp-adjacent) at Davanti Enoteca. How will you get around while you're there?

tchoiniere

I definitely agree with Gaslamp. Highly recommend a rental car to get around as its much more convenient.

s9frey

We'll get a rental car if need be sf7307!
Would we have any problems finding parking in the Gaslamp?

DebitNM

Hotels have paid parking with in/ out privileges, usually.

sunbum1944

You can take the Coaster train from SD to many of the beach towns up north- I love the north county towns- Carlsbad is my favorite but maybe not enough activity for your age group- but you could spend part of a day- train station is just a few blocks to the beach- surfboard rentals and lessons available if that interests you.

LSky

You'll have trouble finding parking at the gaslamp unless you pay for the hotel.

I'm curious why the suggestions to stay in the Gaslamp instead of the beach? If I didn't live here, I'd want to wake up near the salt air and hear the waves crashing.

tom42

You won't have to worry about finding parking in the Gaslamp if you decide to stay in that area. It is pretty compact and you can easily walk wherever you want to go.

I have stayed in the Gaslamp and the Marina areas (you can walk to the Gaslamp from the Marina). I've stayed at the Omni in the Gaslamp and the Marriott and Hyatt at the Marina. Any of those would be good choices but I would go with the Omni out of those three.

Also, I would add Balboa Park to the list of things to do.

Tomsd

The Gaslamp has the most contentrated "social" scene - but there are other places where people have good times.

And nothing prettier than a drive up the Coast - and from Torrey Pines to Carlsbad is very scenic - even if it's not all along the beach.

Driving over the bridge over Coronado is also a great little jaunt.

s9frey

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

Wondering if there are any places by the ocean you'd recommend that aren't too pricy?
If it helps, we like something a little quirky. And we're both campers, so something a little more cottagey might be nice too. Thanks

sf7307

LSky, it just sounded like these were young women who would like to go out at night, and, as Tomsd said, there's a "contrated" social social scene in the Gaslamp. Much easier to walk back to your hotel than to have to drive or taxi to the beach.

Tomsd

My favorite place - literally built on the rocks coming out of the Ocean - is the Inn at Sunset Cliffs - http://innatsunsetcliffs.com/ and nearby Ocean Beach has some fun places to hang, such as Gallagher's pub on Newport - a nice walk from the Inn. http://www.discoversd.com/california...nightlife.html

Tomsd

And OB is only about a 15 minute drive from downtown - and just over the hill from the main area in Point Loma which also has places to explore. http://www.sandiego.org/what-to-do/b...oint-loma.aspx

Oops. Forgot to mention - walking out on the long pier at OB is a treat - and you can even have breakfast or lunch out there, or look down at the surfers, whatever. http://tinyurl.com/ag6nton

Tomsd

Here is a surfing pic for ye: http://tinyurl.com/ag6nton,

Tomsd

Fooey - thought that was the individual pic. Just scroll down the page of pics - and you will see several surfing shots, and it amazes me that when the surf is big enough, some of the guys surf right under the pier - through the pillars - and if you hit one of those supports going fast - it would be bad news.

Tomsd

Another fun place to walk around/discover is Old Town - and our favorite restaurant is Casa Guadalajara - http://www.casaguadalajara.com/

They also have a good happy hour/lively bar, as does the Old Town Mexican Cafe - where even if you don't go in - you can look through the front window and see the women making the tortillas by hand.

There are also a few other places there to socialize.

LSky

What exactly is "too pricey"?

How much will the Gaslamp cost? Include parking too. I wouldn't leave a car on street downtown overnight.

nanabee

There aren't any parking spaces available downtown in the gaslamp area unless you are out in the boonies - which would be miles from your hotel.

I would stay in the Gaslamp area and if price is a consideration I'd ditch the rental car and if it's just for a weekend then I'd walk to the clubs and restaurants at night and take a city bus to the Embarcadero or Balboa Park - that's probably all you'll have time for.

Otherwise, you could stay in the cheaper area of Pacific Beach. It's got a lot of nightlife (mostly college kids) and not as upscale and exciting. But you could walk everywhere - however, you'd need a car to do anything else like Balboa Park (where the museums and SD Zoo are located) Old Town, Point Loma Lighthouse, La Jolla Cove or the LJ Shores, Coronado, Downtown, etc.

nanabee

>

should not no or very little free street parking