Hi
we will only have from about 9 am til 4:30PM in San Diego on a cruise stop next month. Plan to get on the old town trolley from the cruise pier to make the circuit around the city. Have our son's ages 13 & 15 with us as well. Plan to do the 'free' museums in Balboa Park since it will be the 1st Tues of the month. (Science center, Nat. history museum, and railroad museum) and old town as well. Is it worth it to get off in Coronado and do a short walk around the hotel and beach there?? Anything else we should try to fit in? Want to hit the highlights as much as possible but avoid feeling too crazed with our limited time there.
Thanks for your help

Old Town Trolley is the perfect solution for you. It stops right in front of the cruise ship terminal. The first trolley will be at 9:15am and every half-hour after that.

I just got back from a stay on Coronado and I loved it -- from the stop at McP's you could get to the beach and back in half an hour. The waves aren't anything -- and it's hard to get close to the water on the public part and a bit of a walk to get to the beach at The Del. On the other hand the Del itself is quite something & the lobby is free ) With your schedule I'd focus on Balboa Park and Old Town.

On a one day I'd skip the zoo. The trolley stop in Balboa park lets off near the art museum and the museum of man. The science center is a bit of a walk from there. While there is a free park tram I don't know how long the circuit takes. There is also a wonderful botanical building right near the trolley stop.

Then I'd take the trolley to old town for lunch and the afternoon. There are interesting old buildings and shops. It is a state historical park and really nicely done. For lunch the best place is in Bazaar Del Mundo -- Casa de Pico -- the margaritas are great here also. We also ate at El Fandango and found it lower key and quite tasty. Do NOT have a margarita at Rancho El Nopal. Casa Bandini is the most highly rated restaurant in the park and will be the first you come to.

On the waterfront where you land you will also find the Maritime Museum, which, if you end up back at the waterfront which is at least worth a "walk-by" -- there are also some wonder sculptures along the promenade -- called "urban trees", so if you get back with half an hour to spare there is stuff to do right there. If you take the 3:30 trolley from Old Town you will be back at your ship by 3:30pm, with a bit of time for the harbour stroll

Ooops -- my bad -- you'll be back at your ship at 3:45pm.

One warning on the trolley. With a ship in town it may be crowded and they are slow to add trolleys. Sometimes you might have to wait an extra half hour -- since there is so much to do on the harbourfront I would aim for the 3pm one from Old Town.

topping for cmitch9999

I looked at the museum campus map and themuseums you mentioned do seem to be within easy walking distance of the trolley stop. Don't miss the Botanical Building though.

If you decide to go to Coronado you can rent bikes by the hour at a shop by the boat dock. We rode on the path around the island to the beach to the Hotel Del. We thought it was a nice way to see the area and your sons would probably enjoy the activity.

Thanks for the 'inside' help. Just wish we could visit longer in San Diego. So hard to choose what to do with our short time there.

I agree that the Old Town Trolley Tour is the way to go. It gives you a good overview of the city and you go at your own pace. Have fun!

The Old Town Trolley let's you off at McP's -- which is a couple of blocks from The Del. The Ferry Marketplace is a rather uninteresting 10 block walk away. There is a bike rental near McP's also -- my son rented there -- but not exactlu sure where it is. Personally I'd focus on Blaboa Park, Old Town and the waterfront.

the old town trolley works for many tourists (even if some of the tour guides to embellish a little on their version of sd history). however, consider that the trolley tour runs about $24.
if there are two of you, $50 would more than cover any taxi fare to and from the destinations the trolley tour goes without having to stop at places you may not want to visit like a shopping mall and the marriott.

if you want to just wander around and 'look' at things from the comfort of a tour bus, then the Old Town Trolley tour is for you.

if you decide on being more destination driven, i would hop in a cab and get straight to the point.

if you have time, definitly go for a walk around coronado

I just re-read your post and missed that you were travelling with your 2 sons.
the child fare for the old town trolley tour covers 4-12 year olds. so consider that your 13 and 15 will be paying full price adult fares at $25 a piece.
Now consider that for 4 "adult", you're looking at $100 in tour bus tickets. at $50 you were close to breaking even and at $100 you're definitely overspending on transportation.

like i mentioned in the last post, to get from point a to point b, you'll save lots of money by just taking taxis which will be more than plentiful around all the destinations the trolley tour goes.

I completely agree with malvado. You will be much better served by taxis given the very limited amount of time you have. There will be plenty to be found close to the cruise ship pier and there are always some in Balboa Park, both outside the Zoo and in the area of the Museum of Art. Old Town is also well served. Your sons would probably enjoy Mission Beach more than Coronado. If they like roller coasters, they'll get a kick out of the wooden one there.

and those poor teens might be bored to tears on that cruise ship. the last thing they would want is to spend a bunch of time on a tour bus.

barbara's right. take them to belmont park in mission beach or at least to ocean beach (which would be the closest to get to).