will be in San Diego for Christmas Day...any suggestions of a special way to spend the day and where to have dinner? will be with wife & 2 teens....

The Zoo is open and it's a wonderful place. We were there on Christmas Day two years ago (it was quite crowded too). Ended up having dinner at a Chinese place in Old Town (sorry can't remember the name).

If the Del Coronado Hotel has a Christmas Dinner (and you're the splurgey type, like me, who likes that stuff) I'd look into it! It is very magical there at Christmas!

We arrived in SD on Christmas Day and found that many restaurants in Gaslamp District were closed. We ate at Thai Basil and it was delish!

Debi

thanks, I too was thinking of Del Coronado... ?Crown Room... or dinner show?

I didn't feel like cooking this year with the in-laws in town and we planned to go the Hotel Del at the Crown Room for dinner and they want $75 for adults for a buffet and we thought that was alot to be not served..they opened another restaurant called 1500 Ocean that looks more my style and I can be served. I'll probably spend more than $75pp!
The Hotel Del is a must see during the Christmas holidays.
Second option would be the US Grant Hotel Downtown..
www.usgrant.net
www.hoteldel.com

You could go to Seaworld..they are open and have special holiday festivities. They serve breakfast and lunch and dinner.
Baleen is a nice restaurant for dinner at PAradise Point resort near Seaworld on Mission BAy...says tehya re open Cristmas day.
Other place that may be open,,Lodge at Torry Pines.

There is a dinner at the Hotel Del put on by the a local theatre. You are part of the play and the food is good. Our children really enjoyed it, ages 10 & 14. We thought it was a special way to celebrate the holiday. You can also see if the "grinch who stole christmas" is on at the old globe. You could take that in and then catch dinner at the Prado in the park. A lot of local hotels/restaurants have dinner buffets which might be good. Good luck, itsv

If it's open, the Prado restaurant in Balboa Park would be excellent.