I will be attending a conference at the Bahia Resort in Mission Bay in May. I'm bringing my husband with so we can enjoy some vacation-y time too. We have been to San Diego before, tho a few years ago.

I have a couple of questions: Should we rent a car? I remember from our previous trip that public transit in Southern California is next to non existent. I am conerned about my husband (not a beach-bum kind of guy) having things to do while I am in my meetings.

Along those lines--any suggestions for things a guy could do alone for a few hours on a Friday and Saturday?

I also have not booked our room yet and with it being a conference I'm not sure how much request leeway I have--but any recommendations on room location at this resort? I have read elsewhere that parts of the hotel are noisy.

My last question is--what kind of food options will there be in Mission Bay? The resort has food, but we like to find nice little funky restaurants--any recommendations?

Thanks!

Yes, rent a car.

Del Mar or La Jolla

Del Mar for beachside shopping and nice meals. La Jolla to see seals on a beach, ocean view.

Enjoy.

You will need a car.

Your husband might enjoy touring the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier which is now a museum and is docked along the Embarcadero.

http://www.midway.org/site/pp.asp?c=coIMKTMCF&b=81432


He might also enjoy some of the museums in Balboa Park.

http://www.balboapark.org/


If the Padres are in town while you're here, maybe there will be a day game he could watch.

http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=sd

For restaurants, I would go either downtown to the Gaslamp District or to La Jolla.

Thanks for the links--my husband is excited about seeing the Midway!

Not what I'd call funky, but JRDN at the North end of Mission/Pacific Beach is a great place to eat and enjoy the sundet over the water.

There are lots of funky places along Mission Blvd if you want to start walking up from the roller coaster.

Hi pegcook..
Yes rent a car..
Funky restaurants close to the Bahia that I like to go to are Saska's, World Famous, The Green Flash, TD Hays and not so funky but yummy is JRDN..
La Jolla has some great restaurants along with Gaslamp too..
Barbara mentioned the USS Midway and that is a perfect thing for your husband to do..the Fish Market on the bay is yummy but I like to sit and eat at the oyster bar..excellent seafood!
Ride the roller coaster at Belmont Park which is walking distance from your hotel and I love having beers at the Coaster Saloon..super dive but the best!
Have a great time in SD!

belmontpark.com