chocaholic

I just wanted some central place, not too much headach of parking and driving too and from sites.

How far is it if you stay at La Jolla the village, what area is that exactly.

So, SeaWorld is tired out and not worth an afternoon?

1JAR

Chocaholic..here is some help for you since I live in the area.

Shelter Island, a penninsula in the San Diego Bay feels tropical, 5 minutes from airport without airport noise, 10 minutes to downtown Gaslamp, San Diego Zoo, Seaworld and La Jolla. Ideal location for day trips. You can street park car without fee or in the hotels. Very safe area too as is patrolled by both SD Harbor Police & SD City Police. Here is a link to Shelter Is Hotels.
http://www.shelterislandvillage.com/

Seaworld is very lively with new exhibits; Turtle Reef, Pets Rule, Sea lion show are all great for a day: am sure much different than when NYTraveler was here last.
http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-sandiego/

FrankS

A quick look at Hotwire shows a 4.5* hotel in the Gaslamp/Horton Plaza for $168. Harbor /Downtown 3.5* at 108

Id gamble on one of those instead of staying in Hotel Circle. My guess for the 4.5 star is the Palomar...nice place

If you really wanted a lower price, you can Priceline those categories and get a little more off, but its more difficult to guess because Hotwire gives you clues whereas Priceline is blind
----------------------------

Things to do
I love Sea World, I can easily spend a full day there, consider the Zoo, Wild Animal Park, the USS Midway, Ocean Beach or just bumming around La Jolla

FrankS

btw: I just used some random August dates for those Hotwire prices

Momddtravel2

What FrankS. said.

chocaholic

ok i'm gonna do some research for another hotel as u guys suggested. surfing away.... surf surf surf...

chocaholic

Ok. I've booked now with Best Western Island Palms Hotel & Marina.

FrankS

Best Western Island Palms Hotel & Marina

Tomsd

Good choice. You might also visit Pt. Loma Seafoods - at the sport fishing docks - a few blocks away - http://pointlomaseafoods.com/ for the freshest seafood you can find, albeit in a fairly simple setting - and you might also try the Fish Market - which I previously mentioned - http://www.thefishmarket.com/locations.aspx?id=6 located downtown/along the Embarcadero - next to the great/"living" museum - the USS Midway.

And FYI - the term La Jolla covers a larger area than it once did - and the original/"village" area (20 minutes or so from downtown) is a very cute/smaller area - close to the Ocean - and I had an office in the Village for years. Loved it.

I also think "The Cove" http://www.lajollabythesea.com/la-jolla-cove is one of the cutest/nicest places to swim (even snorkel) you can find - and there are some hip lifeguards you can chat with to find out more about the beach/area there.

BTW - since your moniker is "chocaholic" - don't forget ExtraOrdinary Desserts - http://www.extraordinarydesserts.com/ close to Little Italy - by downtown.

There are also some other boutique/chocolate shops around the greater SD area. http://blog.discoversd.com/san-diego...san-diego.html

Tomsd

And most visitors to San Diego want to have Mexican food at least once while here. One of our favorites in Old Town is the Old Town Mexican Cafe (where you can watch through the front window as the ladies make tortillas) - but we now prefer Casa Guadalajara - a couple blocks away from the main Old Town area. http://casaguadalajara.com/

Another fun place is Margaritas http://www.menuism.com/restaurants/m...n-diego-400519 in "funky/fun" Ocean Beach - on the main drag - Newport - fairly close to Shelter Island - just over the hill. Love their Huevos Rancheros for brunch.

Or for a great fish taco - and other choices, try the authentic/little El Zarape - at the "other" end of Park Ave - from the Zoo. http://elzarape.biz/

But there are so many places in San Diego where you find great Mexican food.

hpeabody

Best Western Island Palms Hotel & Marina

d_claude_bear

If you want "good" Mexican food, like what people eat in Mexico City, not at the US border, try El Agave, just south of the main part of Old Town. It is upstairs, over a liquor store, but don't let that dissuade you.

In Little Italy (just west of downtown) try Indigo Grill for inventive asian-latin fusion cuisine. It is one of the Cohn Group--Deborah Scott restaurants someone else mentioned.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/indigo-grill-san-diego

For a wonderful view of the Big Bay (harbor) and DT SD, try Island Prime or the fancier C Level, on Harbor Island--also a Cohn-Scott location.

chocaholic

Thank you everyone for you suggestions. I am updating my itinerary.

Tomsd

Amen d_claude - and we went to C-Level (at Island Prime - by the airport/Harbor Island) - last week with some friends who used to live here - but now live in Salt Lake/Park City.

If you go during the week - M-F - they have a great cocktail hour from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM - with $5 drink specials (love the Desi Arnez - a mango infused Mojito) and the same price for a glass of decent/house white or red wine or private brand/brew pub beer (that was only $4) - and also a delicious selection of $5 H' or D'oeuvres.

The selections, all with very good dipping sauces, and a decent serving of greens - include Baked/encursted Brie, Deep fried Calamari, Prawns wrapped in Parchment Paper, a Caesar Salad, chicken? pot stickers, etc. You can make an early meal of this - or move up to some of their wonderful main entries.

It's the best view and bang for the buck in San Diego IMO.

Here again is their webpage, but unfortunately - they don't have their cocktail menu up on this page: http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/menu-.../island-prime/

d_claude_bear

Correcting a previous comment: Island Prime is the more exoensive venue; C Level is the more casual part.

chocaholic

I am going to be in LA the evening and one day in LA before heading to San Diego.

What to do in the evening in LA? The next day I will go visit the Getty Centre.

Tomsd

There area many many options for an evening in LA. Concert/play/night clubs, whatever floats your boat, and if you are staying by the Getty - walking around the UCLA/Westwood area is a "trip", and safe.

And speaking of boat - see this Trip Report - which might offer you some ideas for your upcoming SD trip.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-san-diego.cfm

elizzie4000

Just out your hotel and a few minutes walk on Shelter Island is the Bali Hai. They have a new chef & menu and I keep hearing very good things about it these days. They are also on the water and have a great view. Good HH.
http://www.balihairestaurant.com/

Just a couple of blocks off Shelter Island on the corner of Rosecrans and Talbot is Gabardine. I haven't eaten there yet but they are always busy at Happy Hour.
http://www.gabardineeats.com/

Pomodoro's has good Italian but no view.
http://pomodorosd.com/

There is a little chocolate shop (they make their own and some cakes, etc.) just at the entrance to Shelter Island practically. Elegant Truffle.
http://www.trufflemaker.com/


The Red Sails Inn is a 'local' hangout and good breakfast
http://www.theredsails.com/breakfast.html

Another restaurant with a view further away (towards the airport from SI )is Jimmy's Famous
http://www.j-fat.com/#

Enjoy you stay!

chocaholic

thanks tomsd and elizzie4000 will look those up and check those restaurants out!

tracys2cents

Unless its a Monday (closed), go up to Griffith Observatory in the evening. Several nice restaurants in the Los Feliz neighborhood below the Observatory.