Recommendations for things to do near San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina
 

I have a business trip in December to San Diego for two days. It is not a lot of time and part of it is a holiday party for the entire firm. Is there anything touristy you would recommend? I will not have a car. I am staying at San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina. Restaurants? Thank you!

We stayed there last year. It is a short walk to the USS Midway Museum www.midway.org/ and Seaport Village www.seaportvillage.com. The Gaslamp Quarter is also a short walk away.

There is a trolley stop across from the hotel www.sdmts.com/trolley/trolley.asp which we used to get to Old Town San Diego.

I like Balboa Park but I don't know if it is easy to reach via public transportation.

Hopefully someone can help with restaurant recommendations and additional suggestions.

The Midway aircraft carrier is fantastic.

Thank you both! Great start.

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/27/17647...-Ivy-San-Diego

We ate here a couple of months ago and loved it.
It's on 2228 Kettner Street between the cross streets Juniper & Ivy in the Little Italy area of downtown. It's really a fun place and the food is excellent.

If you have a car I would head over to Point Loma or what is now called Liberty Station and check out Stone Brewery. It is a local brewery that has gotten national fame for their outstanding beers. The food is excellent as well -- and the atmosphere is superb and a wonderful place to spend an evening.

http://www.stonelibertystation.com/

You're also only a short walk to the Coronado Island ferry landing. It's a short trip across the bay and very scenic and then only a short walk to the Hotel Del Coronado and the beaches.

If you are interested in Coronado, It is a short walk (a couple of miles from the ferry landing to the heart of Coronado) but you can also rent a bicycle in the little tourist mall where the ferry docks. I'd ride up C Avenue enjoying the residental streets. Maybe stop at the lovely park at C and 6th then go up one more street turn right and go up Orange Avenue the main street. There are numerous little mom & pop shops and restaurants. Continue up Orange to the beautiful and historic Hotel Del Coronado.

Should note that I'd skip walking or biking on Orange between 1st and about 6th Street. This area is crowded with cars and along the way there is nothing of much interest other than some houses and small hotels.

We did our one and only Segueway tour in Coronado. It was the perfect place to do so. And public transit is doable and easy to Balboa from GasLamp district.

Thank you! I will check out the Segue way tour.

http://segwayofcoronado.com/service/index.html#Bayside

You've probably already checked this out, but I was curious. This tour route will be wonderful! You will see some historic sites (the Hotel Del and the Old Hotel's Boat House - now a restaurant), and beautiful homes which face onto the beautiful golf course and over look the SD Bay and SD skyline.

What would you recommend to pack? I see it is going to be 65F with light rain. A leather jacket enough? I am only there for a short amount of time, but there will be a formal holiday party for my firm, and then socializing with colleagues, afterwards.

Layers. We went out last night in N.Calif. Just a sweater. Your jacket will be fine with an umbrella :)

San Diego is so much more than some of the places that have been aired here. Coronado, for example, is way over-hyped on this thread.

Read this.

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/s...city-guide.htm

I recommend The Old Town Trolley Tour for your particular circumstance. It's hop on-hop off style.

http://www.trolleytours.com/san-diego/

Disclaimer: I'm an Angeleno, but have visited San Diego many times over the years. Always had a good time.

I was a San Diegan for many years and, IMO, it is nigh on to impossible to over-hype Coronado. Of course there are many other places on interest in the San Diego area but, to me, Coronado is about as close to the stereotypical southern California as you can find. Suffice it to say, when I lived there, our idea of a great get away was a long weekend on the island (I know, it's not really an island but it's close).

dwooddon, I didn't realize you lived in Coronado? Were you a Navy family? I think Scarlett may have lived in Coronado as well when she was young. I wish I knew what years she lived there. I lived there from '58 thru '68 then continued to visit my parents until my father passed away in 2003.

I did not live in Coronado but I loved long weekends there. For a time I was in Poway and Penasquitos and then we moved into the hills north of Escondido. We were not Navy but my son enjoyed watching the SEAL training on the Coronado beaches when we visited.

I lived in San Diego when the ferry was the only way to get to Coronado. Lovely place IMO.

<<What would you recommend to pack?>>

Layers! Is your leather jacket waterproof if it rains when you are out? Are you female or male? If F and you wear dresses bring tights to wear with the dress. Otherwise, slacks, jeans, tops with sweater / jacket, scarves.

I worked on Coronado for 6 yrs in an office at the Ferry Landing and loved it! If the OP does Ferry to Coronado I would take the 904 Bus to the Village / Beach and then rent a bike there if that is something you'd want to do. Otherwise, it's very walkable. And you can't ride on Orange Ave you have to walk the bike.

You've been given some other good suggestions. USS Midway, Old Town Trolley Tour, etc. Not sure if anyone mentioned a harbor cruise. I prefer the 1 hr North. Old Town (you can take the trolley there.) Balboa Park - a taxi or bus.

dwooddon, when did you live in Penasquitos? We lived there for twenty years, 1988-2008.