My husband and I are headed to San Diego next week and are staying at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina for 4 nights/days.

We are very active, but would love to relax too. We want to see the beach, downtown, maybe the zoo...any tips?? Is there a bike route near the beaches where we could rents bikes? Maybe kayak afterwards? Maybe a day downtown and then to the zoo. Any great restaurant recomendations?

Anything would really help! We are just CLUELESS.

Thank you

Just call your hotel - their guest services will give you more information than you can handle.

If you have time, spend a few hours at The Hotel Del at Cornado Island. It's a beautiful property (and supposed to be haunted). We usually like to have lunch on the patio at the hotel restaurant and then hang out at the beach there after. There's bikes that you can rent and there is a bike trail around the island that they recommend.

Kayaking is fantastic at La Jolla Shores. It is amazing the sea life you can see. I also recommend the Torrey Pines state park hike to the beach. It is gorgeous.

Ok, so a bike ride around Coronado and kayaking at La Jolla Shores. Sounds perfect

Is Old Town fantastic? And downtown? Could we do both in one day? Is it tough to get to any wineries or apple orchards? We could rent a car for a day if needed.

It's not difficult to get to wineries or apple orchards. Julian is a nice drive from the city, nearby Lake Cuyamaca offers some hiking opportunities.
I don't know where you're from but Borrego Springs is a desert a little further out from Julian and depending upon the time of year, it's lovely.

Wineries- Ramona, Temecula. I don't really go so sorry can't help there.

Yes, Old Town and Downtown are very close and easy to do in one day. I would start off in Old Town and go Downtown for dinner. Lots of places to restaurants and clubs.

Plenty of bike rentals by the beach, you're hotel should be able to guide you.

We're having perfect weather this week, hope it stays that way for you. Enjoy

For a helpful hint .. do a web search for: "bike and kayak rental san diego" ... several options are offered ... also Hyatt should have brochures (flyers) in lobby ... pretty sure there is a place across the street at "Quivera Basin" ...

If you're going to the zoo, Albert's restaurant (near the Gorilla's) is really very nice (sit out on the back patio by the waterfall if it's working). They do as good a job with fish as some of the pricier San Diego alternatives.

Call 619-685-3200 for reservations. Earlier this summer they had reduced prices for late afternoon dining, although I don't know if that ended at Labor Day. But it would be worth asking.

I liked the State Historic Park in Old Town (but I'm a bit of a geek about historic museums). Other than that I wasn't so impressed with Old Town.

Torrey Pines State Beach & Reserve is a good visit if you want some hiking combined with beach time. There's free public parking at approximately 12700 N. Torrey Pines Road. Walk south along the beach to Flat Rock, up the stairs, and then follow the Beach trail to the Visitor Center. To return you walk down the park entrance road.

http://www.torreypine.org/parks/trails.html

I would second that I am not a huge fan of Old Town. There are so many more things to do in San Diego. It is good for maybe an hour. The Gaslamp has much more to offer but is not historical.

I would suggest the Torrey Pines path in reverse. The reason is that the most glorious part of the hike to me is the view as you descend the mountain to the beach. If you take that path going up, you are not looking at that view constantly. To do it in reverse, just park wherever you can and walk along the beach as previously described but then veer left and follow the road that goes up to the top. At the top, look for signs to the Beach trail and follow them down. When you get to the beach, do make sure to go to flat rock via the curved stone staircase cut in the rock. Just my two cents worth.

Coronado is a nice visit as well and good for biking.

For shopping, consider Cedros Design district in Solana Beach. Cool boutiques with furniture, clothing and sundry things for the home. ESpecially nice on Sunday afternoon when you can hit the farmer's market at the south end. This is at Cedros and Lomas Santa Fe. The farmer's market is about 1-4 pm.

I agree with ncounty. Old Town is not fantastic and if you skipped it I doubt there would ever be a day in your life when you'd say, "darn, should have gone to Old Town".

I agree with everyone else about Old Town, BUT, it wouldn't kill you to do a half-hour walkthrough and decide for yourself either. Just don't envision a major destination -- meaning, Old Town is not the Tower of London

LOL dmlove. I haven't been to the Tower yet, but I don't think we have anything to compare.

since you are staying on mission bay there are plenty of bike paths along the bay and beach, you really do not need to go all the way to Coronado to ride bikes. you probably can rent bikes right at your hotel and ride all over the bay and beach.
that being said, Coronado is also very nice to visit and i would have that on your list of something to see, but it does not have to be for bike riding.
I haven't been but i've head that the Red Marlin Restaurant right at your hotel is new and supposed to be very good.
yes on the zoo and downtown. Also agree on a meal at Albert's at the zoo. Much better than other zoo food and nice atmosphere.
La Jolla is also very beautiful and worth a visit.
i think you have been given more than 4 days worth of things to do, if you plan to do any relaxing at all.

joyce

there is usually a lot of events happening in San Diego every week. To discover what is happening on a speciic day in San Diego check out:

http://www.randomsandiego.com/

Check out http://tripladder.com/reviews/read_r...o&review_id=13
for a quick list of things you can see and do in SD.

Rent a kayak in "Hike Bike kayak" rentals in lajolla and you can take their guided ocean kayak tour..

Old town has good mexcian restuarants.. my fav is cafe coyote.. awesome margaritas..

Down town - gaslamp quarter - great nightlife and restaurants..

Check out cabrillo national monument; mount soledad; la jolla coves -- all can be done in one day.

mission beach is good to play some volleyball and relax in the sand.. to ge into water, i would suggest la jolla shores beach.. its a little crowded on the weekends though..

vineyards in temecula are great.. dont miss the wine tour and buffet packages they offer..

I recently visited a restaurant in La Jolla - george's at the coves.. great food and overlooks the ocean..
http://tripladder.com/reviews/read_r...s&review_id=92

I think the San Diego zoo and Balboa Park are musts when visiting San Diego.
http://www.san-diego-hotels-resorts....alboa_park.php. Personally, I'm not a fan of Alberts (in the zoo), but within walking distance in Balboa Park is the Prado. It is unique and very beautiful. If you are trying to spend a little less, the tea pavilion also serves up good food.

I don't think there is really that much in the gaslamp, http://www.san-diego-hotels-resorts...._san_diego.php but it is fun to go out there at night (especially the weekend). I would recommend dinner (so many good restaurants) and drinks. If you get their a little early most of the shops will be open so you can walk around before you eat.

Old Town is a fun place to go, but it doesn't really take that long. http://www.san-diego-hotels-resorts....e/old_town.php It is filled with many sit down Mexican restaurants. If you are in town soon, the Whaley House might be fun to visit. It is on the register for haunted houses.

Actually I ate at both Prado and Albert's on my trip, I would recommend either one although if you're already inside the zoo, Albert's is much more convenient. I thought Prado was a bit overpriced for what is basically average food, but in a nice atmosphere.