San Diego in July, need a car?
 

Will be attending a conference at the Town and Country Resort in Hotel Circle in July. My husband plans on coming out with me, he can do stuff during the day and we can go out at night, we then have Sat and Sun to ourselves.

Do you recommend that we get a car or is reliable and safe public transportation available? I was there for a few hours in August last year and really like what I saw, food was great! Ate at the one restaurant with the huge parking lot just past the one ship (i know I am being vague)... can't wait to go back!

I actually think I know the restaurant you mean and can't remember the name of it either - we ate at a table overlooking the water.

I would get a car - the huge parking lot is the clue - I think everyone drives in San Diego, and we found the roads clearly marked, non-terrifying and parking was easier and more reasonable than we are used to in Boston.

Yes, you need a car.

Is the restaurant you're thinking of the Fish Market?

Yeah - you pretty much need a car if you are staying at Hotel Circle, which is basically a frontage road along both sides of a freeway. It isn't walking distance to anything and public transportation is pretty sparse there. The good thing about Hotel Circle is that WITH a car, you can be just about anywhere in SD in a matter of minutes.

The Town and Country Resort Hotel on Hotel Circle North is a nice large place. You should enjoy yourself.

While the hotel does have the San Diego Light-Rail Trolley there, San Diego is really a car town. Hotel Circle is centrally located to easily get to most places in a short time by car. Most major attractions are located just off the freeways. I recommend renting a car.

Without the car, try taking the San Diego Trolley to downtown. You can visit the Gaslamp quarter, Downtown, Old Town, etc. From Old Town you can take the Blue Line (“Tijuana Trolley”) through downtown to San Ysidro (The Border crossing to Tijuana).

Anthony’s Fish Grotto is on Harbor Drive at the Embarcadero. Popular restaurant that has been there forever. Lot’s of great restaurants in San Diego.

I hope you have a great visit.

Alan