·        Take a trip into Tijuana to shop and bargain! Tijuana is the busiest border crossing in the world and it can make for a really fun day of shopping for the San Diego visitor. You can take the Border Shuttle to the border and go into Tijuana for the day. Enjoy the food (well-cooked food & bottled water, of course!) and shopping on Revolucion Avenue. Here you can get your photo taken with a donkey and a cart…it is a Tijuana tradition! Be prepared to say “NO” a lot and do protect your valuables. The Tijuana locals buy their things at the Mercado Hidalgo, so if you are up for being adventurous, make your way there.

·        Balboa Park is the Central Park of San Diego. It covers 1,200 acres and is one of the largest parks in the United States. Many theater and outdoor events happen weekly in the park, like organ performances at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, which is believed to be the largest outdoor pipe organ in the world. The world famous San Diego Zoo is in the park, as are 15 fabulous museums and a myriad of other things to do.

·        San Diego Wild Animal Park is a 2,000 acre park where visitors ride a monorail to see rhinos, giraffes, herds of antelope, elephants and other wild animals as if they were on safari in Africa! There are nature trails to hike and a botanical center to take in as well. This opportunity would be a great option for the ultimate zoo lover and for kids who just can’t get enough from the world renowned San Diego Zoo. Again, this is not a bargain adventure, so bring your pocketbook and be prepared to spend.

·        SeaWorld is known around the country and the San Diego SeaWorld will not disappoint. Thousands of mammals, fish, reptiles and birds live at SeaWorld. Kids will enjoy shows like Stine’s Haunted Lighthouse and several wildlife exhibits. The star however, which will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever heard of SeaWorld, is Shamu the killer whale. If you are really adventurous and don’t have a cap on your budget, you can plan to dine with Shamu! Shamu has lots of friends as well though, sea turtles, seals, dolphins and playful otters are just a few of the things that your kids will have an opportunity to take in at SeaWorld. SeaWorld also has rides as well. The Penguin Encounter, Shipwreck Rapids, Journey to Atlantis, Shark Encounter and the Manatee Rescue provide an extra measure of adventure for your sea creature loving kids!

 

·        Old Town Mexican Café – one of the best chicken verde enchilada’s in town!

·        Anthony’s Fish Grotto – if you want to sit and eat while your kids and your spouse take a tour of the Maritime Museum, then Anthony’s is the place to do just that. Try the mouth-watering crab-stuffed sole or the hand-breaded shrimp.

·        George’s On Top – sit atop this standard in La Jolla for great food and a phenomenal view of the coast!

·        Pacifica– the salmon and the mahi mahi will tempt your taste buds and the view over Del Mar will take your breath away.

·        Rubio’s – get the famous fish taco from its original kitchen!

·        Fish Market – the Embarcadero boasts this fresh fish option…they even have their own fishing boat to ensure quality for their customers.

·        Hennessey’s – delicious entrees including the hot Reuben sandwich at this Gaslamp Quarter standard.

·        Nicolosi’s Italian Restaurant – family recipes that have been around for generations…love that lasagna!

·        Saska Sushi – one of Mission Beach’s best sushi bars…eel, tuna, shrimp and more!

·        The Marine Room – for over half a century, this sophisticated restaurant has been a tradition on the shores of La Jolla. The award-winning creations combined with the breath-taking waterfront location are unsurpassed.

·        The Del Coronado Hotel - $235 and up – by far the most famous hotel in San Diego is “The Del.” It is situated along the oceanfront of Coronado Island which can be reached via the Coronado Bridge from downtown San Diego. It was opened in 1888 and hosted the likes of ten U.S. presidents which has earned it the title “The Western White House.” This hotel offers a level of luxury rarely found in a hotel with such history and beauty. It recently underwent a $55 million dollar renovation and boasts incredible views from its oceanfront lawns and seaside restaurants. It serves both as a romantic getaway and a family vacation spot with activities and rooms to service the entire spectrum of visitors. The beach in front of The Del is considered one of the most fantastic beaches in the country and USA Today recently rated The Del Coronado itself one of the top 10 hotels in the world. So, if luxury is what you are looking for and you have the money to spend, then The Del Coronado would be one of the best choices you could make for making memories in San Diego.

·        Omni San Diego – $209 and up

 

·        Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island – $169 and up - the scenic Harbor Island is in downtown San Diego and is convenient to the airport, downtown, the convention center and a plethora of the attractions that San Diego has to offer. The rooms at the Hilton will give you a stunning view of the Marina and the sunsets on the bay are no less than stunning. The Hilton has all of the amenities that you would expect of a hotel in this price point range, fitness center, a heated swimming pool & whirlpool. There are rentals nearby as well for some of the most famous of outdoor activities in San Diego, biking, sailing and golf. If you are up for walking several blocks, you can walk to several fine restaurants in the area or eat on site at the Sierra Pacific.

·        Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines - $159 and up – La Jolla is considered by some as the most spectacular place to visit in San Diego. This Hilton has a double-edged sword of sorts as it is both near the beautiful La Jolla and it is situated on one of the fantastic golf courses of San Diego. Golf is a god of sorts in San Diego, with the number of courses reaching into the eighties. San Diego is actually considered the “Golf Capital of the World” with more golf clubs and equipment manufactured here than anywhere else. So, if golfing is a priority for your vacation here in San Diego, the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines overlooks the beautiful Torrey Pines Golf Course and can meet that need daily. And those who choose not to golf can take a short drive into La Jolla for shopping and eating that is on par with the best that San Diego has to offer.

·        Courtyard San Diego Old Town - $167 and up

·        San Diego Marriott Del Mar - $137 and up

·        Ramada Plaza Hotel Circle - $109 and up – Hotel Circle offers a varied selection of hotels at reasonable prices that are surrounded by inexpensive eateries. The Ramada Plaza is one such option in this area. Located in the Mission Bay area, the Ramada features a heated pool, a spa and a fitness center. 

·        Holiday Inn Express Sea World - $117 and up

·        Quality Suites - $84 and up

·        Legoland is the first of its kind in our grand United States. It is constructed of millions of colorful Lego toy bricks and has rides and other activities for kids ages 2 to 12ish. It is a generally low-key theme park with most of the rides being rather slow-paced as far as rides go and there are lots and lots of things to just see. If your kids are fans of legos then this park with be an enormous hit, but even if they aren’t, it is a great family theme park with numerous things to do for kids of all ages. The park is easy to navigate, the food is good, the shows are entertaining and the rides are fun. If your kids are older, 12+ or so, you might want to skip it though, they might not be as enchanted with the Dragon Coaster and Mini Land as your nine year old! The park is no bargain though, so be prepared to spend around $250 for a family of five for one day.

 

·        Go to the beach! No matter how old or young you are, if you are in San Diego, you must take the time to go to the beautiful beaches and enjoy part of what makes this incredible city what it is to those who love it so. San Diego is rimmed by 70 miles of beach and you can rarely find any stretch of that 70 miles that is not occupied by runners, surfers, sun-bathers, dog walkers, sandcastle builders and the like. The different beaches may have different characteristics, but each has a level of beauty that is unsurpassed. If you have children and love photographing them, take them to the beach on Coronado Island in front of The Del Coronado Hotel. The photos that you can capture here will be stunning as you can capture their reflection in the water as it recedes on the deep flat beach. If you want to walk and run until your heart is content, the stretch from Oceanside to Encinitas is a great option. You will not lack company as this stretch is usually covered-up with those who enjoy the perfect weather of San Diego. Imperial Beach, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla Shores Beach are other fantastic options for beach going, each with their own specialty.

 

·        Balboa Park is the Central Park of San Diego. It covers 1,200 acres and is one of the largest parks in the United States. Many theater and outdoor events happen weekly in the park, like organ performances at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, which is believed to be the largest outdoor pipe organ in the world. The world famous San Diego Zoo is in the park, as are 15 fabulous museums and a myriad of other things to do.

·        San Diego ZOO – The zoo is one of the best in the world and houses the largest number of giant pandas outside of mainland China.  Your first order of business should be taking a bus tour or the Skyfari tram to get your bearings. It helps to know where you are and where you want to go…make the most of your time because many of the animals will be napping by mid-day and harder to see. The little ones will love the opportunity to pet animals and watch babies being bottle-fed at the Children’s Zoo. There are so many things to do and see that any family will be happy all day long!

o       Old Town – just north of downtown and Mission Valley lays the historic Old Town of San Diego. You’ll find excellent places to dine, beautiful antique stores and the magnificent mission-style Junipero Serra Museum.

o       Gaslamp Quarter – spend an afternoon walking the streets of the famed Gaslamp Quarter which was once San Diego’s gambling and red-light district at the end of the 19^th century. It has since been transformed into block after block of cultural hot-spots, water holes and eateries.

·        Take a day trip to Tijuana! Tijuana is the busiest border crossing in the world and it can make for a really fun day of shopping for the San Diego visitor. You can take the Border Shuttle to the border and go into Tijuana for the day. Enjoy the food (well-cooked food & bottled water, of course!) and shopping on Revolucion Avenue. Here you can get your photo taken with a donkey and a cart…it is a Tijuana tradition! Be prepared to say “NO” a lot and do protect your valuables. The Tijuana locals buy their things at the Mercado Hidalgo, so if you are up for being adventurous, make your way there.

 

·        You’ll probably be exhausted by now, but if you still want more...you can find lots of other activities that will take you to the water!

o       Maritime Museum/Embarcadero/Seaport Village – All three of these fantastic options are downtown around the Marina and offer opportunities for education and entertainment!

o       Harbor Cruise/Whale Watcher Cruise – These options will actually take you out on the water to take in the skyline of San Diego or to get up close and personal with gray whales!

 

·        Padres Game/Chargers Game – San Diego has more opportunities for professional sport than one could hope. Regardless of the season, you’ll usually be able to find a game to take in at Petco Park (home of the San Diego Padres) or Qualcomm Stadium (home of the San Diego Chargers).