A Family Guide to San Diego
A Guide to San Diego
Where to Stay, What to do, Where to Eat, & What to Pack when traveling to San Diego. (Also, movies to watch before/during your stay!)
We recently spent a week in sunny San Diego. It was just what we needed to end out a somewhat long winter. Here are the highlights.
**This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click and purchase, I may receive some compensation. Thank you!
CAR RENTAL
We rented a car directly from the airport and were glad to have it. We were able to easily day trip to surrounding areas and explore beaches and towns.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in Downtown San Diego. We woke up to beautiful bay views and could jog along the Embarcadero right out of the hotel doors. The hotel was also conveniently located in/next to Seaport Village with various food options and tourist shopping. The pool and hot tubs on the 4th floor were great. Even though it was generally in the mid-60s, the kids were not deterred from taking full advantage (even if they were swimming with only ducks one day). There was also a cute recreation area by the pool with a ping pong table, connect 4, and bean bag toss. I almost wish that we hadn’t discovered the Sports Court because it because a minor obsession with the 9-year old. My 3-point shot is coming along nicely.
DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO
Let’s begin with things to do right in Downtown San Diego. Walking along the Embarcadero is a beautiful start to the day. Seaport Village is a great place to find souvenirs, get breakfast/lunch/dinner, or just people watch. We spent a bit of time every day in Seaport Village.
Within walking distance from our hotel were various activities to be found in Seaport Village or along the Embarcadero including whale watching and a seal boat ride (very similar to duck tours). We didn’t take advantage of those, but we did make a quick stop by the Unconditional Surrender statue and took in the USS Midway. The USS Midway played a role in various missions and wars from the Cold War all the way through the Gulf War. This aircraft carrier was the longest serving of its class in the 20th century. Our family all agreed that touring the USS Midway was a highlight of the trip. R enjoyed listening to retired navy men give the details of the planes and ship while the kids enjoyed the VR ride, sitting in the planes and helicopters, and pushing all the buttons. (I enjoyed them pressing actual buttons instead of each other’s as a welcomed break in the day- ha!) Of course, we took pictures in Maverick and Goose’s plane.
Where to Eat
There are numerous food options along the Embarcadero.
Spill the Beans is a great breakfast/lunch option in Seaport Village. (There is also one in Gaslamp Quarter.) The BLT and San Dieggo were favorites and filled us up for the activities of the day. There is seating at the restaurant or a courtyard with tables nearby. You can order online to skip the line that forms in the morning and lasts well into the lunch hour. Also be prepared to answer kid questions about the logo- the things they learn on trips ….
Mr. Moto Pizza is a delicious option for a quick lunch or a casual dinner after a long day of sight seeing. You can get pizza by the slice or order an entire pizza. The restaurant has locations in various areas in and around San Diego.
The Edgewater Bar & Grill is right along the Embarcadero as well. There are kids meal options and you can choose to sit outside to overlook the water.
Gaslamp Quarter is another area in San Diego with many restaurant options. It was also easily walkable from our hotel.
Rustic Root had a heated rooftop deck with a fun, colorful vibe, a fireplace, and a tv to watch pre-March Madness games.
Lionfish was our overall favorite restaurant of the entire trip. It featured modern coastal cuisine which was amazing. The design of the restaurant was gorgeous! The lighting was especially on point. This was a splurge and a great last vacation night dinner. It was fun to get dressed up and attempt our best restaurant behavior. The staff was very professional and friendly. There were two options for more kid-friendly dishes that weren’t on the menu. We went on a less crowded Sunday night, which was good since the chopsticks quickly turned into drumsticks for the 9 year old (and were just as quickly confiscated by his mother).
BALBOA PARK
Even though the San Diego Zoo tickets can be pricey (we saved a bit by purchasing them online and on a Value Day), we couldn’t miss the opportunity to explore the most visited zoo in the United States. The zoo was about a 15 minute drive from our hotel. Parking was free. The zoo is located in Balboa Park. One of the highlights was riding the gondola (Skyfari) from one end of the zoo to the other. While the boys visited the reptiles, our daughter and I opted to ride the Skyfari one more time. The animals were all beautiful and we were able to get close (but not too close) to several of them. We missed the opening of the Wildlife Explorers Basecamp by a few days. It sounds like the perfect place for kids to learn about habitats all around the world in an interactive way.
After the zoo, we went to explore more of Balboa Park. Balboa Park contains gardens, trails and multiple museums. Because it was later in the day, we just walked around the fountains, some of the gardens, and admired the architecture. It would have been fun to go back to take advantage of the multiple museum offerings.
LA JOLLA
La Jolla is a lovely beach town. It was about a 20 minute car ride from our hotel. We went twice. La Jolla is home to the children’s beach. But don’t be fooled. The sea lions and seals have completely taken over the beach. We also enjoyed walking south of that beach to an area where the kids could do some tide pooling. I think the 9 year old could have spent all day exploring. We eventually convinced him to head into town with us. After grabbing coffee and a quick snack, we did some shopping. There was a nice mix of local boutiques and national brands (including Lululemon, Vouri, & Aviator Nation). Our tween took in all the clothes at Aviator Nation while R got some ideas for his next music room.
Our second trip to La Jolla started at Torrey Pines State Reserve, which was yet another highlight of the trip for me. There is paid parking or you can attempt to find a spot along the road before the entrance and walk in. Patience is key. Torrey Pines State Reserve stretches along the coastline, is 2000 acres, and houses the US’s rarest pine tree (pinus torreyana). The only other place it grows is off the coast of Santa Barbara on Santa Rosa Island. There are various hiking trails of differing difficulty. You will want to research which trails are right for your situation before you hike. We hiked the Guy Fleming trail. I would have liked to explore the reserve more but we went in the mid afternoon after playing over an hour of basketball at the hotel so the kid crowd was less than enthusiastic. We headed into town for dinner.
Where to Eat
Better Buzz Coffee– We loved our coffee and snacks here. The design was also super fun with inspiring combinations of materials. Better Buzz Coffee has several locations in and around San Diego.
Puesto– We had a wonderful dinner outside at Puesto. The guacamole is a must. Our kids really liked the chicken taco and quesadillas. We thought the adult tacos were really good as well. Puesto has multiple locations in San Diego and Southern California.
Herringbone- We didn’t get to eat here because they were full for the evening, but the atmosphere seemed to be the epitome of modern coastal California vibes. Likewise, the menu has a focus on coastal cuisine. This is definitely on the list for a return visit. Next time, we will make a reservation.
CORONADO
Coronado was just over the bridge from our hotel and was about a 15 minute drive. (You can also take a ferry to Coronado from downtown San Diego.) It is a charming island and houses the iconic Hotel Del Coronado (built in 1888). Hotel Del Coronado has hosted celebrities and presidents and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1977. We were able to park on the street and walk to the beach. The kids enjoyed running in the sand, climbing a bit, and tide pooling. The gold speckled (mica) beaches were unlike any beach I have seen. We were able to walk through the hotel’s main floor. We ended up walking across the street to The Bluewater Grill.
Where to Eat
The Bluewater Grill offers bay and marina views. Its design is traditionally coastal and the food was classic and good.
OLD TOWN
We made a quick trip out to Old Town. It was fun to think that we were visiting the Birthplace of California. There were mainly tourist shops and we picked up some souvenirs and gifts while there. The kids enjoyed a churro treat. Parking in Old Town was a little tricky but we ended up finding a spot in a public parking lot. We spent about an hour in Old Town before heading back downtown.
MOVIES WE WATCHED
True confession… I fell asleep. But, R and the kids watched Top Gun (as a precursor to the USS Midway) and The Mask of Zorro (before Old Town and only loosely related). Luckily, R has a good memory for movies and was able to skip over the non-kid-friendly parts.
WHAT TO WEAR
The weather in the second week of March in San Diego was in the mid 60s to 70. It was very comfortable, but we were entirely out of practice for such easy weather. We ended up with some outfits on repeat. The kids made good use of their fleeces. I was jealous I hadn’t brought my own. I was glad to have a pair of leggings, some ankle pants, jeans, a sweatshirt, some classic Ts, a couple long sleeve Ts, a long sleeve sundress, a pair of shorts, and a cardigan. For footwear, my Nike running shoes, Rothy’s, and flip flops covered all the bases. I did use my swimsuit for the hot tub. If you go during warmer months, you may want your swimsuit for jet skiing, kayaking, snorkeling, etc. Sunglasses are a must year round. You can click on the photos below to shop for yourself. This is not an extensive list. If I couldn’t find the exact match, I tried to find a similar option. I also included some items I wish I had 😉 You can click on the affiliate photo to be taken to the specific site to shop.
The kids must haves included fleeces, slides, tennis shoes, shorts, leggings (daughter), short sleeve Ts, long sleeve Ts, sunglasses and swimsuits. Our daughter ended up getting a hat halfway through the trip as a souvenir and I’m glad she had it to keep the sun off her face too. We also brought sunscreen. The kids packed their Patagonia slings for the plane ride and around town. My daughter commented that the slings were likely their most used Christmas gift ever.
FINAL RESOURCES
I found La Jolla Mom to be an excellent resource while in San Diego. She lives in La Jolla and really knows the San Diego area well.
You might also be interested in these California Guides from our previous trips:
