With all the travel cancellations we’ve had to make, we had some expiring airline tickets which were begging to be used. A trip to San Diego was something which we had previously planned, and cancelled, so we thought hey, why not. While we could not get a decent direct flight to San Diego, we managed to get a great fare to LAX and got ourselves a rental to drive down the coast. We also spent the last couple of days in Long Beach and Catalina Island making this a perfect getaway.
The Drive from Los Angeles
After a few issues getting a rental car, we were finally on the road and on our way to San Diego. Instead of driving along the coast we stuck to Interstate 5, even if it was a boring drive with a lot of traffic. We wanted to make it there early enough to have time to explore the area around our hotel.
See our Travel Tip: Always Check Your Rental Car Before Driving Off
Arriving in San Diego
We were happy to be staying at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina in the harbor area. It was right next to the Embarcadero and within walking distance of the Maritime Museum and the USS Midway Museum, a repurposed aircraft carrier. Along the waterfront there were also many restaurants. The Historic Gaslamp Quarter was also nearby and a good place to go for dinner.
Since our hotel was attached to the convention center, it was filled with conference goers. You might want to check the agenda or conference schedule before you book. Rates were high, but we were able to get a nice room with a view of the harbor and San Diego Bay by booking early.
Another option (right next door) is the Hyatt, and there were many more hotels a block or two into the Gaslamp district, but without the nice water views. We recommend staying in town if you plan to visit the museums and other attractions.
Street parking was quite easy (everyone has an app nowadays) and aside from circling for some time to eat in Little Italy, we generally did ok. Parking at the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park was free. The hotel parking was expensive, but we had a special rate where it was included.
The Embarcadero
The Embarcadero is a lovely walk along the harbor where you can see a huge collection of expensive yachts and boats as you start at the San Diego Convention Center. Walking along you pass through Seaport Village, an area with many restaurants and shops. Be sure to check out Tuna Harbor Park where you’ll see the giant statue, The Kiss, and the National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military, a war memorial.
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Also located along the Embarcadero, the Maritime Museum of San Diego houses a collection of maritime vessels that you board and get to explore. It was very nicely done, and a wonderful experience. We particularly enjoyed the San Salvador, a replica of a Spanish galleon that arrived in San Diego under the command of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.
The Star of India is another must-see ship at the Maritime Museum. Built in 1863 in Ramsey, Isle of Man, it’s the world’s oldest sailing ship. Amongst the exhibits there is a small replica of the Vasa which was a Royal Galleon that met its demise on its maiden voyage. We were lucky enough to see the actual Vasa at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
We were hoping to take the historic cruise on San Diego Bay but due a small craft advisory and high winds at the time of our visit this tour was not running. There are also whale watching tours that go out from the same area during the winter season.
USS Midway Museum
We have visited aircraft carriers before so with limited time we did not visit the USS Midway this time. But even from the outside it is an impressive sight. Definitely worth visiting if you haven’t had a chance to board this type of ship before.
Gaslamp Quarter
Staying close by, we walked up to explore the Gaslamp Quarter to see some of the historic buildings. We didn’t find that there was that much to do aside from looking at the architecture and have lunch or dinner. I didn’t find a historic tour or anything which might have given us more information. Everything was just getting back from the pandemic so we expect that more tourist activities will start soon enough.
San Diego Zoo
Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo was really one of the highlights of our visit. My husband had visited once before when on business and raved about it, so this was something we planned a full day for. We arrived before the official opening and saw hundreds of people in vehicles and already lined up, many with tickets purchased online. We got in at the opening bell and let the crowds disperse by having a sandwich in the restaurant near the entrance. Breakfast was reasonably priced compared to some of the lunch menus further inside the zoo.
Even with the whole day, we rushed to try and get in everything we wanted to see and ended up being some of the last to leave. Definitely plan a full day, and even two if you want to take your time.
The zoo is organized in sections and we worked our way through the various parts. Some of our favorite exhibits included the majestic animals we had seen on safari, the koalas reaching out for eucalyptus, and all the aviaries. We even saw Peru’s national bird, the cock-of-the-rock that we had looked for to no avail in Peru!
We really liked the fact that the San Diego Zoo is involved in conservation to protect wildlife. Projects such as the impact of climate change on polar bear populations or finding solutions for jaguars and humans to coexist and share their habitats. I realize that some people might object to animals living in captivity, but I believe that if people can learn about wildlife, they in turn may become ambassadors for their survival.
Balboa Park
Opened in 1892, Balboa Park was first named City Park and spanned 1,400 acres with a great view of the city. Renamed to Balboa in honor of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the first European to spot the Pacific while exploring Panama, it was host to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and has continued to evolve with various beautification projects over the years.
Aside from the San Diego Zoo, we loved many of the other areas of Balboa Park too. There are plenty of museums to choose from and many lovely gardens to see. Walk around and marvel at the interesting architecture of the various buildings. Check out the planning your visit site.
Japanese Friendship Garden
We were lucky enough to be there as the cherry blossoms were starting to bloom. The Japanese Garden is truly a beautiful place to visit and to walk around. With all the various plants and water features I’m sure it’s lovely year-round. We also saw many wedding parties taking pictures.
Spreckels Organ Pavilion
Do take the time to check out the largest open air pipe organ in the world. It’s next to the Japanese garden. The organ has over 5,000 pipes ranging in sizes from a few inches to 32 feet in length. Every Sunday, free concerts are held and its a great place for a wedding.
San Diego Air & Space Museum
A spectacular museum of flight, we could spend hours here and aviation fanatics could surely spend a full day or more. Exhibits include everything from early flight history, military and commercial airlines to stunt planes. The collection includes full sized planes and spacecraft, movies (including a 4D theater) and flight simulators. We really enjoyed it.
San Diego Automotive Museum
This small museum showcases vintage automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles. We were done in just under an hour. Nice to see but this visit was more for my husband than for me.
Museum of Us
A museum of anthropology about human history and culture. The exhibits cover many topics and include taboo subjects such as cannibalism! We also really liked the exhibit about how humans came to live with animals. We were short on time but it’s also possible to take a guided tour and climb the iconic California Tower.
Balboa Park Architecture & Gardens
Cabrillo National Monument
Located on Point Loma, the national monument main’s feature is the 1855 lighthouse. The peninsula is also known as being the landing place of the first Europeans on what is now known as San Diego.
From the visitor center there’s an easy trail to the Cabrillo statue and lighthouse. From here we had great views of San Diego and the Bay. From the other side we had breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. And during the winter months keep an eye out for gray whales. The Bayside Trail (2.5 miles) descends to the vestiges of the coastal defense system.
Be sure to drive down and walk along the Coast Trail. It’s much closer to the water and you will be able to explore the tidepool area and see many sea birds. Perhaps even catch a glimpse of the Kelp Forest!
Since it’s a national monument we were able to use our America the Beautiful yearly pass.
Scenic Drive from San Diego to Long Beach
On the way back, we opted to forego Interstate 5 and take the scenic route by sticking to the coastal roads.
Our first stop was La Jolla Shores Beach and underwater park, a popular spot for marine life enthusiasts. At the other end of the beach there is a surfing spot. Nearby we also visited La Jolla Tide Pools. This was by far the highlight of the day. The whole area was taken over by sea lions and seals and the pups were so adorable!
Some of the male sea lions were quite vocal as they were defending their territory or perhaps squabbling for the favors of a female. We also saw many seabirds. Wonderful!
Our next stop was Encinitas where my husband had done some work on a yoga app. We stopped at the beach for lunch and enjoyed some scenic viewpoints as we made our way to Long Beach for a few days.
See our post: Catalina Island Day Trip and Bison Expedition Tour
To top off our San Diego and California Southern Coast trip, on our last day, before our flight home, we ended up in Redondo Beach. This may be a good stopover spot for those with a long layover in LAX. We once spent a long layover in Manhattan Beach instead of the airport and this is just next door (both are a quick ride from the airport).
Overall we would definitely recommend the scenic route, so many nice views of the Pacific and many great places to stop. Forget the I-5, take your time and enjoy the views.