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Downtown San Diego
San Diego is one of California's most popular tourist destinations. In recent years, San Diego has become a surprisingly sophisticated place, and it has something to offer almost everyone, from ballet to theatre to zoos.
This itinerary assumes that you will leave in the evening, stay two nights and return in the evening of the second day. For example, leave Friday evening, sat Friday night, enjoy all day Saturday, stay Saturday night, enjoy more of San Diego on Sunday, and then head home later on Sunday.
Preparation
Make a hotel reservation in advance - San Diego's hotel occupancy is generally quite high and you don't have enough time to spend it looking for a place to stay. San Diego is a spread out city and no matter where you stay, you'll end up driving to somewhere. Mission Valley is centrally located, as is Mission Bay.
Bring comfortable casual clothing and good walking shoes, your camera, swim suits and beach gear if you want to get in the water. Most restaurants in San Diego accept casual dress, so unless you have a very special evening planned, you can leave your dress clothes at home. Evenings near the ocean can be quite cool, bring a sweater or jacket.
Evening: Arrival
The San Diego airport is located midway between downtown and Mission Valley. Collect your bags and rental car and get settled at your hotel. Find a restaurant near where you're staying and get to sleep early - you've got a lot to do tomorrow!
Day 1
Animal lovers, choose between the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park for today's adventure. As difficult as this decision is, either one is pretty much a whole day adventure and you just don't have time to see both of them in such a short trip. The zoo has baby panda Hua Mei and lots of other wonderful critters, but the Wild Animal Park is more of a one-of-a-kind experience, the closest many of us will ever get to going on a safari.
If you're not a fan of animals or viewing them in captivity, spend the day at the beach or shopping in La Jolla. Or, take the trolley down to Tijuana for a south-of-the-border experience.
If you still have energy, drive to La Jolla for dinner in the evening, or enjoy one of the many seafood restaurants along the waterfront near downtown.
Day 2
Pack up. Is it time to go home already? Not quite, but you've got to do it sometime.
It's time for a taste of San Diego history. Begin your day at Old Town, where San Diego began. Tour the historic buildings, do a little shopping and join a guided tour if one is available. Enjoy your lunch at one of the colorful Mexican restaurants in the area.
After Old Town, the Gaslamp Quarter was the next place where people settled in San Diego. It boasts Victorian architecture and lots of walking and shopping opportunities. Nearby Horton Plaza, a thoroughly modern contrast to the Gaslamp's antique charm, offers even more opportunities to empty your wallet. If you skipped lunch at Old Town, try a fish taco at Rubio's, just across the street from Horton Plaza.
Now it IS time to go home. The San Diego airport is just minutes north of the historic district.
If you have a three-day weekend, insert this extra day in the middle of your trip:
Day 2 of a 3-Day Trip
For your additional day, choose two of these three: scenic La Jolla, a bay cruise, or a trip to Coronado Island.
Perched on cliffs above the Pacific, upscale La Jolla has shopping of all sorts and lots of good restaurants. If your budget doesn't allow for a dinner in one of city's more expensive restaurants, try visiting it for a leisurely lunch instead, when prices are usually lower.
Water and ships are part and parcel of San Diego and its history. Narrated harbor cruises give you a different view of the city and a different perspective on its history. Drive to the Cabrillo National Monument for a bird's-eye view of the harbor, then walk down to sea level to enjoy the tide pools.
The bridge to Coronado Island is almost a sight in itself, with its elegant arch over the water. Stop at the Tidelands park for a walk and some terrific skyline views. At the water's edge, you will find a reminder of a gentler time - the Hotel del Coronado. The Hotel "del", as it is affectionately known, has hosted heads of state and movies stars, the famous and infamous. Enjoy the hotel's small museum of photographs and soak in the elegance. You might even run into its resident ghost!
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