San Diego Trip Planning Help Needed! Zoo? Beach?

[Druggas]

Amtrak used to offer a package deal for SD and the zoo.

Just a thought.

Wild Animal Park is amazing too.

[CUatDL]

The SD Zoo is by far the best one in the country, perhaps the world. It leaves every other zoo I've been to in the dust.

Yes, check at the front gates for feeding times. They should be able to tell you all about it.

Since it's off season, you could probably do the zoo in 2/3 of a day, but plan on a whole day just to be safe.

There are no hotels near the Zoo unfortunately. It's in an area called Balboa park which is huge. The community surrounding it is all residential, one side is lovely (North Park), the other in downtown is a little scary. I'd go ahead and stay near the beach and drive. Depending on what beach you go to, it won't be too far.

Good thread! We are Zoological Society Members and go to the Zoo and Wild Animal Park when we can.

At the Zoo we always eat at Albert's. It is a table service location, and it is a very nice break from touring the zoo, especially in the heat.

Question though: Hyperbole mentioned that Downtown is "a little scary". We used to go to Seaport Village for an evening meal and a stroll. How is Seaprt Village now-a-days? Is it still reasonabley safe?

We are planning another trip to SD to spend some time in the museums in Balboa Park. That is why I am curious about Seaport Village.

Thanks,

CU@DL

Andy

[migo]

I think Downtown in general is a little scary, meaning, you wouldn't wander the streets with the derelicts.


If you're in a centralized location (i.e. Gaslamp, Seaport, Horton Plaza), you're fine.

[Disneyland Daddy]

Dude! Make sure you spend some time down in Coronado. Hotel Del Coronado is gorgeous and has gorgeous sites - and has quite a bit of history too. You don't have to 'stay' there to enjoy it.

I'd highly recommend this place for your visiting pleasure.

[migo]

Not to mention it's pretty romantic.

[Disneyland Daddy]

Not to mention it's pretty romantic.

...to quote the FONZ - 'correctamundo'.

[lashbear]

We're staying in the Gaslamp area when we come over, and we hear there's a good rollercoaster at the boardwalk !

[Disneyland Daddy]

We're staying in the Gaslamp area when we come over, and we hear there's a good rollercoaster at the boardwalk !

Is that near Mission Beach?

[migo]

Yes, the rollercoaster is in Mission Beach, but the Gaslamp Quarter is downtown.

[awesomemama]

the Gaslamp Quarter is downtown.

I stayed in the Gaslamp quarter on one of my trips....LOVED the hotel, but it wasn't the greatest place for a woman and 4 kids to be walking around at night--or for that matter driving on a weekend night! But I would imagine if you like the party scene it would be a GREAT place to be!

[sailerm]

The SD Zoo is by far the best one in the country, perhaps the world. It leaves every other zoo I've been to in the dust.

The National Zoo in DC is better only because it is free (and it also has Pandas) where I think the SD Zoo pricing is about $30 a head. It's well worth it.

The Zoo is located in Balboa Park in the heart of dowtown. There are some great museums just a few steps away from the zoo enterance and it makes for very romantic pics.





As far as beaches are concerned, yes Coranado is beautiful, by I prefer Mission Beach. It has a wooden rollercoaster and a boardwalk.

And to think I used to sneak in to the zoo everyday as a my junior high is shares a common fence. Two years in a row my last class of the day was P.E. so I would kick the ball over the fence and the coach would unlock the gate to retrieve the ball, and off I went!

[The Red Head]

Migo is correct that if you want to stay near the beach it is very easy and close to drive any where in San Diego. Downtown is not as dirty as it used to be. There are quite a few good restaurants in the Gaslamp. You could always go to dinner there after the Zoo, since you will already be downtown.

[TikiRoomLiz]

Coronado is a really nice spot to go and relax. You can walk the beach in front of the Del Coronado Hotel and then enjoy a drink at their beach side bar. Plus, not far from the SD Zoo are all those great museums (Balboa Park), as well as some nice places to eat. If you go to the Visitor center you can buy a ticket book that lets you visit all the hotels.

One of the landmarks that stands out, especially from the sky tram at the zoo, is the Musuem of Man at Balboa Park.

[sailerm]

Museum of Man


Casa del Prado


Botanical Gardens


Make sure to take some time just strolling in the park, have a soft serve cone, toss some change at the street performers (neatly wrapped in $5 bills of course)

Ride the Giant Dipper (aka the Belmont Roller coaster)

[migo]

DUDE!!! Just remembered. Take your lady to the Prado. GREAT F'in food. Seriously. And by lady, I mean me.