My wife and I are about 40 and trying to decide between a few different cities in the Western US for a week-long vacation. We're not golfers or major athletes, but we like biking and hiking. We like to spend some time at the beach. We like culture, but want to spend more outdoors than indoors. What are the best locations for a hotel for this kind of vacation -- close to a beach but not too far from the culture the city offers?
2007-07-16 04:40:55 · 8 answers · asked by Glen Ulmer 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ San Diego
My wife and I are about 40 and trying to decide between a few different cities in the Western US for a week-long vacation. We're not golfers or major athletes, but we like biking and hiking. We like to spend some time at the beach. We like culture, but want to spend more outdoors than indoors. What are the best locations for a hotel for this kind of vacation -- close to a beach but not too far from the culture the city offers? We won't have kids with us.
2007-07-16 04:41:41 · update #1
End of September trip.
2007-07-16 04:48:01 · update #2
If you like hiking I'd recommend spending the $16 or so for the bible for San Diego hikers, Afoot and Afield San Diego County by Jerry Schad. There really is no competition for info on local hikes. The latest edition just came out 2 months ago so it's very current. http://www.amazon.com/Afoot-Afield-Diego-County-Comprehensive/dp/0899974287/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9391049-2392039?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184641374&sr=8-1
For biking I'd recommend going along coast highway between say Carlsbad and Solana Beach. The scenery is fantastic and on weekend mornings you'll see hundreds of people biking that way. Lots of well known triathletes train in this section of the county but don't worry as the riding is mostly flat.
For places to stay I'd recommend Loews in
Coronado, the Hotel Del Coronado, Paradise Point in Mission Bay or La Valencia in La Jolla if you want to go the high end direction for walking distance or right on the beach; for a little funky try the Crystal Pier Hotel in Pacific Beach to sleep in a little bungalow on a pier.
Mission Valley hotels may be central to everything but have no soul; pretty much oriented to business travelers; midrange in cost. Stay in a hotel downtown in Gaslamp Quarter if you want to take advantage of nightlife including Padres games. For more info check out the local newspaper's guide for visitors: http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com/visitorsguide.html
The writer who described San Diego as chilly in Sept...well, I've lived here since 1971 and the hottest months here are Aug and Sept.
2007-07-16 16:20:31 · answer #1 · answered by Pat D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
San Diego sounds like the perfect place for you and your wife to vacation. There are lots of things to do outdoors. Some of my favorites are:
1. Hiking at Torrey Pines.
2. Biking along the coast.
3. Kayaking through the La Jolla Caves.
4. Lots of water activities...jet skiing, surfing, boogie boarding, fishing, bay cruises.
5. Roast marshmallows on the beach....bonfires are allowed on most beaches and the city even provides fire rings.
4, There's wine tasting in the area around Julian (also more great hiking) and around Escondido as well.
The hotels in Mission Bay are centrally located and near the water. Getting around in San Diego is pretty easy, but you do need a car. For more suggestions and details visit http://www.sandiego-romantics.com
2007-07-16 17:46:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My 40-something husband and I just returned from a week long 20th anniversary trip in SD. In addition to the replies you have received, renting a boat in Mission or San Diego Bay is fun in relatively inexpensive, you can rent Segway's in Mission Beach, nice antique stores in Ocean Beach, but the rest of the town is pretty surf-rat funky. Coronado Island is beautiful. The aquarium at Scripps in LaJolla was wonderful.
Make sure you hit the Rei de Gado in Gaslamp for a fabulous meal, it is a Brazilian steakhouse. Then amble down the street for 2 blocks to The Shout House, a dueling piano bar with lots of audience participation, great fun!
The best meal was at Bertrand's at Mr. A's, just outside of downtown. It is on the 30th floor with a beautiful view. Expensive though, but if you want a special treat it's worth it.
We stayed on Shelter Island at The Bay Club Hotel and Marina. If you make reservations online the rate drops to $174 a night. Small hotel with a good restaurant, free breakfast, and wonderful staff.
Next door is Humphrey's Half Moon Inn that also has good rates, plus they have nightly concerts with good, known, musicians/bands such as Dennis DeYoung (Styx), Bill Maher, etc. If you don't want to pay for the concert you can still hear it!
2007-07-16 16:36:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as San Diego goes Hotel circle is the best for being central to the major attractions and the beaches. If you are going in September keep in mind that it may be a little chilly near the beaches. I would recommend visiting San Francisco as it is my favorite city and I have lived in both San Diego and San Francisco.
San Francisco is not as crowded as San Diego and as far as culture goes there is the Museum of Modern Art as well as the Palace of Fine Arts. There is also the San Francisco Symphony, Ballet and Opera. Fisherman's Wharf is a fun place and there are inexpensive bay tours and deep sea fishing tours. You can rent bicycles and ride over the Golden Gate Bridge. There are also wine tasting tours and festivals. Consider San Francisco as part of your western cities vacation.
2007-07-16 08:03:19 · answer #4 · answered by grtchi09 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
date
2007-07-16 04:43:44 · answer #5 · answered by Daniel F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We stayed at the Pacific Beach Terrace Hotel and loved it. Pacific Beach is only a 20 minute drive from downtown aand the sights. This hotel on on the beach where you can walk.
In town, the tour of the Midway aircraft carrier was great, the Zoo of couse, Balboa Park has great museums, Old Town is an interesting area with an old west feel and th gaslamp quarter is teaming with nightlife. Have fun!
2007-07-16 09:30:27 · answer #6 · answered by Johnny Sox 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My husband and I have been to San Diego many times and we enjoyed our stay on Harbor Island the best. Shelter Island is also nice. Its close to downtown with many things to do and see near by and you can rent bikes on the island without the rushed feeling of downtown. Seaport Village and Balboa Park are interesting. We liked taking day trips and staying where Its quite and very scenic. Pacific Beach was our favorite for swimming and laying in the sun, and close by is the Crystal Pier. We stay in condo there one time on the beach but it was too busy for us. Sailing is fun in Mission Beach. La Jolla kayaking is great! We did some of this stuff for the first time ever and loved it!!
2007-07-16 10:44:07 · answer #7 · answered by vtbates 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hotel Circle's prob. the best place to say for affordability and central to everything you want to do. Best biking is up the 101 from Del Mar to Oceanside. Hiking trails...Mission Trails.
2007-07-16 05:49:59 · answer #8 · answered by nightdogg 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋