Welcome to the San Diego Page on The Travelling Detective blogspot! Here you will find the best places in the San Diego area to eat, sleep, and have fun!
Read on and travel well!
Recommended Hotels:
La Quinta Inn San Diego Mission Valley-
Why: Clean rooms, great staff, free breakfast, great location, covered parking, major retail center across the street, family oriented clientele.
What to watch out for: Other guests, the hotel fills up fast so get there early. Also make sure you try to book at least a month in advance to save money. Many of the rooms have glass tops on the dressers. They are at the exact height of most 3-4 year old. To avoid injury take the glass off, or use a few of the hotel washrags to cover the sharp corners.
Secrets: If you plan to take your family down to the free breakfast area be ready to wait for a table and stand in line for food. This is especially true from May through August. To save time, and some sanity, take the tray from under the in-room coffee maker and use it to carry back food for the whole family.
La Quinta Inn San Diego Scripps Poway-
Why: Good location, less expensive than other hotels, free breakfast, older clientele, hardly ever packed with people. The hotel is 5 minutes from Mira Mesa which has a massive three part retail center with grocery stores, restaurants, and a movie theater. Mira Mesa also has the most eclectic selection of non-chain restaurants, everything from traditional Thai, to real world Indian cuisine.
What to watch out for: This hotel is about 25 minutes from Sea World, and about 30 from downtown so be prepared for a drive to and from the action. The hotel has traditionally served senior citizens and the pace of the staff matches their clientele. Also, pay attention to the job the cleaning crew does. The first time we stayed at the hotel they did an amazing cleaning job, the second time they didn't bother to clean the bathroom in our room after the previous guest left (yuck). The manager's name is Jordan Austin, but don't spend too much time looking for her, she is always "gone for a moment."
Secrets: There is a Starbucks within walking distance of the hotel. They are never very busy so feel free to stop in for a green tea or frappa-sugar-bomb. You can usually save big money staying at this hotel, just be sure to run a comparison before you commit to a room.
Places to Eat
Greek Islands Cafe in Seaport Village- OPA! If you like Greek food on the go, this is a place for you. The Greek Island Dinner and the Souvlaki Platter are the best two deals on the menu. The location is truly extraordinary. The restaurant is at the western edge of the Seaport Village and if you sit outside on the patio you have an unrestricted view of the bay. You can enjoy a gyro while watching cruise ships, cargo vessels, and aircraft carriers.
They don't have much of a kids menu, but one Greek Island Dinner will give you enough food to feed three kids under 8. Anything more and you will need to get them their own meal. The price is good for Seaport Village which means you will spend around $10 a plate.
Point Loma Seafoods- HOLY FISH! This is by far the freshest, tastiest seafood you can find in San Diego. The menu includes Clam Chowder, Scallops Sandwiches, and Shrimp Salad. You cannot go wrong, trust me. The location could not be more fitting, it sits right along side a working dock where you can eat while watching the crews from fishing boats bring in their daily haul.
They have a kids platter with fish or chicken and french fries. The portions are generous but I guarantee the kids will want more french fries (so will you)! The prices are between $10 and $15 dollars which is in-line with most restaurants in the area.
Chick-Fil-A San Diego- Before you leave my page for "going corporate" hear me out on this one. This Chick Fil-A is about two miles from Sea World, which puts it in the perfect position for a pre-Sea World breakfast, quick lunch, or post Sea World dinner. If you have kids with special eating needs, you may find it easier to grab a few chicken nuggets rather than trying to find gluten-free anything inside of Sea World.
Taking Sea World out of the picture, what a perfect place to grab a meal you know will be delicious!
Keep checking back for more places to eat!!!
Places to have FUN!
Sea World San Diego- Set aside a whole day to enjoy Sea World. From the time the park opens till the final firework explodes, you will not get bored. The park allows you to bring snack style food into the park and closable drink containers. This will save you some money as the food is very expensive inside. The park is making headway in providing affordable food, but they are still not quit there.The "outside" food policies in Sea World change from time to time, so call ahead if you have people in your group with special diets.
If you want to avoid paying too much for lunch, make it at the hotel, put it into an ice chest, and leave it in the car. You can come and go from park as much as you want, and they have placed picnic tables around the entrance. So when you want to eat, take a break and have a great picnic style lunch.
Once in the park make sure you see the new Turtle Display, it is awesome! If you are looking for a place to chill and escape the park chaos, there is a Shamu underwater viewing area, next to the "Dine with Shamu" entrance. There is plenty of shade, benches, and a massive acrylic wall where you can watch Shamu swim around. My favorite spot is the Penguin Encounter. You can't go wrong with Penguins, trust me.
Balboa Park- When you combine culture, playgrounds, and old world style architecture you have the essence of Balboa Park. You will find a giant outdoor amphitheater, a stunning natural history museum, and a playground that rivals most elementary schools. If you don't want to go through any of the many museums, you can take a leisurely stroll down the main street and enjoy botanical gardens, street performers, or simply let the kids run wild on the playground.
Seaport Village- Shops, cafes, restaurants and a giant carousel! Seaport Village is the tourist mecca in San Diego. It is a great place to stop before leaving town for one final chance to pick up trinkets and souvenirs. The best shop in the whole village has a pirate theme and sells everything from refrigerator magnets to pirate ships!
La Jolla Shores Seal Beach- This is often called the "Children's Pool" or the "Casa" by the locals. No matter what you call it, Seal Beach in La Jolla is an awesome place to see marine life at it's best. Seals and Sea Lions play in a small, protected section of the beach and you can watch them from an elevated walkway. There are two large, grassy play areas nearby where the kids can run wild, while mom and dad enjoy the sights and sounds of the ocean. Bring a lunch and a blanket and have an ocean side picnic without the sand!
Hilltop Park- Looking for a traditional park with playgrounds, tennis courts, and lots of room to run? Well Hilltop is the place for you! Not only is it an amazing park, but you get the added bonus having a "hilltop" view of the San Diego area. The park has two large playgrounds, one for the little ones and the other for older kids, and a giant grass field. It is the perfect place to enjoy a San Diego sunset or just chill on a cool afternoon.
USS Midway- Over 60 exhibits, 27 aircraft, and a larger than life aircraft carrier! The USS Midway museum is so much more than just another museum, the ship holds several flight simulators, tons of hands-on displays, and a cafe with a pretty good menu. The whole ship takes about 4 hours to see, so make sure you have the appropriate back-up plan for the littlest ones. About 90% of the ship is accessible with kids, with some smaller parts too confined to maneuver while holding a munchkin. Strollers are only allowed on the mid-deck, so my advice would be to take a kiddie backpack, or be prepared to carry the bundles of joy.
Keep checking back for more places to have fun!
