SAN DIEGO
Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter
United States
TRIP OVERVIEW
Day 1 – USS Midway Museum · Maritime Museum of San Diego
Day 2 – Balboa Park · Botanical Building · Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Day 3 – Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve · La Jolla Cove
Day 4 – Cabrillo National Monument · Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Day 5 – Hotel del Coronado
Day 6 – Train Day · Los Angeles
Day 1
1.
USS Midway Museum
~2 hr 30 min
Moored at Navy Pier, this decommissioned aircraft carrier served for 47 years — the longest of any US carrier in the 20th century. The 4-acre flight deck holds 29 restored aircraft, while 60 exhibits below decks tell the story of 225,000 sailors who served aboard.
Daily 10:00am - 5:00pm
2.
Maritime Museum of San Diego
~2 hr
The Maritime Museum preserves California's seafaring heritage through a fleet of historic vessels on the Embarcadero, crowned by the Star of India — the world's oldest active iron-hulled sailing ship, built in 1863. The collection spans bark-rigged tall ships, a Russian submarine, and the HMS Surprise replica.
Daily 10:00am - 5:00pm
Day 2
1.
Balboa Park
~1 hr 30 min
A 1,200-acre urban park shaped by the legacy of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. The El Prado promenade runs through a sequence of Spanish Colonial Revival buildings — among the finest of their kind in the American West — framed by the ornate California Tower and flanked by sculpted gardens.
Open 24/7
2.
Botanical Building
~30 min
The largest lath-structure greenhouse in the world at the time of its 1915 construction, this open-air wooden lattice pavilion filters California sunlight across 2,100 plants — rare cycads, cascading orchids, towering palms, and vivid seasonal displays changing throughout the year.
3.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
~1 hr 30 min
California's first European settlement, founded in 1769. The park preserves adobe buildings, reconstructed plazas, and historic homes recreating Spanish and Mexican California, with free guided tours departing daily at 11:00am and 2:00pm from the Robinson-Rose Visitor Center.
Daily 10:00am - 5:00pm
Day 3
1.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
~2 hr 30 min
One of the rarest pines on Earth — fewer than 6,000 wild Torrey pines survive on the planet, all within these 1,750 acres of eroded sandstone bluffs above the Pacific. Eight miles of trails cross dramatic ravines and badlands; the Razor Point and Guy Fleming trails deliver the most commanding ocean panoramas.
Daily 7:15am - 8:00pm
15 min uphill
2.
La Jolla Cove
~2 hr
A sheltered sea-carved inlet where sandstone cliffs plunge into crystal-clear water within a protected ecological reserve. Sea lions and harbor seals haul out on the rocks year-round, and seven sea caves carved into the headland — including the 80-foot Clam Cave — are accessible by guided kayak.
Open 24/7
Day 4
1.
Cabrillo National Monument
~2 hr 30 min
A 160-acre national park marking the 1542 landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo — the first European to set foot on the West Coast. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse stands at the tip of the peninsula above some of Southern California's most biodiverse tide pools, packed with sea stars, urchins, and anemones.
2.
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
~1 hr 30 min
A 68-acre coastal park along the western edge of Point Loma where volcanic rock formations and sea-carved arches frame the open Pacific. At sunset the eroded basalt cliffs glow amber above surge channels; three small pocket beaches and exposed tide pools reward explorers willing to scramble.
Day 5
1.
Hotel del Coronado
~2 hr
Opened in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, this Victorian wood-frame resort is one of the last surviving examples of American seaside resort architecture. The Crown Room, red-tile turrets, and wraparound verandas define Coronado's shoreline — the filming location for Some Like It Hot.
Open 24/7
Day 6
San Diego Santa Fe Depot → Los Angeles Union Station · Amtrak Pacific Surfliner · 2 hrs 45 min
book at: amtrak.com
1.
Getty Center
~2 hr 30 min
The Getty Center houses one of the world's finest collections of European paintings, drawings, manuscripts, and decorative arts in a Richard Meier campus of travertine and glass above the 405 freeway. The Central Garden and rooftop terraces deliver panoramic views from the Pacific to downtown Los Angeles.
Tuesday - Friday 10:00am - 6:30pm · Saturday 10:00am - 9:00pm · Sunday 10:00am - 6:30pm
Closed Monday
Free
Timed entry reservation required — book in advance at the museum website
2.
Griffith Observatory
~2 hr
Opened in 1935 on a ridge of the Santa Monica Mountains, this Art Deco planetarium commands sweeping views from the Pacific to downtown Los Angeles — with the Hollywood Sign directly below. Public telescopes and the Samuel Oschin Planetarium dome shows make it the world's most visited public observatory.
Tuesday - Friday 12:00pm - 10:00pm · Saturday - Sunday 10:00am - 10:00pm
Closed Monday
Free
Los Angeles Union Station → San Diego Santa Fe Depot · Amtrak Pacific Surfliner · 2 hrs 45 min
book at: amtrak.com
Weekly Closures
Museums & Observatories · Closed Monday
Tours
Viator
A 2-hour evening sail around San Diego Bay with the downtown skyline and Coronado Bridge silhouetted against the sunset. Includes light snacks; drinks available on board.
2 hr · small group
A narrated cruise through San Diego Bay passing the USS Midway, Star of India, Coronado Bridge, and Naval Air Station North Island.
2 hr · large group
A small-group tour of Coronado Island covering the Hotel del Coronado's Hollywood history, the Naval Air Station's WWII role, and the island's Victorian streetscapes. Ferry crossing and guide included.
2 hr 45 min · small group
A 2.5-hour bay cruise aboard a 75-foot catamaran with bow bean bags, a 13-seat bar, and sightlines to the Coronado Bridge, USS Midway, and Point Loma. Craft beverages and light bites on board.
2 hr 30 min · small group
A 4-hour whale watching voyage on the 141-foot sailing yacht America — a replica of the 1851 America's Cup winner. Naturalist guides spot gray, blue, fin, and humpback whales in season; complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages on board.
4 hr · Group · 77 max
GetYourGuide
A 90-minute amphibious tour that drives city streets before the vehicle splashes into San Diego Bay for a waterside view of the USS Midway, Star of India, and Shelter Island.
1 hr 30 min · large group
A 2.5-hour bay cruise on the largest catamaran in the harbor with a built-in bar and unobstructed views of the Coronado Bridge, USS Midway, the Star of India, and Point Loma.
2 hr 30 min · small group
A small-group 6-hour guided crossing into Tijuana — street art, local markets, historic Avenida Revolución, artisan shops, and an authentic taco lunch with a local guide who navigates the city like a resident.
6 hr · Small group · 12 max
A 4-hour voyage on the 141-foot sailing yacht America — a replica of the 1851 America's Cup champion — to spot gray, blue, humpback, and fin whales offshore. Complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks included; maximum 77 guests.
4 hr · Group · 77 max
A 5-hour guided walking tour through Tijuana's historic center — street art murals, the iconic arch of downtown, Mercado El Popo, and a sit-down authentic taco lunch at a local restaurant. Small group with a bilingual guide.
5 hr · Small group
TripAdvisor
The original San Diego SEAL Tour — 90 minutes on an amphibious vehicle through downtown, Coronado, and the Gaslamp Quarter, then directly into San Diego Bay for views of the harbor fleet and city skyline.
1 hr 30 min · large group
A 3.5-hour offshore cruise into open Pacific waters to spot blue, fin, and humpback whales in season. Naturalist narration; whale sighting guarantee on many departures.
3 hr 30 min · large group
A 2-hour racing sail aboard Stars & Stripes USA-11 — the actual 1992 America's Cup yacht — with crew instruction, hands-on racing maneuvers, and sweeping views of Point Loma and the Coronado Bridge. Maximum 14 guests per sail.
2 hr · 14 max
A 1-hour guided speedboat tour of San Diego Bay at 40+ mph — past the USS Midway, beneath the Coronado Bridge, and around the Naval Base — with on-board narration and the option to take the wheel in open water.
1 hr · small group
A 3.5-hour walking food tour through the Italian neighborhood with stops at six restaurants — house-made pasta, Sicilian pastries, imported meats, and neighborhood history along India Street.
3 hr 30 min · small group
Cappuccino
Achilles Coffee Roasters · 4.4 · 168+ reviews
Chiefy Café · 4.5 · 388+ reviews
Monday - Thursday 6:30am - 2:30pm · Friday - Saturday 6:30am - 3:00pm · Sunday 6:30am - 2:30pm
Goldchild Coffee Roasters · 4.8 · 187+ reviews
Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:00pm
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Coffeentalk · 4.5 · 428+ reviews
Monday - Friday 6:30am - 5:00pm · Saturday - Sunday 7:00am - 1:00pm
Lofty Coffee · 4.4 · 858+ reviews
Restaurants Near Hotel
Provisional Kitchen · 4.0 · 570+ reviews
All-day café in the Pendry one block over — espresso, pastries, and seasonal brunch.
Daily 7:00am - 3:00pm
Mezé Greek Fusion · 4.4 · 3421+ reviews
Mediterranean small plates — saganaki, octopus, and house-made spanakopita.
Monday - Thursday 11:30am - 9:00pm · Friday - Saturday 11:30am - 10:30pm · Sunday 11:30am - 9:00pm
Huntress · 4.4 · 1025+ reviews
Live-fire grill — dry-aged steaks, house-made pastas, small plates.
Wednesday - Thursday 6:00pm - 10:00pm · Friday - Saturday 5:00pm - 12:00am · Sunday 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Havana 1920 · 4.0 · 1054+ reviews
Cuban kitchen with live music nightly — ropa vieja, lechón, Cuban sandwiches.
Daily 11:00am - 10:00pm · Friday - Saturday 11:00am - 11:00pm
La Puerta · 4.0 · 4783+ reviews
Late-night Mexican street kitchen — carne asada tacos, birria, and margaritas.
Monday - Thursday 11:00am - 12:00am · Friday 11:00am - 1:00am · Saturday 10:00am - 1:00am · Sunday 10:00am - 12:00am
Downtown Restaurants
Werewolf · 4.5 · 5987+ reviews
All-day American pub — burgers, wings, bottomless brunch, and karaoke nightly.
Daily 8:00am - 2:00am
Rustic Root · 4.4 · 2679+ reviews
New American restaurant with a rooftop bar — seasonal menus and Gaslamp views.
Monday - Tuesday 5:00pm - 10:00pm · Wednesday - Thursday 5:00pm - 11:00pm · Friday 5:00pm - 1:30am · Saturday 10:00am - 1:30am · Sunday 10:00am - 11:00pm
Osteria Panevino · 4.3 · 1619+ reviews
Oldest Gaslamp restaurant — Sicilian family recipes in a warm Italian trattoria.
Monday - Thursday 4:00pm - 9:30pm · Friday - Saturday 4:00pm - 10:00pm · Sunday 4:00pm - 9:30pm
Saint James French Diner · 4.2 · 325+ reviews
French-American all-day diner — croissants at breakfast, steak frites at dinner.
Daily 7:00am - 9:00pm
Gaslamp Lumpia Factory · 4.3 · 413+ reviews
Filipino kitchen — specialty lumpia, adobo, and lechón in a steampunk space.
Monday - Wednesday 11:00am - 10:00pm · Thursday 11:00am - 11:00pm · Friday 11:00am - 1:00am
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Dining Areas
La Jolla Village
Old Town
Local Tastes
Fish Taco
Born from Baja California's street food culture — crispy beer-battered white fish in a warm corn tortilla, topped with shredded cabbage, crema, salsa, and lime. Everywhere in the city but never the same twice.
California Burrito
A San Diego original — carne asada, crispy french fries, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, and salsa wrapped in a large flour tortilla. The fries inside are the distinguishing invention; no other major city does this.
West Coast IPA
San Diego pioneered the West Coast IPA style — aggressively hopped, crystal-clear, and bone-dry with pine and citrus aromatics. The city now hosts over 150 craft breweries; the style has been exported worldwide.
Food Delivery
DoorDash
Foreign number: accepted. — the code arrives by SMS on an international number, though a US number avoids the occasional verification delay.
The widest restaurant list in the city and the fastest to the Gaslamp — most downtown, Little Italy and East Village kitchens are on it, with late-night options past midnight. Fees stack up on small orders; DashPass only pays off if you order more than twice.
Uber Eats
Foreign number: accepted. — it runs on the same Uber account, so the code comes by SMS to any international number, with a voice call as the fallback.
Runs on the Uber account you already have, so there is nothing extra to set up, and coverage of downtown and the Gaslamp is close to DoorDash's with slightly fewer independent taquerias. Useful for the Coronado and Point Loma hotels too, where DoorDash driver waits stretch out.
Shows, Performances & Concerts
The Old Globe
Tony Award-winning theater in Balboa Park — home to the Summer Shakespeare Festival and world premiere productions in three distinctive performance spaces.
Getting Around
Uber
Foreign number: accepted. — the code comes by SMS to any international number, and "Call me with code" reads it out if the SMS is blocked.
The deepest driver pool in San Diego — a car reaches the Gaslamp in two or three minutes at any hour, and it is the only app that covers Coronado, Point Loma and the La Jolla coast without a wait. Surge pricing bites after Padres games and on Saturday nights downtown.
Lyft
Foreign number: not accepted. — Lyft's own help says the number must be a US, Canadian or Puerto Rican one, and the code is texted only to that number.
Runs neck and neck with Uber across downtown, Balboa Park and the beach towns, and is often a few dollars cheaper on the long runs out to Cabrillo and Torrey Pines — worth keeping open to compare fares. Thinner on drivers in Point Loma and La Jolla after dark, and unusable without a North American number.
Train Stations Near Hotel
Santa Fe Depot
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner → Los Angeles · Santa Barbara · Coaster → Oceanside.
Day Trips by Train
Santa Barbara · 5 hrs
The American Riviera — red-tile Spanish Colonial architecture, State Street, the Funk Zone wine district, and one of California's most beautiful missions; all spread across a waterfront plain between the mountains and the Pacific.
book at: amtrak.com or Omio
Pickleball
Gaslamp Urban Pickleball · Outdoor
Eight courts with live DJs — seasonal Thursday pop-up through summer.
Thursday 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Michelin Restaurants
Addison
California contemporary · Fairmont Grand Del Mar.
Soichi
Heads Up
Cabrillo Tidepools — Parking Backs Up
At busy low tides the access road can close 30–45 min. Park by Visitor Center, walk Oceanside Trail and arrange rides first: no cell service.
Balboa Park — Use Lower Inspiration Point
Parking fees apply in the lots. Lower Inspiration Point is free for three hours and has a free shuttle into the park.
Hiking
Cowles Mountain Trail · Moderate
A steady climb to San Diego's highest point and a 360-degree summit view.
4.8 km return · 290 m ascent
1 hr 30 min
Torrey Pines — Razor Point Trail · Easy
A clifftop sandstone trail through a rare native pine reserve.
2 km return · 60 m ascent
1 hr
Worth Knowing
A City That Belongs to the Water
San Diego is deceptive. Arrive expecting theme parks and naval bases and you'll find them — but keep going toward the water and the city reveals something quieter: a place where the Pacific has been shaping daily life longer than the city has had a name.
The Star of India on the Embarcadero is the oldest active sailing ship in the world. The cove at La Jolla has been carved over thousands of years into caves no human designed. Cabrillo planted his flag on the Point Loma bluff in 1542 because ships couldn't find a better natural harbor on the entire West Coast.
The fish taco, the craft IPA, the long-running ease of the streets in February when the rest of the country is frozen — all of it traces back to the same source: a geography so inherently livable that the city barely has to try. That relaxation isn't laziness. It's clarity about where you are.
Also on this site
Nearby Guides