I recently spent a week at the Hotel Solamar and loved it. I walked everywhere downtown and to the ferry over to Coronado. Great hotel, excellent in house restaurant and the rooftop bar/lounge is fantastic. Have fun, it is a great town.

Downtown is probably the best place to stay for a visitor (tourist). The gaslamp district has been greatly renovated and is a growing "scene".

I still think you should at least visit the Del Coronado hotel.

My wife was born and raised there. Nothing like a Ramos fizz on New Year's day when it's 75 degrees out.

There are tons of places to visit. No visit is complete without going to the San Diego Zoo. The place is huge. Check out the newborn Panda there.

I would definitely go over to the Hotel Del Coronado. Around Christmas they have a beautiful Xmas tree in the lobby. It is such a beautiful hotel and really nice to maybe have a drink in the bar area and take a walk along the beach afterward.

rastaguytoday, I was raised in Coronado too. I wonder if I knew your wife? My younger sister was born in Coronado at the NASNI base.

Yes, there is the SD Zoo (in Balboa Park near downtown) and the Wild Animal Park near Escondido.

Downtown there is the Gaslamp Qtr which has a lot of great restaurants and shops. Also Downtown along the Embarcadero are many of the Harbor Cruise boats, the USS Midway (open to the public) and the Star of India, you can catch a day boat over to Coronado.

Also you can visit the Point Loma Lighthouse, Old Town, visit beautiful La Jolla.

There will be a lot to keep you busy.

I would suggest staying in the Gaslamp area. It's conveniently located and has lots of places to eat and there's lots of entertainment there as well. There are several Marriott properties there, the Omni is really nice and several others. We got a great deal at the Omni several years ago, arriving on Christmas day and leaving Jan 2.

http://www.gaslamp.org/

Thanks so much for all of your great suggestions!

Downtown/the Gaslamp is fun - but busy - and hey - I would rather stay by the Ocean and visit downtown.

You can buy two day tickets for the Zoo and Safari Park - which gives a bit of a discount - and also - there are some great museums in Balboa Park - http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/museums as well as a nice Rose Garden that we volunteers try to keep up to snuff.

Coronado and the venerable Hotel Del are also worth a trip - and if you want a mountain alternative - get up to Julian and have some Apple Pie and maybe explore an old silver mine. http://www.sandiego.org/articles/east-county/julian.aspx

Also - you would probably enjoy the views from Cabrillo Point/Pt. Loma - and they have some neat galleries out there too, as well as a National Cemetery for our Vets. http://tinyurl.com/cmz7fjg

Oh - and as Nana suggested: Visit Old Town and our favorite Mexican restaurant there is Casa Guadalajara: http://www.casaguadalajara.com/

And the first Mission established in California is just above Old Town, and there is also a neat Morman's Brigade Museum - and very cute Victorian B & B;s in the nearby Heritage Park. http://www.heritageparkinn.com/

Also - don't forget Little Italy - which is fun to walk around (Farmer's markets on Sat Am) - and has some good Italian places to dine, or other places for a glass of vino, or grab a Gelato.

http://www.littleitalysd.com/dine/restaurants-rub-lounges/ and http://www.littleitalysd.com/events/

Read ALL the reviews about the Hotel Del BEFORE you think about booking there. It is a great location if you want to be out on the beach; without a car, for some, it would seem inconvenient.

"We live in Florida so the beach has no great interest to us. "

THAT is why I suggested Gaslamp, it is really lively and fun.

Yes, I read that and IMO - there are prettier views of the Pacific than what you find in Florida looking at the Atlantic.

When we go, we like to stay at the La Jolla Beach Hotel, right on the ocean, great restaurant, and nice owners. A small community of cute shops and good eating places, and the city of SD is just minutes away, and you can take the trolley.

What justwishin reminded me of is that in California - we have some hotels which are elevated above the ocean - which makes for a better view (at least IMO)- whereas in Florida - most accommodations are the same level as the beach.

Also - we get the sunsets in California.

Be sure to take the drive out to Cabrillo Point/above Pt. Loma - for an incredible view.

justwishin says the trolley runs to La Jolla. Where can I find out more about that, I don't see any information on the route map for the transit system? http://www.sdmts.com/trolley/trolley.asp

I am not aware of a trolley running to La Jolla. The main trolley lines go from downtown(by the Gaslamp)- to the border - and the other way - past Little Italy to Old Town - and then inland to El Cajon.

Think you are really better off renting a car - and driving time from downtown to La Jolla is only about 15 minutes - if you don't try it during rush hour. It's also very pretty to drive along the coast - from Sea World/Pacific Beach up to La Jolla - and it's also pretty to drive from there up to Del Mar - along beautiful Torrey Pines beach, etc.

You can also get over to Coronado from downtown in about 10 minutes - again - not during rush hour commutes.

If you decide to stay in the Gaslamp district, I have stayed at the Omni a few times and thought it was very nice with a good location. It is also attached to Petco Park, where the Padres play (but since you are going in December, obviously catching a baseball game would not be an option). I would definitely recommend a car. Everyone here already gave you good suggestions - La Jolla, Coronado Island, Old Town, Embarcadero, Balboa Park/Zoo. Having a car would make getting to many of these places much more easy.

We are considering the US Grant hotel. Any feedback is appreciated.

I have stayed at the US Grant. With not much to go on regarding what you want to know I can just say I thought the rooms were nice sized, seemed roomier than they really are due to higher than usual ceilings. The bathroom was fine, better than some

Some nice suggestions above by reliable posters Nanabee, DebitNM, Suzie, Tom42.

Restaurants close (either a short walk or cab) are JSix, Stingaree, Oceanaire. Croce's is named after singer Jim Croce and run by his wife. They often have great singers.

Horton Plaza is a nice unique outdoor shopping Mall with Nordstroms the upscale shopping store.

The US Grant is a classic hotel and easy walking distance to the Gaslamp, the USS Midway and along the Embarcadero - where you might have fish and chips at Anthony's Fishette and enjoy the view across the bay - to Coronado - and probably a carrier or two that is docked there.

espinach1:

On our first visit we took this tour http://www.trolleytours.com

Sandy

May I ask what makes only certain posters relisble 1JAR?

If you like Italian - downtown offers a number of choices - such as BICE, Toast Enoteca & Cucino, Aqua Al 2 (from Florence), Osteria Panavino (outside tables on 5th Ave) and our favorite - on Morena - Baci, which just received another steller review in the UT Tribune.

And there are of course a number of good choices in Little Italy - our favorite being Buono Appetito - but there are others.

For French - try Mister A's, or the original by Bertrand Hug - Mille Fleur in the Ranch - or in Pt. Loma - the relatiely new but highly acclaimed Bo Beau.

And for the best "deal" - offering a superb view of the bay/downtown - and very nice "small plates" and designer cocktails (Love the Desi Arnez - a mango infused Mojito) - for only $5 during their 3:30 to 5:30 cocktail hour - try C level at Island Prime - on Harbor Island by the airport.

http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/menu-restaurants/island-prime/

"May I ask what makes only certain posters relisble 1JAR?"

Knowing what's what . . . (quantity doesn't automatically = quality)

My recent stay in San Diego was wonderful. I went up to the Grant, where I have previously stayed, to meet a friend. The public areas are gorgeous and very stately. It has a classic feel. The Solamar, which I recommended earlier, is much more modern. The Grant is across the street from a popular pub and very close to Horton Plaza.
I hope you will have a wonderful visit. It is a great town!

If your boys aren't interested in the beach (as you live in Florida) or swimming I would definitely stay in the Gaslamp district downtown.

However, if you do like to walk on the beach early in the morning, enjoy kayaking, bicycling, etc then I would definitely look at places in the La Jolla Shores area. You would need a car to do day activities such a the Zoo, etc.

cmcfong: Good advice. The Solmar is highly regarded and definitely in the middle of the gaslamp.

And nanabee - well put. I would prefer the option of staying by the Shores, or even in places along Pacific Beach - or even at Paradise Point - http://www.paradisepoint.com/ or my favorite for being right over the dramatic surf - the Inn aa Sunset Cliffs http://innatsunsetcliffs.com/ - near hip Ocean Beach - but some might like to be right in the middle of the Gaslamp.

To each their own.

Thanks to all for the great suggestions!