We spend several weeks in San Diego. Your kids would love the Carlsbad area (North County area including Encinitas, Del Mar, Solana Beach). Upscale, fun boutiques, surf shops, nice restaurants that would still appeal to those ages, coffee shop, ice cream shops etc. La Jolla is more upscale/romantic with art galleries, fine dining, etc and a zoo with tourists. North County is a gorgeous area.

My kids are younger but we’ve stayed twice at Glorietta Bay in on Coronado. They have two room suites, it’s easy to drive to the zoo (what my kids like) / Balboa park and walk to the beach or dinner at night. That said it might be quiet for teens. Also, we were there last spring and due to a broken sewage pipe in Tijuana / northward moving currents, it wasn’t safe to go in the ocean. 🤢 My kids were fine building sand castles and playing in the pool, but something to be aware of. I don’t know whether the currents are different with La Jolla or if there are just different rules there, but my sister was in La Jolla at a similar time and didn’t see any similar warnings.

Sea World

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:North Park.

Or Escondido.

I hope that is a joke.

Escondido has a great taco place called TJ’s tacos - they serve the best pork adobada off the spit. It also has an amazing huge thrift store called Valley Thrift. I love the combo for a day, but it is most definitely not a vacation destination. 😂

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2 DSs (15 and 13) and I will have about 3 days in San Diego in August as part of a longer trip. I’ve been several times but always stayed at hotels on the bay. Looking for recs on where to stay (we prefer to have 2 rooms, so air bnb is often better - neighborhood recs?), and things to do. We will have a car, but I’d love to stay somewhere we can walk to restaurants for dinner. We’ll definitely see a Padres game and go out to Coronado - what else?

thanks!

Stay within walking distance of Balboa park. Do the zoo and some museums there.

Do not stay anywhere near Balboa Park/downtown area if you plan on walking - entirely too many homeless to navigate. Budget permitting, I would stay in Coronado (definitely with a/c in August) and take the ferry to downtown/Petco Park. Stay somewhere near the main drag in Coronado- bikes to rent, summer concerts, beach , lots of nice restaurants and SAFE to walk in the evenings.

Anonymous wrote:North Park.

Or Escondido.

I hope that is a joke.

North Park.

Or Escondido.

San Diegan here who now lives in DC. My call is La Jolla. I like the Estancia.

We've stayed at two different airbnbs in Pacific Beach, which is very walkable. Both had parking so we could drive to the zoo or whatever.

We’ve been the last two summers and I def recommend making sure the place you pick has a/c.

We stayed at air bnb in mission beach and in ocean beach - wanted to be within walking distance of thr beach / food options but also have parking and a/c.

If you like animals the zoo is truly amazing. The safari park is too but it’s a 45 mins drive.

Agree with staying in La Jolla or La Jolla Shores. Maybe north Pacific Beach, depending on how much of a party scene it is these days. If you don't care about being walking distance to the beach but want somewhere neighborhoody, try Mission Hills/Hillcrest/North Park area.

Others may disagree, but I would look for something with a/c at least in the bedrooms, especially if you're used to sleeping with it on the east coast. I lived in SD (without a/c) for years and there were always a couple weeks (often in August) that it was warm enough to want a/c at night, and when we visited a couple years ago it was noticeably more hot and humid than it was 15 years ago.

Torrey Pines State Reserve is one of my favorite places in the US. Balboa Park, including the Spanish Village, is worth visiting. Maybe the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge. And then any of the core neighborhoods: Mission Hills, Hillscrest, North Park, Little Italy, Normal Heights, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Why are you going to Coronado?

I'd look in La Jolla, close enough to walk to the beach. One idea
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/973250086424186961?adults=3&location=La%20Jolla%20Shores%2C%20San%20Diego%2C%20California%2C%20United%20States&check_in=2024-08-13&check_out=2024-08-16&source_impression_id=p3_1709491693_UtgHFTCCNxbwsJkZ&previous_page_section_name=1001&federated_search_id=1a52e2c5-1645-4e6a-8072-8f25bd9204e6

Disagree. Coronado is a beautiful beach though I prefer to just go stroll it in the evening.

Why are you going to Coronado?

I'd look in La Jolla, close enough to walk to the beach. One idea
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/973250086424186961?adults=3&location=La%20Jolla%20Shores%2C%20San%20Diego%2C%20California%2C%20United%20States&check_in=2024-08-13&check_out=2024-08-16&source_impression_id=p3_1709491693_UtgHFTCCNxbwsJkZ&previous_page_section_name=1001&federated_search_id=1a52e2c5-1645-4e6a-8072-8f25bd9204e6

Anonymous wrote:My 2 DSs (15 and 13) and I will have about 3 days in San Diego in August as part of a longer trip. I’ve been several times but always stayed at hotels on the bay. Looking for recs on where to stay (we prefer to have 2 rooms, so air bnb is often better - neighborhood recs?), and things to do. We will have a car, but I’d love to stay somewhere we can walk to restaurants for dinner. We’ll definitely see a Padres game and go out to Coronado - what else?

thanks!

Stay within walking distance of Balboa park. Do the zoo and some museums there.

My 2 DSs (15 and 13) and I will have about 3 days in San Diego in August as part of a longer trip. I’ve been several times but always stayed at hotels on the bay. Looking for recs on where to stay (we prefer to have 2 rooms, so air bnb is often better - neighborhood recs?), and things to do. We will have a car, but I’d love to stay somewhere we can walk to restaurants for dinner. We’ll definitely see a Padres game and go out to Coronado - what else?

thanks!