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Usually make a Thanksgiving trip to AZ to visit relatives - but the cost was out of sight. Can get more bang for my buck and make a side trip by going in February. But have some questions.
Since this is not traditional tourist season -- what can I expect to find in San Diego. I know I want to spend a day at the Zoo -- but what else would you suggest I put on my must see/do list.(Will have 4 days there.) Also any recommendations for a hotel -- clean and economical are my style.
Will only be spending a day in San Francisco -- just enough time to visit Fisherman's wharf and Pier 39 and maybe ride a trolley. Am just wondering what the weather will be like at that time of year.
Will then be taking the CZ back to Chicago in order to enjoy snow in the Rockies the only way I enjoy snow ---- through the window.
Dee
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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Are you going both ways by train? The Southwest Chief scenery is very good in February, usually sunny. Some prices get higher around President's Day.
The 3 or 4 times I have been to San Diego in Feb it has been sunny and 70's. I enjoyed Point Loma, the beachfront at Pacific Beach, and the Gaslamp District near Downtown. I loved the Surfliner ride from LA.
DeeCT Member # 3241
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Yes -- will be going both ways by train. Taking the SWC to Williams Junction in AZ.Then after a few days of visiting family it will be on to LA and then to San Diego. (I do the SWC one way twice a year. Have enjoyed it whatever the season.)
Beacon Hill Member # 4431
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I'm a fan of The Cable Car Museum in San Francisco. It's located in the system's maintenance and power supply center, so you see the system's under-street cables coming into the wheelhouse and then going back out again. The museum is upstairs with old streetcars and lots of info about the history of cable cars. It takes about an hour to "do" the museum and it's free. Weather should be fine (compared to New England).
dilly Member # 1427
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I recently spent four full days in San Diego, which I found to be one (and possibly two) days too many.
The Zoo is definitely worth several hours. Balboa Park (where the Zoo is located) is arguably the most beautiful in America and essentially a "Cultural Theme Park," since something like a dozen different small museums are also located there.
The old Santa Fe railroad station (which Amtrak calls home) is worth spending a little time in, although it's more run-down than it appears to be in photographs posted on the web.
The Gaslamp District is composed almost entirely of bars and restaurants (which get fairly boisterous after dark), anchored by an upscale shopping mall at the northern end. Nothing special.
Old Town, where the city began, is a touristy collection of "historic buildings" (some are genuine, most are fake) housing shops and restaurants. You can get there by trolley, and I'd suggest going at dusk, when most of the tourists have cleared out and the area is somewhat atmospheric. You can almost pretend everything is real.
There are other attractions (Sea World, etc.). But for the most part, San Diego is (to my taste, and compared to eastern cities) spectacularly sterile and boring. Unless you rent a car and drive fairly far afield, or plan to spend an unusual amount of time staring at the water, you may find that filling all four days with meaningful activities will be a challenge.
With that said, truly cheap hotels don't exist. Even the lowly Super 8, just north of downtown, will set you back $80 per night (and that's if you don't mind that it's currently a heavy construction site due to ongoing "expansion"). Try bidding on Priceline. For $80, you'll at least get something halfway decent.
Mr. Toy Member # 311
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quote:Originally posted by dilly: Balboa Park (where the Zoo is located) is arguably the most beautiful in America and essentially a "Cultural Theme Park," since something like a dozen different small museums are also located there.
Those museums are collected together in sort of a mall, and include among them a very impressive model railroad museum.
Go over to Coronado and visit the Hotel Del Coronado. The town of Coronado is good for an afternoon stroll, too.
Overall Sandy Eggo reminded us a lot of Portland, but with palms and sun instead of firs and rain. It is absolutely nothing like LA-LA land.
San Francisco weather around T-Day can be sunny or rainy. Be prepared for both. Evenings are a tad on the chilly side. The damp marine air can feel colder than what the thermometer says is, so keep that in mind.
Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf are very touristy. You might want to hop a cable car (not to be confused with a trolley, which is an electric vehicle powered by overhead lines) and go over the hill to the Union Square area for shopping, dining and tall buildings.
dmwnc1959 Member # 2803
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quote: But for the most part, San Diego is (to my taste, and compared to eastern cities) spectacularly sterile and boring.
San Diego tops the list as one of the best cities I have lived in the US...but living there and being a tourist are two completely different things.
The Motel 6 Downtown is comfortable and runs around 60$ per night and is within 10-15 minutes walking distance of downtown, Horton Plaza shopping, the Gaslamp district, and the Amtrak station. Dont miss the view from Pt Loma and the Cabrillo National Monument, which on a clear day is spectacular. Seaworld, Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, the beaches at Coronado, and a tour of the USS MIdway and the Maritime Museum will keep you busy. Take a harbour tour and see the Pacific US Navy fleet based at San Diego. see whats happening at the QUALCOMM ballpark or Cox Arena, ride the Trolley to the border town of Tijuana (be back before dark sets in). Love wildlife? Go whale watching! For other ideas go here...
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In addition to everything else listed above, take a side trip out of town (if you have not been there before) to the Mission at San Juan Capistrano on the Pacific Surfliner and upgrade to Business-Class. Or go further and visit Disneyland in Anaheim for the day!
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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I might add that as an out-of-towner in San Diego, I found driving a challenge and the trolley a delight. And this is from someone who found driving in LA surprisingly easy.
DeeCT Member # 3241
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Thanks to all who replied !! It looks like I will have plenty to keep busy with for 4 days in San Deigo. Having some mobility problems I will do the Zoo on the second day and Sea World (have not been to one in many moons)on the fourth day. Both have electric carts to rent and that gives me a break every other day from walking. It looks like I will have many choices with which to fill my two "walking" days. Balboa Park looks quite interesting. Somehow I missed the Cable Car Museum on my prior visit to San Francisco. (Will be a good choice if the weather is overly chilly.)
Now if I can just get the Amtrak website to stop it's annoying error messages I will book this trip. Any trip that includes a shuttle bus just does not compute. (San Francisco requires one from Emeryville.)
Dee
Railroad Bob Member # 3508
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I live in "Dago," so I guess I'll chime in...btw, I agree with dilly's comment about SD. Other than the spectacular weather, which ranges about 70 to 80 ALL YEAR AROUND, it is by no means a cosmopolitan world city. The airport is hopelessly undersized with only one runway and any relocation/expansion regularly blocked by nimbys. However, my vote for the coolest thing in San Diego is the Model RR Museum in Balboa Park. Probably the best layout in the western US. O, HO, and two other gauges well represented...also it's walking distance from the entrance to the Zoo. A very good light rail system serves the city, as most know.
George Harris Member # 2077
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The same or other nimbys are also opposed to double tracking, electrification, and any speed increases on the railroad line to Los Angeles.
dilly Member # 1427
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quote:Originally posted by Mr. Toy: San Francisco weather around T-Day can be sunny or rainy. . . You might want to hop a cable car (not to be confused with a trolley, which is an electric vehicle powered by overhead lines)
I'd also recommend checking out the vintage trolleys of the F Line that runs down the center of Market Street. Most of the fleet is composed of beautifully restored PCC cars from the 1940s. Each is painted in the livery of one of the American cities (Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc.) where the cars originally served.
Whenever I'm in San Francisco, I always ride on a PCC at least once, even if I have no particular need to do so. I also try to spend some quality gawking time sitting near the stop by the Ferry Terminal, watching the different trolleys (with their different color schemes) come and go.
San Francisco owns more than 50 PCCs in all, and you can see some of them by clicking here:
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