San Diego in mid-October

I really like the Corvette Diner. It's 50s style with original cherry, vanilla, and chocolate cokes. Quirky place.

Old Town Mexican Cafe has delicious freshly made tortillas. Delicious food. We like it better than Coyote Cafe.

There is the old carousel at Balboa and of course the USS Midway.

Yes the zoo is worth it. Lots to see there.

We went to the zoo a few years back. There was a trolley that drove us around. I can't remember how much that cost, but it was worth it. There are lots of hills in that zoo and it is huge. Plus, with the trolley the driver gives information that you wouldn't normally get.

I will likely be the lone dissenter who says skip the zoo. It's a ton of money, and at the end of the day it is still a zoo, and zoos are everywhere. However, Balboa Park, where the zoo is, is fabulous. Loads of cool museums, beautiful pocket gardens, fun history, places to eat and artsy shopping at Spanish Village.

There are loads of cool places to eat in the Gaslamp. I had a fabulous meal at Rustic Root last Friday, and I am already plotting a return. There are also several rooftop bars in the big hotels along the water that have incredible views.

 If you do go to the zoo, definitely make your first stop the guided bus tour included in your ticket. The buses are open, double decker style and it will give you a good overview of the zoo and which areas you might want to go back and check out. TBH, I'm kind of with malibou, and would prioritize other things unless you are a must see the zoo person. 

For an overview of San Diego, the hop-on-hop-off trolley is a good choice. It will take you through the Gaslamp, Old Town, Balboa Park, along the harbor and over to Coronado. Like any HOHO bus, you can get off at any of the stops, wander around and get on the another to continue the tour. Personally, I'd take advantage of being on Coronado and go wander through The Del, eat there or someone along Orange Avenue while checking out the shops.

Balboa Park is fabulous and you can easily spend a day there. My favorite museums are Mingei (folk art, craft and design), the Timken Museum of Art and the San Diego Museum of Art but there is literally something for everyone. And I will ditto malibou again and agree the Spanish Village Art Center is a must see stop with 200 artists at work in every medium you can think of. Perfect place to pick up a few holiday gifts.

For the third day, I'd go to La Jolla (pronounce La Hoya ). An uber is probably your best transportation choice but you can get there on public transportation (Blue Line Trolley from downtown to UCSD and then local bus to La Jolla city center). I'd walk along the shore from Windandsea Beach to the La Jolla Cove and then head in a couple blocks to poke through the shops and have something to eat. A fun way to wander through La Jolla is to follow the Murals of La Jolla map. We did this during the stir-crazy days of Covid. Looking at the link, they have hosted tours now, but you can just follow the map on your own if the time doesn't work for you.

One other thing I will add is you are in town Saturday morning, the Little Italy Farmers Market is one of our favorites and walking distance from where you are staying.

I enjoyed visiting Old Town and Little Italy was a great place for a meal.