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 Love Is in the Air: Three Days in San Diego
Taking the Kids: Three Days in San Diego
 Beyond the great weather, which makes it easy to enjoy outdoor attractions, another plus in San Diego is that the city offers a wide variety of activities -- meaning that you can be as active or sedentary as you like.
You'll definitely want to spend a significant amount of time in Balboa Park. On its own merits it's one of America's most spectacular city parks, but there's so much more here. Created in 1916 for the Panama-California Expedition, the 1,200-acre park, with its Spanish Colonial Revival-style buildings, is home to numerous art galleries and museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the Spanish Village Art Center, the Timken Museum of Art, the Veterans Museum, the Museum of Man, the House of Pacific Relations and the Japanese Friendship Garden, to name just some. Phew!
San Diego is also easily accessible by airplane, train, bus or car. Once in the city, you'll find the public transportation system clear-cut and easy to use. Seniors will enjoy discounts not only on transportation but at nearly every major attraction in the city.
Tip: Consider buying a pass for the Old Town Trolley Tour of San Diego. The trolley stops at most of the city's major tourist attractions and runs all day, offering on-and-off touring and historical narration along the way.
Amazing Freebies Worth Pursuing: Museums in Balboa Park on Tuesdays (rotating schedule); admission to the Timken Museum of Art; tours of Balboa Park (leaving from the visitor's center); walking tours of Old Town; organ concerts at Spreckels Organ Pavilion on Sundays; Chicano Park.
Home Away From Home:
 Location! Location! Location! The best thing about the Manchester Grand Hyatt is that it's close to the cruise terminal (in fact, if you wake up early you may be able to spot ships sailing into the harbor), adjacent to the touristy but cute Seaport Village, and within a pleasant stroll's distance of the Gaslamp District. As well, for those folks who just want to experience in-hotel R & R, the place is huge, offering a variety of options for dining, activity and recreation.
Budget Hotel With Freebies: The Days Inn SeaWorld/Airport offers basic accommodations at very reasonable prices. It's a good option for travelers arriving by car because of its large parking lot (something many downtown hotels lack). It offers a free continental breakfast daily and free shuttle service to the airport, Amtrak station, cruise ship terminal, SeaWorld and Old Town State Park. From these locations it is very easy to walk or connect to other public transportation for sightseeing.
Day One
The first thing you'll do when you arrive in San Diego is head out of town. Some of the most interesting attractions in the city are actually located outside the city center -- for example, the string of missions that dot the California coast, beginning in San Diego County. Just a few miles north of downtown, you'll see the first of the 21 missions that continue to operate and preserve the city's Spanish past: Mission San Diego de Alcala. Today it operates as a Catholic parish, and tours are available September through May with advance booking.
The next two missions are Mission San Luis Rey de Francia and Mission San Juan Capistrano, located further north in Oceanside and San Juan Capistrano, respectively.
Depending on how many missions you decided to visit, you may be ready to head back to your hotel for a rest. But if not, head to Old Town to experience more of San Diego's history. Stop at the Old Town Mexican Cafe for excellent Mexican food and to watch tortillas being made by the famous "Tortilla Ladies." If you happen to be in Old Town on a weekend, be sure to check out the Bazaar del Mundo for free entertainment and to shop for Mexican folk art, ceramics and fashions.
Head to the Gaslamp District for dinner. This area really comes alive after dark as the restaurants and cafes fill up with the sounds of chatter and music. There are over 200 restaurants in this small area serving every cuisine under the sun; a few standouts are Trattoria La Bocca, for reasonably priced Italian and an affordable wine list, and Rei Do Gado, a Brazilian-style all-you-can-eat steakhouse where prices are per person rather then a la carte.
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