[AKA_Monet]

Originally posted by AOIIalum
I'm tagging along with DH on a business trip to San Diego, no kids! I've never ever been to California.

I'll have some solo time in SD for 1 1/2 days or so. Once he's finished working we'll be going to Disneyland for a couple of days!

Now, the bunches of questions:

1. We're thinking about staying somewhere midway between Disneyland and San Diego, if it makes sense. Is that worth it, driving-wise? Or should we just stay onsite and drive back to the San Diego airport on our departure day?

Just go to Disneyland for the day and drive back to your hotel in the evening. Disneyland is really for this kiddies. Sure you can have a nice time checkin' it out, but it's nothing like Disneyworld... It is the first place Disney was put on the map, so it pretty much remains that way... I haven't been to California Disney, but it is pretty much like Magic Mountain--a Six Flags place--so I've heard...

Originally posted by AOIIalum
2. Just how bad is the I-5 between San Diego-Anaheim? Mapping sites say around 1 1/2 hours driving. What's realistic in the late afternoon/early evening? What about morning midweek going Anaheim to SD?

Think of it like this: folks live in San Diego, but work in LA--so they commute to work. It takes ~2 hours without bad traffic. And bad traffic is when someone's car breaks down, some tracker trailer jacked knifed, or someone tries to make a run for the border...

So, if you leave in the morning around 8ish, you'd think you'd get there around 10ish... NO... You will be getting there around 12ish, 'cuz you hit LA-traffic...

And the average speed limit on ALL SoCal freeways is ~75 mph--even though the posted is 65... NOBODY drives below 70 mph...

So the best time to leave San Diego to upto LA area is ~9:45AMish...

Originally posted by AOIIalum
3. While in San Diego, we're at the Solamar Hotel. Thank heavens I'm not paying for that one! It looks like it's in the Gaslight area? Is there enough to do around there solo for a half day (afternoon and evening)? Any suggestions for safe walking sightseeing, shopping, dining in the general area of that hotel?

YOu are in probably the most safest cities in America. San Diego PD are pretty much ex-military. So they are not into lunacy and pounce the minute these think they see something. Then you will be in a military town, so you have Navy and the Marines.

It sounds like the Hotel will be near Horton Plaza a shopping center. And there is another across the street for high end kinds of things--like Tiffany's, etc.

Depending on what you want to do, if you want to stay near your hotel, you will be close to the San Diego bay and so take a bus tour that takes you around the city. Also, you will be near the trolley stations and you ought to visit Old Town. Old Town has EXCELLENT Mexican Food places... Some of the best Californian Mexican Food--like Cafe Bazaar Del Mundo... If you can get your husband to go there to and have a HUGE margarita...

The SD trolley takes you all over. It will take you to the Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley--where I use to live. It will take you La Mesa--another place I use to live... Up through Spring Valley and back down to the Gaslamp. It will take you to San Ysidro to the Mexican Border and let you cross it if the Border Patrol isn't hardcore that day... And many of the Shopping Outlets are nearby...

Originally posted by AOIIalum
4. I'm going to the San Diego Zoo on my full solo day (you know I have to try to see the pandas!) Is there enough to do at the Zoo besides the pandas to fill a day? Any SD Zoo tips I should know?

You are going to one of the best kept Zoos in the nation. There are animal "specimens" that aren't kept in any zoo that is in one place. The animal care is beyond comprehension.

The first thing you do is try to take a picture of the flamingos and the peacocks. Then you take the zoo bus to get a whole view of the property. Then you go see the pandas. Then you see a few shows. Then you go through the botanical gardens. See the giant tortoises. See the snake room and if you still not tired, see the chimps and orangutans and anything else you can think of. You won't see shamu (orcas) because those are at Sea World...

Originally posted by AOIIalum
5. Is it smarter to take a cab back and forth to the Zoo from the hotel, or are there other easy & safe options?

6. Anything else I should know about San Diego or Disneyland?

There are plenty of specific "trip buses" that look like trolleys that go back and forth from the zoo and Balboa Park. You will be nearby the Balboa Park area that has a lot of museums--Museum of Natural History, Museum of Man, Science Fleet Center and the Aerospace Museum. You will also be near the arts and crafts centers and the Prado. Balboa Park. There are other websites.

And if there is a San Diego city pass, I'd be about purchasing one with the Trolley/bus passes so transportation is not a big deal. Because parking is a bitch and gas prices in SoCal are ~$3.00 or higher. And you have to know where to park... Only locals know where to park and some of them are rather clueless.

Also the real Pacific Ocean visit a Belmont Park with the Rollercoaster is pretty good on the Boardwalk. And if you get over to Mission Beach there's this restaurant my mom loves that she swears by the serves the best hamburgers: World Famous at 711 Pacific Beach Drive, San Diego, CA 92109-5028 ph: (858) 272 3100. Make reservations for the early evening--like 4 PMish. You will need a car to get there.

Also go to SignOn San Diego for discounts and use your Entertainment book...