How far is San Diego from DLR?

[cirquelover]

Please help me, I'm freaking out!

We leave for a business trip and then a vacation in four days and now my husband just called and says three/five days after we get home we have to leave for San Diego/La Mesa(?) area.
How far is that from Disneyland? How long would it take to drive? And how is the drive?

The worst part is that puts us there from May 1 to May 12 and I think that will be a very busy time. I doubt if I could get a room for the kid and I during most of that time period but I know we will be looking to go to DLR. It looks to far to drive up for the day and then go back.

Any great ideas of what to do in San Diego? I know about Seaworld and the zoo, but I haven't been there in twenty years.

Thank you so much for any advice you can give, you guys/ galsare the greatest

[Ghoulish Delight]

As with all things here, it depends on when you're leaving. If you are motivated and get up bright and early on a weekend (like, say, on the road by 8), it would be under 2 hours from La Mesa (maybe a little more if you don't drive like me). That can easily inflate to 4 hours if you go during rush hour. Moderate traffic, say on a weekend afternoon, I'd say maybe 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

In addition to the Zoo, there's the Wild Animal Park. There's old town. Downtown makes for a nice day. It's right by the water where you can get tours of old merchant sailing ships.

Forgot to add...it's totally doable in a day. The drive back at night will be a breeze.

[Ponine]

GD's pretty spot on.
I live in La Mesa, and on a good day I can make it to DLR in 90 minutes leaving fairly early, and driving quickly.
Two hours is a safe bet, barring accidents and rush hour traffic.

I've never had issues on the drive home at all. It's always been on the way up.
If you'll be doing the sightseeing thing, look into the City pass, I dont know the pricing, but i've seen it at Costco, and DLR. Seems that in a 14 day period you pay one price and get into DLR, the SD ZOO, the SD Wild AP, Sea world... Darkbeer might know specifics on that.

How old is your son? Mine's 6 1/2.
We've also got a funky little nature preserve down south of us, with a manta ray pool; lots of things to see in Balboa park. Jot me a pm.. we'll compare notes.
You will spend an entire day at any of the three major sd attractions easy. Old town would make for a whole other day on top of that... I'm rambling... just holler.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Ponine

SD Wild AP,

Got that right. Those APers from SD are outta control.

[Ponine]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Got that right. Those APers from SD are outta control.

Well, some of us locals tend to call it the WAP, and that sounded even worse, and I wasnt in the mood to type San Diego Wild Animal Park... as it was, it took me three tries just then to spell it right.

[cirquelover]

Thanks for the help.

He just sent me an email and it looks like we will be in Mira Mesa, I have no idea where that is, he says San Diego area. I'm off to look it up!
Thanks GD!

[BarTopDancer]

Mira Mesa is nice. There is an original Ferrals there still. YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!! You'll be pretty close to the zoo and the WAP and it won't be a terrible drive to Anaheim. I think you'll be able to take the 5 straight up.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

There is an original Ferrals there still.

It is the only Farrells left, unfortunately. Glad it is still there though, or at least it was a few months ago.

[Claire]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Mira Mesa is nice. There is an original Ferrals there still. YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!! You'll be pretty close to the zoo and the WAP and it won't be a terrible drive to Anaheim. I think you'll be able to take the 5 straight up.

Went there for two birthdays! When I turned six and again when I turned 18!! I went to Sea World on both those days as well! Nerdly, or what?

Enjoy!! I love the Mission Bay area....we stayed a week at The Catamaran last time we were there (five years ago). It was awesome. Fish tacos for breakfast, lunch and dinner in that area.....

I love downtown and the shops on the waterfront. We also had the most amazing seafood dinner....twice....nearish the shops, but not exactly in that area....what is that little area called? It's a bit touristy, but we always enjoy for some reason....habit, I guess.

I also have been obsessed with the Hotel Del Coronado since I can remember. I think it's worth a drive out there to Coronado to see it.

Also....fun for others, notsomuch for me (former Coast Guard brat), is a trip to see the Naval yards. The ships are so overwhelmingly huge and there are so many. We don't have anything like it in Oregon, not by a long shot!

San Diego is on my short list of desirable places to live, BTW. Enjoy!!!

[Claire]

Oh--They had an okay-sized FAO Schwartz in the mall downtown.....my kids loved it, as they'd never seen an FAO before. I'm not sure if it's still there though.